Step 3 – Baptism by immersion (and the erroneous teaching of renewing covenants by partaking of the sacrament)

Jesus and John

Why baptism by immersion in water?

Alma said: ”Show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.” (Alma 7:15).

He also said ”[be] baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?” (Mosiah 18:10)

In Moses 6, we read the following:

 59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory; 60 For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified; 61 Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment. 62 And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.

In a dry womb, without the water, no child would survive a pregnancy. There would be no births. This is easily understood and logical. In what way could the same be said about baptism by water? Without baptism by water, no child of God would survive the process of becoming born again? Or, the rebirth wouldn’t occur without the baptism by water. But, if this is the case, I need to ask, why? Is it because God has said that it should be so, and everyone has to come in at the gate (Joh. 10:1-9) and not by some other way? God’s word is law, indeed, by why does he make baptism by water his law?

Since the cleansing from sin is wrought through the Holy Ghost, baptism by water has to serve another purpose. Which?

God works in patterns. We are born back into his presence by the same elements that we are born out of his (immediate) presence. We show faith in God and his revealed word when we accept this process and show our willingness to serve him by obeying. Baptism by water is a ritual filled with symbolism capable of helping our minds penetrating deeper and deeper into the importance and meaning of the ritual. Maybe this is reason enough. The purpose of baptism by water might fulfilled when we ponder about it and when we seek God, in order to have him shed some of his light upon us and answer the questions we have.

I’ve asked God, ‘why this way?’. His answer has been… Well, the thoughts above have come to mind. And maybe that’s his answer to me right now – continue pondering and one day I will enlighten your mind in this regard. The search for the mysteries of God is the important thing in all of this, because your search conditions your heart and focuses your mind on things not of this world.

Covenants made at baptism and the renewal of these through partaking of the sacrament

From the words of Alma we can conclude that we are invited to let the baptism of water be a start for a new life as a prospective disciple of Christ. We can show our desire to follow him and keep his commandments by being baptized. He can then lead us along toward the reception of the Holy Ghost.

The teaching of renewing covenants through partaking of the sacrament is well established in the Church (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here). According to an official Church publication, doctrine is established when ”the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body of the Church)[ With divine inspiration,] counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications.” 

Neil

With this in mind, I dare to say that "renewing covenants through partaking of the sacrament" is Church doctrine. This is disconcerting, since there's ample reasons to believe that it's not true. Against the back-drop of 3 Ne. 27:8 (a Church not built on His Gospel isn't his), this might be detrimental.

In a recent (april 2015) General Conference Leadership Training, Neil L.Andersen said the following: “The title ‘renewing our baptismal covenants’ is not found in the scriptures. It’s not inappropriate. Many of you have used it in talks [pointing to the group of General Authorities, Area Seventies and General Auxiliary Presidencies in the congregation]. We have used it in talks [pointing to members of the Q12 sitting behind him]. But it is not something that is used in the scriptures, and it can’t be the keynote of what we say about the sacrament.” (Neil L. Andersen's address is found at 3:45-4:12 minutes.)

James

During the October 2014 General Conference, James Hamula spoke well about the sacrament and the atonement. In his talk, he cited/quoted/referenced about 120 scriptures. But he said nothing about the sacrament being about renewal of covenants. I guess he already then knew that this doctrine was unscriptural.

This makes me wonder where this unscriptural doctrine comes from.

Joseph Smith, as far as I’ve been able to find, never once taught that we renew our covenants made at baptism (or elsewhere) by partaking of the sacrament (I’ve searched through “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith”, “The Words of Joseph Smith” and “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith”). The teaching isn’t found in the scriptures either, just like Neil L. Andersen said.

When I’ve searched through the Journal of Discourses, I’ve found a few references to this doctrine. The earliest one is from Heber C. Kimball, given in July of 1863,

“This is what we are doing this afternoon, and, brethren and sisters, let us be faithful and remember in partaking of this ordinance [partaking of the emblems of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ], we renew our covenants, and we have a promise that we shall receive a renewal of the Holy Spirit, to enable us to be humble and to perform the duties that are enjoined upon us as Saints.” (Heber C. Kimball, JD 10:239, Heber C. Kimball, The Young Missionaries, Etc.) 

This teaching has since then been repeated so many times, that it’s like it came from the Savior himself.

In August of 1875, Brigham Young suggested another way of  renewing covenants. He said:

“You are at perfect liberty to go and renew your covenants by baptism; but if you will not live according to the instructions that are given, we object to you renewing your covenants; we do not wish you to say one thing and do another.” (Brigham Young, JD 18:70, Brigham Young, Present Revelation, Etc.) 

Interesting! Renewing covenants by re-baptism. This seems to be a sound Gospel principle as it was practiced by the disciples chosen by Jesus (3 Ne. 19:9-13) and by Alma, the convert of Abinadi (Mosiah 18:12-15). My conclusion is that whenever the Lord renews us to his path, we are invited to show this rededication by being baptized anew. I find this beautiful.

This practice was common during the earlier years of the Church.

Brigham

Brigham Young (BY), Wilford Woodruff (WW), Heber C. Kimball (HCK) och Lorenzo D. Young (LDY) taught as follows concering renewing of covenants.

"When I first met the train of handcarts my soul was full, the scene was overwhelming, our hearts were swollen, as brother Kimball said, till they felt as though they were as big as a two bushel basket. Was it sorrow that produced this? No, but joy; and why so? Because it looked as if the very flood gates of deliverance were opened, and as if we could say to the starving millions, “Come home to Zion, and improve the opportunity that is now open, and renew your covenants, reform yourselves in your lives and conduct.” (BY September 1856, JD 4:43)

Wilford

"I repeat that, as for as those who are disposed to refrain from their evils, to renew their covenants and live their religion, I will have the honor and you the privilege of going forth and renewing your covenants, otherwise their must be a separation." (WW October 1856, JD 4:94)

Heber C.

"When brother Brigham predicts that certain things will happen if the people persist in a certain course, that prediction will be fulfilled, except the people make a retraction and an atonement sufficient to satisfy the demands of justice; for that is what God requires. When that is done, the sins of the people will be remitted. I speak of this, that you may understand that your rebaptisms must be agreeable to the order laid down. It is not simply a man's saying, “Having been commissioned by Jesus Christ, I baptize you for the renewal of your covenant and remission of your sins,” but you must be subject to your brethren and fulfil the law of God. […] If I have offended brother Brigham in any way whatever—rebelled against him, lied about him, or sought to abuse him, what is the use of my going to the water to renew my covenant, until I have made satisfaction to him? The proper way would be to go to him and say, “Brother Brigham, I lied against you willfully, under the influence of an evil spirit;” or, “I have ill-treated and wronged you, and know that I must make satisfaction, and I am ready to do anything that you say.” Satisfaction must be made to the one injured, or baptism will be of no benefit: the Holy Ghost will not ratify that act until I have paid the debt. Then brother Brigham would say, “I forgive you, and pray my Father, in the name of Jesus, to forgive you also.” Then our Father in heaven would forgive you, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost would forgive you. And if you get pardon of those you have injured, and of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, you are free and ready to begin a new life. (HCK, October 1856: JD 5:202)

Lorenzo D.

"Within the last twelve months I have seen this people become more humble and prayerful, and I have seen them renew their covenants; I have seen them make restoration and restitution, and give the pledge of their sincerity and integrity; and I have seen the Spirit of the Lord poured out upon them. This also gives me exceeding joy; it affords me comfort and sweet consolation." (LDY August 1857, JD 6:235)