Being baptized in his name
The idea of baptism in the name of Christ is comprised of two idioms: baptism and the name of Christ. What was an exceptionally clear one line description in ancient times is a jumble of confusion in ours due to the loss of a correct understanding of either of the contributing ideas.
Baptism means immersion. Ancient believers knew that baptism by water consisted in you being immersed completely in water. Baptism in the name of Christ is also immersion, but you are immersed in his character rather than water. You are baptized in the name of Christ when you obtain and fully submit to an understanding of how the Lord is. To be baptized in his name is to immerse yourself in the example of Jesus, consistently living as he would in your place,1537 as far as you understand, at all times and in all places.1538 In place of the baptizing priest is your idea of Christ, as far as you understand him (which comes from those who know him better than you).
Valid baptism by water always includes baptism in the name of Christ, because a baptizing priest will require you to take upon yourself his name by following his example, as far as they are able to teach you, before you are baptized in water.
All people must be baptized in the name of Christ if they will be saved.1539 Very few professed Christians have immersed themselves in the name of Christ. Those who do not reconcile to their understanding of Jesus at some level cannot dwell in his kingdom. However, not everyone who is baptized in the name of Christ knows that they are baptized in his name.
The Lord provides the opportunity to be “baptized in his name” to all people, whether they explicitly believe in him or not. It is through subjection to what a person understands to be best that they are baptized by his name. While the fullest understanding of what is best requires explicit belief in Jesus, a person’s understanding of what is best might come from a different religion or secular understanding of morality.
Footnotes
- 1. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4) ↩
- 2. Behold, I will lead thee by my hand, and I will take thee, to put upon thee my name, even the Priesthood of thy father, and my power shall be over thee. (Abraham 1:18) ↩
- 3. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33) ↩
- 4. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27) ↩
- 5. And of as many as the Father shall bear record, to you shall be given power to seal them up unto eternal life. Amen. (D&C 68:12) ↩
- 6. And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, Holiness To The Lord. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. (Exodus 28:3638) ↩
- 7. Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen. (Mosiah 5:15) ↩
- 8. For example, Nephi was given power to seal because he knew and exclusively sought the will of God (see Helaman 10:4-11). ↩