True baptism performed by proper authority is done by immersion, which symbolizes the death of our former sinful life. The baptismal font represents the grave where sins are buried or covered by the atonement. The water represents the washing away of sins. Being raised out of the water or grave symbolizes resurrection or rebirth—effectively we are born again into a new, spiritual life that is wholly devoted to God; now we “walk in the newness of life.” 8

Baptism and being 'born again' or 'adopted' into the family of Jesus Christ

Through true baptism we gain a new identity; we become children of Jesus Christ, and in this special spiritual sense, he becomes our father. We are "born again" or “adopted” into his family. 9 What could feel safer or be more beautiful?

Just as adoptive parents give their adopted child their name, so Jesus Christ gives us his name--Jesus Christ.

The legalization of our becoming part of his family is our confirmation.

As an adopted child of Jesus Christ we receive all the familial rights of our new father.

In addition to taking upon ourselves his name, we agree to always remember him, our father, and to keep his commandments—the rules of the family.

As a child of Jesus Christ, we try to emulate him. We have “no more desire to do evil” because our “hearts are changed.” 10 We do his works because we love him. We are “willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;…[we] are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death…[for our desire is] that [we] may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that [we] may have eternal life.” 11

Baptism and remission of sins

Through true baptism we receive complete remission of our sins. Baptism is part of the spiritual cycle that cleanses us from sin and allows us to retain a remission of our sins.

• Faith in Jesus Christ gives us hope that we can repent, receive forgiveness, and be saved from the effects of sin. 12
• Repentance leads to our desire to enter into a covenant with God—a covenant of forgiveness, cleansing, and sanctified in every way so that we might be exalted. 13
• Baptism is that covenant. Baptism is the only authorized way to receive remission of sins. Once our sins have been remitted, we become meek and humble, which invite the visitation of the Holy Ghost. 14
• The Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands by those holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, as exemplified by Jesus and his apostles. 15 The Holy Ghost gives us a spiritual witness that we have indeed been cleansed of sin. Now clean, the Holy Ghost will lead to eternal life through our diligent continued effort. The Holy Ghost also blesses us with the Lord’s perfect love, which sparks an increase in our capacity to feel and show love. This love, called charity, endures by constant, sincere prayer; this love will sustain us all our life until we are brought to dwell with God forever. 16
• Sacrament. Retaining a remission of our sins is accomplished by partaking of the sacrament regularly. The sacrament is the Lord’s only authorized ordinance for renewing our covenants and thus retaining a remission of our sins.

The complete cleansing power of baptism

Remarkably, remission of sins is so complete that the recollection of sins is not retained in the memory of the Lord. “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” 17

If taken literally, this scripture has amazing implications. Prophets of God have stated that the Lord knows all things past, present and future. 18 He is aware of the fall of a sparrow, he numbers the hairs on our heads, 19 and he can comprehend every minute sub-atomic particle of creation. 20 He knows us completely: our thoughts, our actions, everything that we have done, what we are doing now, and what we will do in the future—in precise detail. 21 And yet, once he has forgiven us he will never again access the memory of the deed.

The Lord has the ability to place the memory of our sin beyond reach; it is rendered forever insignificant; it no longer matters; it is not worth recalling. The Lord has such mental control that he won’t allow himself to revisit the sin in any degree. It never flashes across his mind. He will never bring it up or use it against us. And, most importantly, he never lapses in his promise to forget. It is as though the sin never happened and therefore carries with it no sting and no memory.

Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, the sin is completely covered, for one of the meanings of the word atonement means "a covering." 22 Therefore, the sin is out of sight, rendered powerless and fully eradicated.

If we sincerely ask, Jesus can give this same spiritual gift of “remembering sins no more” to us. 23 In this sense, we remember the pain associated with the sin no more, and the only reason we might remember the sin at all would be to avoid repeating it.

The scriptures testify of the great and infinite goodness of the Savior and of His longing to forgive us and redeem us.

• He will put our sins out of sight. 24 He will cast our sins behind our backs or hide them as with a thick cloud.
• He will put our sins out of reach. 25 He will cast our sins into the depths of the sea. He will remove them as far away from us as the east is from the west.
• He will put our sins out of mind. 26 He will not remember our sins any more.
• He will put our sins out of consideration. 27 He will never mention our sins to us again.
• He will put our sins out of existence. 28 He will blot out our transgressions.
• He will forgive us if we repent even though our sins are serious. 29 Though our sins are like crimson, they shall be white as snow.
• He will forgive us without restraint when we repent. 30 He will freely forgive and abundantly pardon.
• And He will do these things for us as often as we repent. “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.” 31

Clearly, without violating his ability to know everything, the Lord chooses to “remember [our sins] no more,” 32 as if they never happened.

