Jesus Christ

At the start of His mission, Jesus Christ was baptized by immersion in the river Jordon. He chose as the person to perform the baptism his cousin, John the Baptist, a man who was authorized to baptize in the name of God.

What do we learn from this critical moment in Christian history? The first thing we learn, of course, is that baptism is essential for everyone. The purpose of baptism is to wash away our sins, allowing us to become born again. We also make covenants-promises between ourselves and God. Jesus had no sins to be forgiven, and yet Jesus was baptized anyway. This tells us no one is exempt from the need for baptism. He set the example for us to follow.

The second thing we learn is that baptism must be done by someone in authority. John wasn’t randomly chosen. He performed baptism, and we know from Biblical history that He was especially chosen by God to lead the way for the Savior-to testify as to who He was and why He was here. He held the priesthood of God and was qualified to perform the baptism of God’s only begotten Son. Jesus had come to John specifically for that purpose. Today, we also must seek someone who has authority from God to perform our baptism.

The third thing we learn from the baptism of Jesus Christ is that baptism must be done by immersion. This is how Jesus Christ was baptized and we’re taught to follow His example. He was lowered completely into the water, symbolizing death, resurrection and cleansing. This is how God expects baptism to occur today, because helps us to remember the meaning of baptism.

If baptism must be done by immersion, this also teaches us babies must not be baptized, since they can’t be immersed. Mormons do not practice infant baptism. The atonement of Jesus Christ protects young children, and they aren’t accountable for their actions. It would be unjust to punish a child because his parents did not baptize him, and God is never unjust. Children do not need baptism until they reach the age of accountability, which the Lord has declared to be the age of eight. Even then, they are accountable only for what they know and what they can control, as we all are. If an eight year old is forbidden baptism by his parents, God will not hold him accountable for not being baptized. Instead, the parents, if they know he should be baptized, will be held responsible.

The baptism of Jesus Christ teaches us who Jesus really is. When He was baptized, God spoke from Heaven and declared that Jesus was God’s Son, and declared that He was pleased with who Jesus had become and how He had lived His life. This also makes it clear they are not the same person. God would not likely say He was well pleased with Himself. Mormons believe Jesus Christ is literally God’s Son, just as God Himself declared. The Holy Ghost was also present at that moment, and all of the Godhead came together for that critical moment in history. They were three beings, unified in every way but the physical.

Mormons find a depth of information about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the gospel from these few moments in the life of the Savior. They model their own baptisms after that of Jesus Christ, being baptized at the age of accountability by immersion and by a person given specific authority from God to perform the ordinance.