To help eachTo help each child better understand child better understand the importance of baptism. the importance of baptism.

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Baptism is the Baptism is the third step in third step in becoming a becoming a member of the member of the Church of Church of Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

Baptism

Faith in Jesus Christ

Repentance

Baptism is the Baptism is the third step in third step in becoming a becoming a member of the member of the Church of Church of Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

Baptism

Faith in Jesus Christ

Repentance

• Before you can be baptized, Before you can be baptized, something important must happen. something important must happen. • Listen to the words of this song Listen to the words of this song

about baptism. about baptism. • I’m going to leave out one word.I’m going to leave out one word.• See if you can tell what word is See if you can tell what word is

missing.missing.

I like my birthdays, ev’ry one;I like my birthdays, ev’ry one;Each brings a greater joy to me.Each brings a greater joy to me.But I can’t wait until I’m _________,But I can’t wait until I’m _________,For then I’ll be baptized, you see.For then I’ll be baptized, you see.

What is the missing word?What is the missing word? Eight (8)Eight (8)

We look forward to all of our We look forward to all of our birthdays, but our eighth birthday birthdays, but our eighth birthday has special meaning because it has special meaning because it means that we are old enough to means that we are old enough to be baptized. be baptized.

• Heavenly Father has commanded Heavenly Father has commanded everyone to be baptized. everyone to be baptized.

• Jesus Christ wanted to obey all of Jesus Christ wanted to obey all of Heavenly Father’s Heavenly Father’s commandments. commandments.

In 2 Nephi In 2 Nephi 9:23 we 9:23 we read:read:

And he And he commandethcommandethall men that they must all men that they must aarepent, and be repent, and be bbbaptized in his name, having perfect baptized in his name, having perfect ccfaith in the Holy One of Israel, or they faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.God.

• The Holy One of Israel is another The Holy One of Israel is another name for Jesus Christ. name for Jesus Christ.

• This scripture tells us that we are This scripture tells us that we are commanded to be baptized. commanded to be baptized.

• The scripture also tells us that if we The scripture also tells us that if we are not baptized, we cannot be saved are not baptized, we cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; in other in the kingdom of God; in other words, we must be baptized to live words, we must be baptized to live again with Heavenly Father and again with Heavenly Father and Jesus. Jesus.

One day when John the Baptist was One day when John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan River, baptizing people in the Jordan River, Jesus Christ came to himJesus Christ came to him

Jesus came to John the Baptist because Jesus came to John the Baptist because John had the priesthood authority to John had the priesthood authority to baptize.baptize.

He asked John to baptize Him. He asked John to baptize Him. John knew that Jesus had always John knew that Jesus had always obeyed God’s commandments and did obeyed God’s commandments and did not need to repent. not need to repent.

John thought that Jesus did not need John thought that Jesus did not need to be baptized.to be baptized.

Jesus set an example for us by Jesus set an example for us by obeying God’s commandment to be obeying God’s commandment to be baptized. baptized.

But God had commanded all people But God had commanded all people to be baptized, so Jesus told John to to be baptized, so Jesus told John to baptize Him. baptize Him.

Jesus set an example for us by Jesus set an example for us by obeying God’s commandment to be obeying God’s commandment to be baptized. baptized.

When Jesus came up When Jesus came up out of the water, the out of the water, the Holy Ghost came to Holy Ghost came to Him. Him. God spoke from God spoke from heaven, saying, “This heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in is my beloved Son, in whom I am well whom I am well pleased.”pleased.”

John the Baptist John the Baptist also testified that also testified that Jesus was the Son of Jesus was the Son of GodGod..

Explain that to be baptized by being Explain that to be baptized by being completely covered by water and completely covered by water and coming back up out of the water is coming back up out of the water is called baptism by immersion. called baptism by immersion.

Can you say Can you say ““baptism by baptism by immersion.”immersion.”

• 1. I like my birthdays, ev’ry one;1. I like my birthdays, ev’ry one;Each brings a greater joy to me.Each brings a greater joy to me.But I can’t wait until I’m eight,But I can’t wait until I’m eight,For then I’ll be baptized, you see.For then I’ll be baptized, you see.

• 2. To be baptized as Jesus was2. To be baptized as Jesus wasBy one who holds the priesthood trueBy one who holds the priesthood trueAnd thus obey God’s holy lawsAnd thus obey God’s holy lawsIs just the thing I want to do.Is just the thing I want to do.

• 3. When hands are laid upon my head,3. When hands are laid upon my head,Then I’ll receive the Holy Ghost.Then I’ll receive the Holy Ghost.And, if I listen carefully,And, if I listen carefully,I’ll have the blessing I need most.I’ll have the blessing I need most.

