We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. - Article of Faith
The fourth Article of Faith explains the missionary purposes which are to help people come unto Christ through faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, baptism by immersion in water, and laying of the hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. The first thing we have to do is to understand the principles behind the acts or ordinances. We have to understand why we need to have faith in Jesus Christ and why do we have to repent? We're good people, why do we need to repent? Why do we need to be baptized? Don't we have the Holy Ghost with us already?
I've explained previously about faith. Faith is belief in things unseen. We did not see God, but we believe, we know, that He is there and that He truly exists and always watches over us. That is the meaning of faith. With repentance, we all made mistakes in this life. Although our intentions are good, we still fall short. So we have to repent for our mistakes. Repentance is not bad, it's good because it helps bring us closer to God so that we can become like Him. There's a misconception that repentance is only for those who are wicked. That's not true, repentance is for everyone. We've been given an opportunity to correct our mistakes while in this life so if we aim to live with God forever, we must do everything possible to bring ourselves closer to Him.
Faith and repentance are the principles that we believe in. Baptism and the laying of the hands for the Holy Ghost are ordinances. In another words, they are acts that show God that we are willing to take His Name upon us. Baptism is the gateway to the path that we are to undertake. When we are baptized, we make covenants to God that we are willing to follow what Alma said in Mosiah 18: 8-11, the link is provided: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=Mosiah+18%3A+8-11&do=Search
The laying on of the hands for the Holy Ghost can only be performed by those who have received authority from God Himself. No one else can perform this ordinance unless he have the priesthood authority to do so. Only the Elders of the Church of the Jesus Christ of the Latter Day (Mormons) have the authority to confer the Holy Ghost upon those who are newly brought into the fold of the Shepherd who is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. A baptism is not complete without the other. We are baptized by water because it symbolize the burial of our old lives and the start of the new one. Receiving the Holy Ghost is a baptism by fire. It cleanses us and purify us so that we will be able to stand in the presence of God again provided we endure to the end and show that we are worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
The fourth Article of Faith explains the missionary purposes which are to help people come unto Christ through faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, baptism by immersion in water, and laying of the hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. The first thing we have to do is to understand the principles behind the acts or ordinances. We have to understand why we need to have faith in Jesus Christ and why do we have to repent? We're good people, why do we need to repent? Why do we need to be baptized? Don't we have the Holy Ghost with us already?
I've explained previously about faith. Faith is belief in things unseen. We did not see God, but we believe, we know, that He is there and that He truly exists and always watches over us. That is the meaning of faith. With repentance, we all made mistakes in this life. Although our intentions are good, we still fall short. So we have to repent for our mistakes. Repentance is not bad, it's good because it helps bring us closer to God so that we can become like Him. There's a misconception that repentance is only for those who are wicked. That's not true, repentance is for everyone. We've been given an opportunity to correct our mistakes while in this life so if we aim to live with God forever, we must do everything possible to bring ourselves closer to Him.
Faith and repentance are the principles that we believe in. Baptism and the laying of the hands for the Holy Ghost are ordinances. In another words, they are acts that show God that we are willing to take His Name upon us. Baptism is the gateway to the path that we are to undertake. When we are baptized, we make covenants to God that we are willing to follow what Alma said in Mosiah 18: 8-11, the link is provided: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=Mosiah+18%3A+8-11&do=Search
The laying on of the hands for the Holy Ghost can only be performed by those who have received authority from God Himself. No one else can perform this ordinance unless he have the priesthood authority to do so. Only the Elders of the Church of the Jesus Christ of the Latter Day (Mormons) have the authority to confer the Holy Ghost upon those who are newly brought into the fold of the Shepherd who is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. A baptism is not complete without the other. We are baptized by water because it symbolize the burial of our old lives and the start of the new one. Receiving the Holy Ghost is a baptism by fire. It cleanses us and purify us so that we will be able to stand in the presence of God again provided we endure to the end and show that we are worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
