The B Word.... Baptism!

As a Christian I am very familiar with the story of Christ's baptism. He sought out John the Baptist and He was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15) I also know that Jesus Christ has commanded us all to be baptized to receive a remission of sins. Today when I was reading in the Pearl of Great Price I was amazed at another account of baptism. The baptism of Adam. Yes, Adam as in Adam and Eve. Even the first man alive was baptized! Christ taught Adam some important truths that make baptism so much more powerful.

"Ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water , and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified." (Moses 6: 59-60)

 I love the break down of why the water, spirit, and blood are so important. When we are baptized by immersion it is to show our willingness to obey the commandments of God, when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost we receive the remission of our sins, and when we are cleansed by the power of the Atonement we are then sanctified. It is a process! It takes time and hard work to become the clean disciples of Christ we need to be, but baptism in the first step to receiving all of the blessings God has in store for us.
Elder Robert D Hales, an Apostle for the Lord has said,

Entering into the kingdom of God is so important that Jesus was baptized to show us “the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which [we] should enter” . . . 

Born of a mortal mother, Jesus was baptized to fulfill His Father’s commandment that sons and daughters of God should be baptized. He set the example for all of us to humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father. We are all welcome to come into the waters of baptism. He was baptized to witness to His Father that He would be obedient in keeping His commandments. He was baptized to show us that we should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see 2 Ne. 31:4–9).

As we follow the example of Jesus, we, too, demonstrate that we will repent and be obedient in keeping the commandments of our Father in Heaven. We humble ourselves with a broken heart and a contrite spirit as we recognize our sins and seek forgiveness of our trespasses (see 3 Ne. 9:20). We covenant that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and always remember Him. (The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the kingdom and of the kingdom)

I know that as we are baptized with the proper authority and permission from God that we can become sanctified and cleansed. I am grateful for my opportunity to be baptized and to come closer to my Savior!