Baptismal Covenant

Author: Wilson, Jerry A.

When a person enters into a Latter-day Saint baptism, he or she makes a covenant with God. Baptism is a "sign…that we will do the will of God, and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to Him to be saved" (TPJS, p. 198).

Candidates promise to "come into the fold of God, and to be called his people,…to bear one another's burdens,…to mourn with those that mourn, and…to stand as witnesses of God…even until death" (Mosiah 18:8-9). A person must enter this covenant with the proper attitudes of humility, repentance, and determination to keep the Lord's commandments, and serve God to the end (2 Ne. 31:6-17; Moro. 6:2-4; D&C 20:37). In turn, God promises remission of sins, redemption, and cleansing by the Holy Ghost (Acts 22:16; 3 Ne. 30:2). This covenant is made in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The baptized can renew this covenant at each Sacrament meeting by partaking of the Sacrament. This continual willingness to remember Christ and to keep his commandments brings the Lord's promise of his Spirit and produces the "fruits" (Gal. 5:22) and "gifts" (D&C 46) that lead to eternal life.

Bibliography

Tripp, Robert M. Oaths, Covenants and Promises, pp. 11-19. Salt Lake City, 1973.

JERRY A. WILSON