Monday, May 9, 2016

369: BAPTISMAL QUESTIONS

In the Book of Mormon there is a list of Baptismal Questions that Alma asked all those who wanted to be baptized. We read the questions in Mosiah chapter 18.
  • Are you desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people?
  • Are you willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light?
  • Are you willing to mourn with those that mourn?
  • Are you willing to comfort those that stand in need of comfort?
  • Are you willing to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal lie?
  • Now, If this be the desires 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?
How beautiful it is to want to bear one another's burdens, to mourn with those who mourn, and to comfort those that stand in need of comfort. I wish some of these same questions from the scriptures were asked today to the baptismal candidate  

 
In comparison, here is the list of LDS Baptismal Questions that we ask today.
  • Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father?
  • Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?
  • Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? 
  • Do you believe that President Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?
  • What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?
  • Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? 
  • Have you ever participated in an abortion? a homosexual relationship?
  • Are you willing to obey the law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman?
  • Are you willing to obey the law of tithing.
  • Are you willing to obey the Word of Wisdom.
  • Are you willing to obey the Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.
  • When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life.  
  • Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?
Recently a new question has been added to this list which involves making sure that the one who wants to be baptized does not live with a parent who has lived or currently lives in a same-gender cohabitation relationship or marriage.
 
We read the list of the Lords baptismal requirements in 3 Nephi 11:32-41. It is a simple list:
 
  • Believe in Jesus Christ.
  • Repent.
  • Become as a little child.
The Lord further explains that, "whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them."

Yesterday, there was an ad in the front page section of the Denver Post for those who seek to be baptized without institutional requirements or restraints. Here is how the ad appeared in the paper (highlighted below)

 



To see the full ad. Here is the LINK




8 comments:

Linda Gale said...

Thank you for contrasting the current baptismal questions/requirements with those from the Book of Mormon. As a life-long member, I do not recall any of the questions I was asked as an 8-year old. The gospel is simplicity -- not easy, but so simple to understand that a child could understand. When did things become so complicated? Thanks for the post.

Anonymous said...

Yes, even the current baptismal questions show the Church is not following Christ and is far more concerned with members supporting ($) & serving the Church and it's leaders rather than the 'needy'.

The 'needy' are why Christ preached the Gospel in the 1st place, it wasn't to start a Church, it was to remind people of their responsibility towards the needy, not some Church.

The Church wants the 'needy' to support it, when it should be the other way around.

When did the Church ever follow the Book of Mormon anyway?

The red flags are easy to see in the Church, for everyone knows right from wrong deep down, but few are willing to stop supporting those wrongs because the Church's perks are too enticing.

Anonymous said...

The Book of Mormon questions asked by the Prophet Alma of those contemplating baptism are consistent with the Lord's strait and narrow path as taught by Him in the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at Bountiful. They are based on the Celestial law of Love and are consistent with His teachings on baptism in 3 Nephi 11. The church questions asked of those contemplating baptism are based on the outward principles of the lesser or carnal law given to Israel after they rejected the Lord and the higher law at Mount Sinai. The contrast is quite clear and very indicative of just where the church finds itself today.
James Russell Uhl

Anonymous said...

Interesting that the interviewee is asked to expound on their belief that TSM is a prophet and apply it to their life, while belief in the Savior of the world gets a passing "yes or no" question.

Anonymous said...

Who has the authority to baptize? Snuffer used to criticize others by saying "keys, keys" but seriously, if any of you believe that it is only the community of Denver that has authority to baptize, then you are not well acquainted with the New Testament. The LDS church is not and never was the only true church. We have all stepped out of the box regarding not worshipping leadership, but until we come to the point of stepping out further and realizing that the Church is like all other churches - it has truth and it has skeletons, but it is not the only true church. There are just too many other good denominations that are doing amazing things and having amazing experiences with the spirit. We have convinced ourselves that we are special because we have some sort of special covenant. Snuffer is doing an excellent job in beginning a new church but calling it communities instead. I believe God has used Snuffer to measure everyone's allegiance ... it is jumping from LDS worship to Denver worship or are you ready to leave all of it and just be led by God himself.

Anonymous said...

Does your bishop know you are doing this Dave?

BARE RECORD OF TRUTH said...

I think my Bishop has so much to worry about like members dealing with addictions, drugs, pornography, divorces, adultery, fornications, abuse, welfare, depression.... than for me to keep him up to date about someone who is trying to do as Elder Ballard admonished us to do, which is sharing our thoughts about the Gospel, our love for the Savior Jesus Christ, and testifying about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the important role of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

If you want to ask me any questions directly addressed to me, than please email me at awakearise99@gmail.com

LJn said...

Anonymous @11:16 a.m. It is God who gives authority to baptize. Among my friends, when any baptize, they ask God for that authority first.

I have seen videos on YouTube featuring men I deem as true apostles (eye witnesses of Christ). I do not believe the LDS, nor the restoration movement can honestly claim to be the only ones authorized by God to perform baptisms.

But, I do believe that whoever baptizes must ask God for that authority first, be they LDS (any sect), Restorationist, Baptist, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Catholic, Born Again Christian, and so on.

And, for me, I evolved from "following" Pres Monson to "following" Denver to following Christ.

More and more, I realize that all formally organized religions/denominations/sects are an invention of the devil. Why? Because they have strongmen you must obey to get to heaven. These leaders have "authority" (as they suppose) to cast you into hell if you do not do what they dictate, even if God Himself tells you otherwise.

Toni