Qualifications for baptism
In all of Christianity, few tenets are as argued over as baptism. Baptism is meant as an outward affirmation of an inward shift in your desire to align with God as far as you understand him to be and adopt his purpose with your whole heart.
Baptism is only available to those who show themselves worthy of it. Worthiness is not a question of desire, tradition, or expectation. It is a matter of choosing to submit fully to God. In order to be worthy to be baptized, a person must live as they believe God would in their place and commit to continuing to do so as God continues to teach them more about himself.1
Baptism is called the first fruit (or result) of repentance because it is meant to come after one decides to fully submit to and serve God.2 Baptism is only valid for those who have changed their thoughts, feelings, and actions to align with how they believe Jesus would live in their place.3 Thus, one should be born again before being baptized.
Footnotes
- 1. And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God. (Mosiah 5:5) ↩
- 2. ...and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it. 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 6:1-2) ↩
- 3. And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. (Moroni 6:3) ↩