Ready for Baptism

Moroni also took some time to talk about baptism, and becoming a member of the Church, and what that meant.

"And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it." (Moroni 6:1)

One key point that Moroni brings up is that to be baptized, you need to be worthy. Something that jumps out at me is that it says they brought forth fruit. I think this is saying that they were able to demonstrated their worthiness. First and foremost, we don't parade our worthiness around as some sort of badge of honor, or anything like that. We don't "show off" our worthiness to make us seem worthy. It means we act worthy, rather than just saying the right things to people that might ask. I also think a worthiness standard is more of a blessing than a barrier to baptism. If someone were to be baptized unworthily, that puts them at a disadvantage right out of the gate.

"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." (Moroni 6:2)

As part of demonstrating worthiness, they witness that they have repented. This is done with baptismal interviews by a priesthood authority. These interviews are special. As a district leader on my mission, I had the opportunity to do several such interviews and I was always blown away by the baptismal candidates humility and willingness and desire to do the right thing. The spirit was always there and it was always a good experience. It was humbling to be in that position. These people definitely filled this part of what Moroni was describing.

"And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end." (Moroni 6:3)

The other aspect of baptism is making the covenants that I just wrote about in relation to the sacrament, because we renew these baptismal covenants when we take the sacrament. I think that the key word here that Moroni uses is "determination". I think this is great, because I am a flawed human being, just like all but one human being who has ever walked this earth. I have to begin new resolve and show new determination all the time. I mess up. I don't always do things the way I should. But I want to. And that's a start. Some day, with enough determination, and action to move me in the right direction, I hope to get there. And be the kind of person that I can be, the kind of person that God wants me to be.