Moses 6:64-65 -- On Baptism and Quickening

"And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water.

And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man."

Moses 6:64-65

This is a record of Adam's baptism, and what strikes me about is the idea of spiritual birth.  We think of the symbolism of baptism a lot, but usually as the death/washing away of sin, and a resurrection/cleansing to a new life and a new chance to get it right.  And so it is, definitely.  But it's also more than that.  I love this idea of being "quickened in the inner man."  I think what that means is that the ordinance of baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost gives life to/wakes up a part of ourselves that wasn't present before, and we gain new insights and a new and better connection with God that begins at that moment.  Baptism is necessary and important, but it isn't the pinnacle of our dedication to the gospel. Instead it is the very beginning of a whole new spiritual life.

Today, let's ponder the meaning of baptism, and pay attention to our spiritual needs as well as our physical.  Let's learn and grow and progress spiritually as we grow physically, and be aware of and listen to our new connection with God.