Words:Words: Wallace F. Bennett, 1898–1993 Wallace F. Bennett, 1898–1993

Music:Music: Tracy Y. Cannon, 1879–1961 Tracy Y. Cannon, 1879–1961

What is “the thing I want to do,” What is “the thing I want to do,” according to this song? according to this song? Be baptized, “as Jesus was.”Be baptized, “as Jesus was.”

How will we be baptized How will we be baptized if we are baptized the if we are baptized the same way Jesus was?same way Jesus was?By immersion and by By immersion and by someone with priesthood someone with priesthood authority.authority.

Explain that when Jesus Christ was baptized, he was immersed or completely covered with water.

Explain that when Explain that when Jesus Christ was Jesus Christ was baptized, he was baptized, he was immersed or immersed or completely covered completely covered with water. with water.

Explain that when Jesus Christ was baptized, he was immersed or completely covered with water.

Today, baptisms usually take place Today, baptisms usually take place in a meetinghouse in a special pool in a meetinghouse in a special pool of water called a baptismal font. of water called a baptismal font.

Explain that when Explain that when Jesus Christ was Jesus Christ was baptized, he was baptized, he was immersed or immersed or completely covered completely covered with water. with water.

If there isn’t a If there isn’t a baptismal font baptismal font nearby, streams or nearby, streams or other pools of water other pools of water are used. are used.

What authority did John the What authority did John the Baptist have to baptize? Baptist have to baptize? The Aaronic Priesthood.The Aaronic Priesthood.

What authority What authority must the person must the person who is baptizing us who is baptizing us have to baptize? have to baptize? He must be a He must be a

priest in the priest in the AaronicAaronic

Priesthood or hold the Melchizedek Priesthood or hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. Priesthood.

Do you know Do you know anyone who has the anyone who has the priesthood and can priesthood and can baptize? baptize?

• When Joseph When Joseph Smith was Smith was translating the translating the Book of Mormon Book of Mormon with Oliver with Oliver Cowdery, John the Cowdery, John the Baptist came to Baptist came to them and taught them and taught them the correct them the correct way to baptize. way to baptize.

• He gave them the He gave them the priesthood so that priesthood so that they had the they had the authority to authority to baptize others. baptize others.

• The priesthood has The priesthood has been given to other been given to other people so that we people so that we can have the can have the privilege of being privilege of being baptized by baptized by someone with the someone with the proper authority. proper authority.

The person who baptizes each of The person who baptizes each of them will have the same priesthood them will have the same priesthood that John the Baptist had. that John the Baptist had. The The fifth article of faith fifth article of faith tells us how tells us how a man receives this authority. a man receives this authority.

Let’s read the fifth article of faith.Let’s read the fifth article of faith.

““We believe that a man must be We believe that a man must be called of God … by those who are in called of God … by those who are in authorityauthority.” .”

• In this picture, notice the In this picture, notice the position of the hands.position of the hands.

• When you are baptized, When you are baptized, you and the man you and the man baptizing you will go baptizing you will go down into the baptismal down into the baptismal font. font.

• The man baptizing you The man baptizing you holds your right arm holds your right arm with his left hand. with his left hand.

• You can hold your nose You can hold your nose with your right hand and with your right hand and with your left hand hold with your left hand hold on to the left arm of the on to the left arm of the man baptizing you. man baptizing you.

• The man baptizing you The man baptizing you will then raise his right will then raise his right hand and say the words hand and say the words of the baptismal prayer. of the baptismal prayer.

The baptismal prayer is found in The baptismal prayer is found in the scriptures. the scriptures. Listen to these words found in Listen to these words found in Doctrine and Covenants 20:73, Doctrine and Covenants 20:73, starting with the words “Having starting with the words “Having been commissioned.”been commissioned.”

““. . .Having been commissioned of . . .Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

““CommissionedCommissioned means “given means “given authority to represent.” authority to represent.” A true baptism is performed only A true baptism is performed only by someone who has been given the by someone who has been given the authority to represent Jesus Christ in authority to represent Jesus Christ in performing the baptism. performing the baptism. Their baptism will have the same Their baptism will have the same value as if Jesus himself had baptized value as if Jesus himself had baptized them. them.

After saying the prayer, the man After saying the prayer, the man who is baptizing puts his right hand who is baptizing puts his right hand on the person’s back and gently on the person’s back and gently lowers him into the water until the lowers him into the water until the water completely covers him. water completely covers him.

Then he lifts the Then he lifts the person up out of the person up out of the water. water.

You are only under water for a You are only under water for a short time and that the man short time and that the man baptizing them will hold them firmly. baptizing them will hold them firmly. They will hold his They will hold his arm and will be able arm and will be able to hold their noses so to hold their noses so they won’t breathe or they won’t breathe or swallow any water. swallow any water.

• Would anyone like to share their Would anyone like to share their baptism experiences with the rest baptism experiences with the rest of the class?of the class?