Who would not seek the blessings of baptism?

Understanding the wonderful blessings associated with baptism, who would not seek this saving ordinance with all his heart? Who would not want to be in the family with such a loving, forgiving, merciful father such as Jesus Christ? Who would not want to enter in at the gate of baptism and follow the path that leads to eternal life with Jesus Christ and God the Father?

These blessings are indeed good news—the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

To believe in the Savior’s infinite power to cleanse us from sin through baptism is to believe that his atonement is so thorough that it can erase all pain associated with the memory of the sin. The prophet Alma recalled the awful memory of his sins that caused him to be--

“racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins. Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments…so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror…And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.” 33

Alma’s memory of his sins caused him to yearn for extinction. Then the miracle happened.

“And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” 34

Questions about 'Baptism--Our First Covenant and Saving Ordinance'

• Baptism is a saving ordinance with a covenant. What are the terms and blessings of the covenant of baptism?



• Who set the example of baptism? How is true baptism performed?



• Can anyone perform an authoritative baptism?



• An authoritative baptism is done by immersion. What is the symbolism?



• Baptism places us in whose family? What are the benefits of being part of that family?



• How should baptism change a person? How should he act and feel?



• Baptism by water is part of a spiritual cycle that allows us to retain a remission of our sins. What is that spiritual cycle?



• Once God has forgiven us of our sins, does he retain a memory of those sins? How complete is his promise to remember our sins no more?

References for 'Baptism--Our First Covenant and Saving Ordinance'

1. Articles of Faith: 4 – We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2. "$1" Bible Dictionary, p. 651
3. Lectures on Faith, p. 3:16
4. D&C 130:20-21 – There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
5. Matthew 3:13-17 – Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
6. D&C 20:74 – Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
7. Exodus 28:1 – And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, [even] Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
8. Romans 6:3-6 – Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
9. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., p.105; Mosiah 5:7 – ...those who join the true Church, who take upon themselves the name of Christ, who are adopted into the family of Jesus Christ, becoming his sons and his daughters, thus become brothers and sisters in a special spiritual sense" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., p.105). "And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters" (Mosiah 5:7).
10. Alma 19:33 – And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil.
11. Mosiah 18:8-9
12. Elder Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1955, Afternoon Meeting, p.124 – I encourage all sorrowing, repentant men to be comforted-comforted by the experience of Alma and by Paul's assurance that "... godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation... " (2 Cor. 7:10.) For today, as well as in days of old, there is hope, there is peace, there is rest in Christ for all whose godly sorrow brings them to that repentance which worketh salvation. Forgiveness is as wide as repentance. Every person will be forgiven for all the transgression of which he truly repents. If he repents of all his sins, he shall stand spotless before God because of the atonement of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ; while he that exercises no faith unto repentance remains "... as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death." (Alma 11:41.) Such is the gist of God's merciful plan of redemption.
13. Mosiah 18:10 – Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
14. John 3:5; Moroni 8:26 – Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [baptism] and of the Spirit [Holy Ghost], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). "And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God" (Moroni 8:26).
15. Matthew 3:11; Matthew 28:19 – I [John the Baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he [Jesus Christ] that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire" (Matthew 3:11). "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).
16. Moroni 8:25-26 – And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
17. D&C 58:42
18. D&C 130:6-7 – The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth; But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.
19. Matthew 10:29-30 – Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
20. Moses 1:27 – And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking, Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the spirit of God.
21. 2 Nephi 9:20 – O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.
22. Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry, and Tina M. Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p.44
23. D&C 58:42 – Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
24. Isaiah 38:17; Isaiah 44:22 – Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul [delivered it] from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back" (Isaiah 38:17). "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee" (Isaiah 44:22).
25. Micah 7:18-19; Psalm 103:12 – Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 17:18). "As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalms 103:12).
26. Jeremiah 31:34; D&C 58:42; Hebrews 10:17 – And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:34). "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more" (D&C 58:42). "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 10:17).
27. Ezekiel 18:21,22; Ezekiel 33:15,16 – But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" (Ezekiel 18:21,22). "If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live" (Ezekiel 33:15,16).
28. Psalms 51:1, 9; Isaiah 43:25; Acts 3:19 – Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions...Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities" (Psalms 51:1, 9). "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins" (Isaiah 43:25). "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).
29. Isaiah 1:18 – Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
30. Mosiah 26:22; Isaiah 55:7 – For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive" (Mosiah 26:22). "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).
31. Mosiah 26:30 – Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.
32. D&C 58:42 – Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
33. Alma 36:12-16
34. Alma 36:17-21