Moroni counsels us to use wisdom during our probation here
on the Earth. “Behold, I send you forth
as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless
[GR guileless] as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
Jacob clearly summarizes the importance of wisdom. “O be
wise; what can I say more” (Jacob 6:12).
This life is the only chance we have to prove our
willingness to obey and live the Lord’s commandments. “And thus we see, that
there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time
to repent and serve God” (Alma 42:4).
“Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of
your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and
no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever” (1
Nephi 10:21).
We are to cast off our uncleanliness. We must avoid allowing
our lusts to consume us.
“They were not estranged from their lust. But while their
meat was yet in their mouths
“The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of
them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
“For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his
wondrous works.” (Psalms 79:30-32).
“But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel
would none of me.
“So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they
walked in their own counsels” (Psalms 81:11-12).
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own
lust, and enticed.
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).
Ask, with faith, that you will be able to resist Satan’s
temptations and serve the only true and living God. “And behold, [my father,
Alma,] preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also
wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the
true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore
they were saved” (Alma 5:13).
When we fulfill the ordinaces of baptism and partaking of
the sacrament, we are to do so worthily.
There are qualifications and requirements for baptism. To be
worthy of baptism, we must…
·
“Humble [ourselves] before God.
·
“Desire to be baptized.
·
“Come forth with broken hearts and contrite
spirits.
·
“Repent of all [our] sins.
·
“Be willing to take upon [us] the name of
Christ.
·
“Have a determination to serve Christ to the
end.
·
“Manifest by [our] works that [we] have received
the Spirit of Christ unto a remission of their sins.”
After being found worth, we are interviewed by the proper
authority. Here are the questions we are
asked.
Baptismal Interview Questions
“1. 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?
“2. Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ
have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that
[current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?
“3. What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you
have repented of your past transgressions?
“4. 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?
“5. You have been taught that membership in The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What do you
understand of the following standards? Are you willing to obey them?
“a. The law of chastity, which
prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between
a man and a woman.
“b. The law of tithing.
“c. The Word of Wisdom.
“d. The Sabbath day, including
partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.
“6. 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?”[1]
This is what Moroni meant when he told us be worthy of
baptism. Scriptures tell us of
requirements for baptism. “John did
baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins.
“And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they
of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing
their sins” (Mark 1:4-5).
“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of
repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which
should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus” (Acts 19:4).
“Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being
holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he
humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he
would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments” (2 Nephi 31:7).
Even more important is the command to partake of the
sacrament only when we are worthy. Taking the sacrament when we are unworthy is
a serious offense before God. Christ taught this to the Nephites.
“For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily
eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is
unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.
“Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but
ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name;
and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye
receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.
“But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my
people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they
are numbered.
“Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues,
or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye
know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full
purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing
salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:29-32).
Paul wrote, warning the Corinthians about being worthy when
they partook of the sacrament.
“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this
cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty [GR offend against] of the body
and blood of the Lord.
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that
bread, and drink of that cup.
“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and
drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians
11:27-29).
“We bind ourselves through the covenant made in partaking of
the sacrament. Through partaking of the bread, we remember the body of Christ
and his providing the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 11:24; compare 3 Nephi
18:6—7). Through partaking of the water, we remember the blood of Gethsemane or
the Atonement (1 Corinthians 11:27; compare 3 Nephi 18:10—11). To partake of
the sacrament requires one to be worthy. Therefore, one must reflect or examine
himself before partaking (1 Corinthians 11:27—28). To partake unworthily will
cause one to stumble and bring about sickness, either physical or mental, and,
Paul said, may even bring death [sleep] (1 Corinthians 11:29—30). Such is the
order revealed to the Corinthians by Paul and verified in the Book of Mormon as
a second witness (3 Nephi 18:28—32; Mormon 9:29). The sacrament is thus a
stepping-stone or a stumbling block.”[2]
In all we do, as servants of the Lord, we must be worthy to
serve Him. “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you
worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the
work of faith with power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
[2] The
Stumbling Blocks of First Corinthians, Monte S. Nyman, Reprinted by
permission from The New Testament and the Latter-day Saints (Orem, Utah: Randall
Book Company, 1987), 249—62, Maxwell Institute website.
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