Moroni 6:1 elders, priests, and teachers were baptized
By current standards, an
individual must be baptized before receiving the priesthood. Therefore, the
statement that the elders, priests, and teachers
were baptized is difficult to explain. Were these priesthood holders
rebaptized? Was the priesthood given prior to baptism? Or does Moroni mean to
say that the elders, priests, and teachers had been previously baptized?
Unfortunately, none of these explanations is satisfactory.
Moroni 6:1 The
Qualifications for Baptism
Moroni 6:1-3 |
DC 20:37 |
|
1. humble themselves |
|
2. desire to be baptized |
Came forth with a broken
heart and a contrite spirit |
3. come forth with a
broken heart and contrite spirit |
Witnessed unto the church
that they truly repented |
4. Witness before the
church that they have truly repented |
Took upon them the name of
Christ |
5. willing to take upon
them the name of Christ |
Determination to serve God
to the end |
6. determination to serve God to the end |
Brought forth fruit meet
that they were worthy of it |
7. manifest by their works that they have
received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins |
Moroni 6:1 they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet
that they were worthy of it
The qualifications for
baptism require that the individual brings forth fruit meet for repentance.
This amounts to something more than answering “yes” to the missionary’s
question, “Will you be baptized?” The DC version states that the candidate must
truly manifest by their works that they have
received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of sins (DC 20:37).
This fruit can come in many shapes and sizes. For one it may be to throw away
the case of cigarettes, for another it may be to faithfully attend church before
baptism, for another it may be a manifestation of charitable service, for
another it may be a complete lifestyle transformation, but the individual has
to have done something to show that they are serious and penitent.
Otherwise, they are not worthy of baptism.
Bruce R. McConkie
“…no
price is too great to pay for the privilege of receiving this holy ordinance.
We must prepare ourselves for baptism; we must be worthy to make a covenant
with the Holy One; we must have a fixed and unalterable determination to
conform to his will. Otherwise baptism profiteth nothing. No ordinance is
binding on earth and in heaven unless it is ratified and sealed by the Holy
Spirit of Promise, and this Spirit is given only to those who are just and
true. Just as those who partake unworthily of the sacrament eat and drink
damnation to their souls, so those who are baptized unworthily receive cursings
instead of blessings.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 248)
Moroni 6:3 they took upon them the name of Christ, having a
determination to serve him to the end
Harold B. Lee
“Others
of the prophets asked this soul-searching question of those who were candidates
for baptism: ‘Are you willing to stand as witnesses
of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that you might be in, even
until death?’ (See Mosiah 18:9.) To the first one of those who was
baptized, the prophet who officiated said, as he was directed under
inspiration,
‘Helam, I
baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye
have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal
body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant
unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared
from the foundation of the world.’ (Mosiah 18:13.)” (Stand Ye in Holy
Places, p. 200)
Moroni 6:4 wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost
“That
which is wrought upon is changed in some basic or essential way, usually by
means of hand tools through twisting, beating, or embellishing. In this sense
used here it is symbolic and has reference to what occurs when the Spirit
quickens and changes the convert to a new creature. But an important insight is
that it is through the cleansing power of the Holy Ghost that one’s sins are
actually purged, or removed. It is the atoning sacrifice of Christ that makes
the remission of our sins possible, but the actual cleansing influence is the
baptism of fire, or of the Holy Ghost.” (Book of Mormon Student Manual,
1981, p. 509)
Moroni 6:4 they were numbered…and nourished by the good word of God
Gordon B. Hinckley
“We are
becoming a great global society. But our interest and concern must always be
with the individual. Every member of this church is an individual…Our great
responsibility is to see that each is ‘remembered
and nourished by the good word of God’ (Moro. 6:4), that each has
opportunity for growth and expression and training in the work and ways of the
Lord, that none lacks the necessities of life, that the needs of the poor are
met, that each member shall have encouragement, training, and opportunity to
move forward on the road of immortality and eternal life. This, I submit, is
the inspired genius of this the Lord’s work.” (Ensign, May 1995, p. 52 as taken from
Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas
Bassett, p. 513-4)
Gordon B. Hinckley
“It is not an easy thing to become a
member of this Church. In most cases it involves setting aside old habits,
leaving old friends and associations, and stepping into a new society which is
different and somewhat demanding. With the ever-increasing number of converts,
we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find
their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and
nurturing with ‘the good word of God’ (Moro.
6:4). It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things…The Savior of all
mankind left the ninety and nine to fine the one lost. That one who was lost
need not have become lost. But if he is out there somewhere in the shadows, and
if it means leaving the ninety and nine, we must do so to find him….In my view
nothing is of greater importance.” (Ensign, May 1997, pp. 47-48 as taken
from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas
Bassett, p. 514)
Ezra
Taft Benson
“Keeping
faithful track of each member you are called to home teach is essential. The
Book of Mormon beautifully teaches this principle: (quotes Moroni 6:4).
