Some correctly understand that baptism is the form in which God has designated people to join his church,3 but most do not realize that cessation of known sin is required before anyone can be baptized into the church in a way that God will acknowledge.
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)
And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. (D&C 20:37)
Churches that do not require baptismal candidates to conform to the commandments of God as they teach are not practicing the form of baptism prescribed by the Lord.
That being said, to think of the church of Christ as an entity that controls access to the ability to repent and come unto him is to reverse roles. The Lord’s church is composed of those who align with their understanding of how he is:
67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
69 And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (D&C 10)
The important takeaway here is that baptism isn’t about joining a church, but becoming the church,823 and you don’t do that by finding an institution, but by finding a person who knows him better than you.
Footnotes
- 1. For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world. (D&C 132:5) ↩
- 2. This point is not elaborated here because it is outside of the scope of this book, but will be extensively treated in another. ↩
- 3. For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive. (Mosiah 26:22) ↩