#4-- We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, bptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fouaarth, laying on of hands, for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
I'm going to split this statement up into 4 parts to talk about.
"First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
* What is faith?
Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. (Alma 32:21)
So faith is when you hope for things, but you can't see them. So can you have faith in leperchauns? Not really. Because faith is also things that are true. To summarize: Faith is when you hope and trust in things that you can't see, but that are true.
* Why do you need faith?
Well, have you seen Christ? Or God? Have you seen heaven? Then how would you know if they were there? You'd have to have faith that they were there. You'd have to believe in something that you didn't see.
So we believe that the first thing you need to learn in order to best understand the Gospel is faith.
"Second, Repentance"
Without repentance, we could not get to heaven. We are all sinners. We have all sinned. It may be big, it may be small, but we've all sinned.
Alma 40:26 ... for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God...
Since we are all 'unclean', how can we get to heaven? We need to "wash up" :). But who can do that? Jesus could, and He did. That is what the Atonement did, it made it so we could repent, and be washed clean.
(for more, see "What do those crazy Mormons believe in, anyway (part 3))
"Third, Baptism by Immersion for the remission of sins."
aka Being baptized (immersion = completely covered with water) to lose our sins. Wait! We can lose our sins? All we have to do is be baptized? No... well, sorta. After you are baptized (with a sincere heart, and with the proper authority*) your sins so far are forgiven. Then, after that, repent, and take the sacrament each Sunday, and that will be like being baptized again. We believe that you should be baptized when youare 8, because then you are old enough to realize that you are responsible for your sins. Before that age, we believe that you aren't accountable. You just don't know about it. (Note: Buddhists sort of do this, too. They begin to teach their kids about meditation when they are 8 years old). Of course, you can be baptized when you are older, and you are accountable for your sins from since you were 8 (unless you didn't know they were sins)
When you are baptized, you make certain covenants (exchange of promises) with Heavenly Father. These are found in Mosiah18:8-10
8 ...(A)s ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and 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 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 life—
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?
Did you catch the covenants? You promise to help other people, and to come to God, keep His commandments, and be a witness of Him. He, in return, promises to redeem your sins (when you repent), save you a place in heaven, and give you the Holy Ghost to guide you. Does this seem unfair? Well, the Holy Ghost will be with you always, even if you are not always with God. Heaven will last forever, that's right, never ending happiness. What's this short time of 70-100 years (at the longest) of keeping a few rules designed for your happiness compared with a never ending state of happiness? Now that's food for thought :).
For more on baptism, click here and here
(Last one:) "Fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."This is also called 'confirmation', and is usually coupled with baptism, because it happens shortly after (either the same day, right after, or the next Sunday in Sacrament Meeting). When you are confirmed, you recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost, to be with you always. The Holy Ghost is the 3rd member of the Godhead (God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost). It is a spirit, so it can enter us and give us comfort and counsel. This may sound a little eerie, but trust me-- if you don't want the Holy Ghost to come, it wont come. You have to want it, among other things.
When it says 'laying on of hands' it means this:
This girl is receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Worthy men holding the proper authority* are blessing her.
Here are links with words from Church Leaders about the Holy Ghost.
*The priesthood authority. More on that, later.
No comments:
Post a Comment