"Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.
And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.
And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls."
Moroni 6:2-5
I think that sometimes we underestimate how important baptism is, and how important going to church or belonging to God's church is. Many people think that where or how you are baptized doesn't matter, or that the specific church doesn't matter either. The verse before this talks about being worthy of being baptized, and here it gets into more detail. Baptism is big. It's something we have to be worthy of, and something that we have to prepare ourselves for, including repenting of our sins, and being determined to serve God throughout our lives. In some ways it it the culmination of a lot of time and effort, getting to the point where you can really say that you want to commit your life to God. In other ways, it is just the beginning... just the open door entering into that committment, finding our what it means, and starting our journeys as disciples of Christ. And church is part of that journey. I really love that phrase "to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls." That's what it is all about, right? I love that idea of that kind of community based on supporting each other in the gospel. And that is what the church should be about. :) Today, let's commit, or recommit, to the gospel, and support each other as disciples of Christ.
And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.
And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls."
Moroni 6:2-5
I think that sometimes we underestimate how important baptism is, and how important going to church or belonging to God's church is. Many people think that where or how you are baptized doesn't matter, or that the specific church doesn't matter either. The verse before this talks about being worthy of being baptized, and here it gets into more detail. Baptism is big. It's something we have to be worthy of, and something that we have to prepare ourselves for, including repenting of our sins, and being determined to serve God throughout our lives. In some ways it it the culmination of a lot of time and effort, getting to the point where you can really say that you want to commit your life to God. In other ways, it is just the beginning... just the open door entering into that committment, finding our what it means, and starting our journeys as disciples of Christ. And church is part of that journey. I really love that phrase "to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls." That's what it is all about, right? I love that idea of that kind of community based on supporting each other in the gospel. And that is what the church should be about. :) Today, let's commit, or recommit, to the gospel, and support each other as disciples of Christ.
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