Called to Serve

Hello! Another week has gone by, and it's been a beautiful week! We have witnessed the Lord work wonders for us. :)

 

I received a referrall from someone in the V.C. this week, and I gave the girl a call and taught her the plan of salvation over the phone. She said it all made so much sense- more sense than what anyone else has taught. :) She wanted to meet with missionaries to learn more and agreed to pray about whether or not what we talked about was true. She had searched for truth for a while, but eventually quit. She said it felt good to be searching out truth again. :) i'm supposed to call her in a few days and see how it went with the Elders.

 

I love being a missionary!

 

I also can't remember if I've told you about this family or not but we've been teaching a part-member family for the last month. The Husband is not a member- but the wife is. He called us Thursday night and said, "Sisters I've decided to be baptized." I got a little over excited, squealed a little (very dignified) and then said "...are you serious!?"

He said, "no." and my heart plummetted. I thought... "what a mean joke!!"

Then he laughed and said... "yes I'm serious!"

So we're having a baptism on April 28! We are so excited. This is such an incredibly special family, they are all valiant spirits who desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. It's my privelege and honor to have been a part of seeing them learn more of their Savior Jesus Christ, and the plan he has for us in this life.

 

I'm even more excited to see the father of this family be baptized into the family of God and become a "Son of God." I know it is only through baptism that we can become a part of Gods family. It is in baptism that we covenant to "take upon ourselves the name of Christ." and by so doing, we become part of the family of God. The Bible teaches this. The Book of Mormon teaches this. Baptism is an essential part of our salvation, for as Jesus Christ himself said, "except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

 

He then said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again."

 

I love these verses because they illustrate so plainly the need for baptism, and they are plain for all who will learn by the spirit of God. We are born into this world by flesh. That flesh which we are born of is carnal and devilish by nature. If we are to be "born into the kingdom of God" (a better world) we must be "born again." As the Savior said, "marvel not that I said unto thee ye must be born again." We must forsake this world, and enter into a better- and it happens through baptism. Baptism is how we are 'born' into a new world- even the Kingdom of God. Paul teaches us in Romans that after baptism we walk in "a newness of life." What is this new life? It is a life which is set apart from this world, it is a life lived after the manner of God. As the scriptures teach we only enter into this new world- or "newness of life" through baptism.

 

This is another reason we are told to become as "little children" because through baptism we are 'born' again into a new world- even the Kingdom of our Father in Heaven.

 

The symbolism continues- just as we are "born" into a family here, and become children of the parents we are born to, so likewise, through baptism, we become the children of God- because we are born unto Him, taking upon ourselves His name, similar to the way we receive our Father's last name when we are born into this world.

 

Speaking of this King Benjamin said to the people,

 

"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made *(the covenant of baptism) ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons and his daughters; for behold this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. And it shall come tp ass that hwosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called for he shall be called by the name of Christ. And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God."

 

We take Christ name upon ourselves only through baptism. And it is only valid if it's done by someone holding the priesthood power of God. I would that all men would come unto Christ and be baptized in His name, becoming then a spiritually begotten son or daughter of God. My heart yearns for this blessing to be upon all men, nevertheless the power is given unto them to choose, and they will be rewarded according to their choices and desires. Whether it be unto life- a new life in the kingdom of God, or death- being cut off from the Kingdom of God.

 

I bear you my witness that these things are true.

 

In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.