• Let’s review what we have learned about the Let’s review what we have learned about the important step of baptism. important step of baptism. • How old are we when we may be baptized? How old are we when we may be baptized? •EightEight

• Why should we be baptized? Why should we be baptized? • It is a commandmentIt is a commandment

• Where will we be baptized? Where will we be baptized? • In a baptismal font or other pool of waterIn a baptismal font or other pool of water

• What must a man have to be able to What must a man have to be able to baptize? baptize? •The priesthoodThe priesthood

• How will we be baptized? How will we be baptized? •By immersionBy immersion

• Why do you think you will feel happy when Why do you think you will feel happy when you are baptized?you are baptized?

• You will be happy to be members of Jesus You will be happy to be members of Jesus Christ’s Church, you will be happy to know Christ’s Church, you will be happy to know you are following his example, and you will you are following his example, and you will be happy to obey his commandments.be happy to obey his commandments.

Listen to this story about a girl Listen to this story about a girl who wanted to be baptized:who wanted to be baptized:

““When Alice’s mother and sisters When Alice’s mother and sisters decided to become members of The decided to become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Alice was only six and too young to be baptized Alice was only six and too young to be baptized with the rest of her family. … Because they often with the rest of her family. … Because they often talked of the wonderful experience of baptism talked of the wonderful experience of baptism and the joy their membership in the Church had and the joy their membership in the Church had brought them, Alice could hardly wait to be brought them, Alice could hardly wait to be eight eight so she could be baptized tooso she could be baptized too. “. “

• ““Alice planned and dreamed Alice planned and dreamed how she would be baptized on how she would be baptized on her birthday. ‘Not sometime her birthday. ‘Not sometime after,’ she insisted, ‘but on that after,’ she insisted, ‘but on that very day.’very day.’““However, three days before Alice turned eight, However, three days before Alice turned eight, she awoke with a severe headache, and the next she awoke with a severe headache, and the next day she was too ill to go to school. day she was too ill to go to school. ““The doctor who was called said she would have The doctor who was called said she would have to stay home and in bed for at least a week. to stay home and in bed for at least a week. Alice’s big eyes filled with tears of Alice’s big eyes filled with tears of disappointment. disappointment.

But she stopped at the door when But she stopped at the door when she saw Alice kneeling in fervent she saw Alice kneeling in fervent prayer on her bed. This little girl prayer on her bed. This little girl was pleading with Heavenly was pleading with Heavenly Father for fulfillment of herFather for fulfillment of hergreat desire to become a member of The Church great desire to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ““On the morning of her birthday, Alice got up, On the morning of her birthday, Alice got up, dressed, and prepared for baptism. Her fever dressed, and prepared for baptism. Her fever was gone and she felt well and happy. Some was gone and she felt well and happy. Some hours later her mother checked Alice’s hours later her mother checked Alice’s temperature again and it still registered normal. temperature again and it still registered normal.

[Heavenly Father] had answered [Heavenly Father] had answered Alice’s sincere prayer. That Alice’s sincere prayer. That evening she was baptized!”evening she was baptized!”

How would you have felt if you had been How would you have felt if you had been Alice? Alice?

You may not be baptized exactly on their You may not be baptized exactly on their birthday but rather on a day soon after their birthday but rather on a day soon after their eighth birthday; usually there is one eighth birthday; usually there is one baptismal date each month for all children in baptismal date each month for all children in a ward or stake. a ward or stake.

You will be interviewed by the You will be interviewed by the bishop or branch president before bishop or branch president before they are baptized. they are baptized.

Baptisms will usually take place on Baptisms will usually take place on a Saturday before Fast Sunday. a Saturday before Fast Sunday.

I hope that you will have the same I hope that you will have the same happy feeling that Alice had when happy feeling that Alice had when you are baptized. you are baptized.

• Let’s review the steps we need to take to Let’s review the steps we need to take to prepare for baptism. prepare for baptism.

• Attend Primary and sacrament meeting Attend Primary and sacrament meeting each week. each week. • Learn about the scriptures. Learn about the scriptures. • Be honest. Be honest. • Pray daily. Pray daily. • Pay tithing. Pay tithing. • Be kind to family and friends. Be kind to family and friends.

• Follow Jesus Christ’s example. Follow Jesus Christ’s example. • Be eight years old. Be eight years old. • Be interviewed by the bishop or branch Be interviewed by the bishop or branch

president. president.

•We have invited We have invited Brother _______, Brother _______, who who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to come to our class today to show you come to our class today to show you what will take place at your baptism. what will take place at your baptism.

I want to testify to you that baptism is a I want to testify to you that baptism is a necessary step in our return to our father in necessary step in our return to our father in Heaven. Heaven.

It is a commandment that we should be happy It is a commandment that we should be happy to follow.to follow.

It is the start of the straight and narrow path It is the start of the straight and narrow path that leads us back to our Heavenly father.that leads us back to our Heavenly father.

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