Lesson 18, Baptism, Objective: To learn the importance of baptism and how baptism is performed.

Lesson 18

BAPTISM

Objective: To learn the importance of baptism and how baptism is performed.

Lesson ideas:

* Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness showing us that we too need to be baptized.

* Priesthood authority: Not everyone has been given the authority to baptize. Talk about Priests and Melchizedek Priesthood holders who are the ones that baptize.

* The qualities of those that choose to be baptized are:  They are those who humble themselves before God and desire to be baptized and come forth with a broken heart and contrite spirit.  We need to be humble and teachable and serve him to the end. (D&C 20: 37)

1. A wild horse that is tamed is referred to as broken.  Let’s do away with the wildness in our lives and come with broken hearts.

* Age of accountability:  Children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old (D&C 68:27), little children need no repentance or baptism (Moroni 8: 11).

* Who baptized Jesus? What were some of the things John the Baptist said to Jesus and others before he baptized him? (Matthew 3: 14 need to baptized of thee), (Luke 3:16 shoes I am not worthy)

* The Beatitudes found in the Book of Mormon adds a verse that is not found in the Bible. Beatitude which is found in the Book of Mormon states, “Blessed are they who shall believe in your words and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. (3 Nephi 12: 1 - 2)

* Why did Jesus who was perfect need to be baptized? (To fulfill all righteousness, Matthew 3: 15)

* Baptism in the Dictionary (Greek) means to immerse, talk about 4^th Article of Faith

* When we are baptized we take upon us His name. Let’s take care to respect his name.

       1. Name - Pres. George Albert Smith had an experience about his name.  “One day I lost consciousness of my surroundings and thought I had passed on to the other side. After I   had walked for some time and had traveled a considerable distance through the forest, I saw a man coming towards me.  I became aware that he was a very large man, and I hurried my steps to reach him, because I recognized him as my grandfather… When Grandfather came within a few feet of me, he stopped.  His stopping was an invitation for me to stop.  Then… he looked at me very earnestly and said: “I would like to know what you have done with my name.”  Everything I had ever done passed before me as though it were a flying picture on a screen—everything I had done.  Quickly this vivid retrospect came down to the very time I was standing there. My whole life had passed before me.  I smiled and looked at my grandfather and said: “I have never done anything with your name of which you need be ashamed” (George Albert Smith, Sharing the Gospel with Others. 110-111)

       2.  Take extra care NOT to take the Lord’s name in vain

       3. The Anit-Nephi-Lehies changed their names to be known as people who believed in Christ.

       4. Name changes - can you think of people who had their name changed: Saul to Paul – Jacob to Israel.

 * Covenant is a sacred agreement or promise between God and man.

       1.  We covenant with God when we are baptized.  We promise to take upon his name,     to always remember him and keep his commandments.  God promises to have his   spirit to be with us.

       2.  Another promise was made to Noah that God would never flood the earth again.

       3. Covenants are made in the Temple.

* When we choose to be baptized, we join his church and are called his people.  We bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light.  We mourn with those that mourn, we comfort those in need of comfort, we stand as a witness of God at all times and we agree to serve God and keep his commandments. (Mosiah 18: 8 -10)

Scriptures:

Bible

Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus is Baptized

John 3:5 except a man be born again

Luke 3:21 Jesus also being baptized

LDS Scripture

D&C 20:37 manner of baptism

3 Nephi 11:33 baptized, the same… saved

Mosiah 18:13-16 Alma baptizes in Waters of Mormon

Activities:

* If possible get a picture of the real River Jordan where Jesus was baptized and our baptismal fonts to see the difference.

* Bring out several different sizes of boxes or bowls and ask if anyone could be baptized in them.  Explain that there would need to be enough water for someone to be completely immersed.

* When preparing for baptisms go through the motions of having someone being baptized.

* Scramble the letters of baptized up on the table and then spell the word baptized.

* Puzzle: Cut the picture of Jesus being baptized into a puzzle and have the family help put it together.

* Name game – Hand out a piece of paper for each person and ask everyone to write each family members name on the piece of paper (first, middle and last name).  The person with the most names correct wins.  If there is a tie maybe the correct spelling or date of birth could break the tie. (This reminds us that we take on Jesus’ name, not just our own when we are baptized)

* For those that have already been baptized, they could share their experience.  For those not yet baptized, you can talk about the water and how they will be immersed gently in the water and be brought back out of it.

* Make paper footprints and place them on the ground.  Have the footprints lead to a picture of our Savior being baptized.  Have the family follow the footprints to show we are willing to follow Christ’s example and be baptized ourselves.

* Cross Word Puzzle – make a cross word puzzle using many of the names Jesus uses: Circle all the names you can find. (Acts 4:12 no other name given whereby we can be saved.)

Cross Word Puzzle:  You can make your own cross word puzzle but here is one for names of Christ; JESUS, SAVIOR, JEHOVAH, CHRIST, FISHER OF MEN, SON OF GOD, REDEEMER, HOLY ONE, MESSIAH, KING, PRINCE OF PEACE: Fill in the blanks with random letters.

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Songs:

Hymn

# 180 Father in Heaven, We Do Believe

# 116 Come Follow Me

# 45 Lead Me into Life Eternal

Children’s Song Book

# 100 Baptism

# 102 When Jesus Christ Was Baptized

# 103 When I Am Baptized