“Brethren,
may we remember all of our individuals and families and ‘number’ them each
month and nourish them by the good word of God to keep them in the right way.
We call upon quorum leaders to conduct spiritual monthly home teaching
interviews, receive a report on the home teachers' activities, evaluate current
needs, make assignments for the coming month, and teach, strengthen, and
inspire the home teachers in their sacred callings. Such interviews with home
teachers provide a setting for leaders to measure progress and better serve the
individuals and members they have been called to serve. (Conference Report, May
1987 Ensign, p. 51)”
Moroni 6:4 Christ…the author and the finisher of their faith
Bruce R. McConkie
“Christ
is the Author of Salvation. This means that he made salvation available to all
men in that he worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. Paul's statement
that Christ is ‘the author of eternal salvation unto
all them that obey him’ (Heb. 5:9), as the marginal reading shows, means
that he is the ‘cause’ thereof; that is, salvation is possible because of his
atoning sacrifice; without this sacrifice there would be no salvation.” (Mormon
Doctrine, p. 66)
Spencer J. Condie
“[Christ]
is ‘the author and finisher of our faith’
(Heb. 12:2). He got the job done! In humility He could honestly and sincerely
declare to His Father: ‘I have finished the work
which thou gavest me to do’ (John 17:4).” (In Perfect Balance, p.
264)
Charles A. Callis
“How
wonderful it is to have a finisher of our faith. There are many beginners in
this world, but there are few finishers.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1945,
p. 46)
Moroni 6:5 the church did meet together oft
Bruce R. McConkie
“As the
body needs bread, so also must the soul be fed. Man does not live by bread
alone; unless the soul is fed, man dies spiritually. There must be frequent
gospel banquets; the soul of man must be offered every word that proceedeth
forth from the mouth of God. And we must pray for those who come to our
meetings desiring to feast upon the good word of God, but whose souls as yet
can only digest the milk and not the meat of the word.” (The Mortal Messiah,
4:325)
Joseph
B. Wirthlin
“Ours
is the commandment and the blessing to ‘meet
together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the
welfare of [our] souls.’ In general
conferences and in other Church meetings around the world, we come together
seeking companionship—the good company of brothers and sisters in the gospel
and the comfort of sweet communion with the Spirit of God. In our worship
services, the presence of that Spirit fills our hearts with love for God and
for our fellow Saints.” (Conference Report, Nov. 1997 Ensign, “Valued
Companions”)
Moroni 6:9 the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort,
or to pray, or to supplicate…
Typically, great care is
taken to make sure that the Sacrament meeting program is well prepared in
advance. This includes thoughtful selection of speakers, music, and subject
matter. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned. The following scenario
is not uncommon: at the last minute,
the main speaker calls to explain that he has had an emergency and won’t be
able to make it. The typical response to such a planning emergency is to panic,
but no anxiety is necessary. Rather, faith in the Lord and reliance on the
Spirit can more than compensate. In fact, it is at times like these when our
sacrament meetings most closely approximate what was done among the Nephites.
At this point, the
individual conducting the meeting must follow the Spirit in deciding what to
do. Often, he will often choose members of the congregation to come forth and
bear their testimonies. Musical numbers, speakers, and testimonies have to be
arranged at the last minute according to the whisperings of the Spirit. General
Authorities, not uncommonly, will intentionally follow this pattern when they
preside over various conferences. Whether a ward meeting, a stake meeting, or a
missionary zone conference, meetings thus conducted are special. They can be
the most spiritual meetings because they invite the Spirit and are conducted by
the power of the Holy Ghost.
David B. Haight
“We have begun a great effort to ‘invite all to come unto Christ.’ (D&C 20:59.)
As the members meet—the active and the less active, the poor in spirit, the
singles and the married, the handicapped, and those who have been
disciplined—they ought to feel the Spirit, love, and forgiveness. For all of
us, this ought to be a time of prayerful meditation and thanksgiving.
“The singular tragedy of the Nephite decline as
recorded by Mormon in the Book of Mormon was the loss of the Holy Ghost and the
spiritual gifts. Wisdom and inspiration dictated that Moroni include in his
closing record the instructions by his father, Mormon, on the ordinations, the
sacrament, and practices of the Church. Noteworthy is this testimony about
their meetings:
’Their meetings were conducted by the
church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the
Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or
to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done.’ (Moro. 6:9.)
“That is the spirit that can and should characterize our worship and our sacrament meetings. A sister remarked to me after one such spiritual meeting, ‘I don’t recall all that was said—but I remember how we felt as we sang the closing hymn and bowed our heads in prayer.’ May God bless us all to remember the Savior and His atoning sacrifice and to unite in making our sacrament meetings a time of reverence, remembrance, and worship.” (Ensign, Apr. 1988, “Remembering the Savior’s Atonement”)