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Friday, July 31, 2015

The Followers of Christ Were Baptized Again (Part 3)

If, in the past, some level of apostasy has occurred over and over again, and God has repeatedly corrected and called repentance to His people, and He has consistently given to His servants the authority to baptize and He continually commanded His people to come unto Him and be baptized / re-baptized, could that pattern be repeating itself once again today? Could all this really be happening all over again? As it was with those in the past and as apostasy progressively increases today among ALL churches, would it seem reasonable that, in our time, we have need to repent and face God?

All are guilty of sin and error; All need repentance; And God requires all to receive an acceptable, authorized, and authoritative baptism in order to survive His return.

Would you be willing to read, hear, and learn about God's call of repentance to you? Would you be willing to partake of a rite designed by God to show that you have repented? Whether or not you have been previously baptized, would you be willing to consider receiving baptism / re-baptism today? Would it be valuable for you to have your name on record testifying that you recognize the Word of God, accept His current instructions, are receiving and applying them through repentance, and have been baptized as He advised? Would you be willing to acknowledge baptism as a required sign God has asked us to perform as a witness of our repentance?

The Lord gave us a serious warning: “I say, hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you; in an hour when ye think not the summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not saved.” (D&C 45:2.)

Whether you are Catholic, Mormon, Protestant, Methodist, Islam, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, or any other, would you be willing to learn, believe, and act according to the doctrine of Christ? Referring only to the doctrine of Christ, which He declared, would you consider becoming “one” with Christ and each other, independent of religion, and receiving the baptism now being offered? Would you be interested in reading and considering His Word, understanding more fully the doctrine of Christ, learning more about His offer and commandment of baptism, and being baptized by one, who has authority given him of Jesus Christ?

If you are interested, here is some information that may be helpful:

  • Doctrine of Christ
      3 Nephi 11:31-40
      2 Nephi 31:5 through 2 Nephi 32:6
      D&C 10:67-68
      Moses 6:50-68

  • Learn more about the baptism now being offered, for which the Lord vouches:
  • Receiving baptism by one, who has authority given him of Jesus Christ:

      Almost 41 years ago, I was baptized in the LDS church by my father and the words of the baptismal prayer were, “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you ...”

      Recently, I was able to identify, recognize, and receive His Word delivered by a true messenger from the presence of God. A servant, for whom the Lord vouches, teaches the truth with power, knows what he is talking about, and clearly declares the message as Christ directs it, which is independent of churches, religious authorities, public opinions, and “politically correct” views.

      In our society, the Word of God is almost always unpopular, criticized, and rejected. When I was being taught about some of my abominations, iniquities, and misunderstandings, I was surprised when I learned what I needed to do to repent. After receiving communication from God and having a few “scales of darkness” fall from my eyes, I saw that I had things upside down and backwards. I could see why Nephi would say, “Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (2 Nephi 15:20)

      I was called to repentance and instructed to be re-baptized by one with authority.

      Recognizing that apostasy in the LDS church had reached a point, which was unacceptable to God, and acknowledging the fact that my baptism, from the Lord's point of view, was no longer considered sufficient, the necessity to be re-baptized became extremely clear to me. I sought out and found an individual, who had authority given him of Jesus Christ, to baptize me using the words that Jesus instructed in 3 Nephi 11:25. During the month of September of 2014, I was re-baptized. My friend, calling me by name (my first name, or the name by which I am best known by my closest friends, not including my middle or last name) and saying, “Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you ...”, immersed me in the water, and I came forth again out of the water. This is what I recorded after my baptism:

      For the last two days, Satan has worked hard on me. He did not want me to be re-baptized. I felt extremely “blah” and weak. He attempted to persuade me that my new baptism wouldn't count. I cast out evil entities and told Satan to depart, and his influence was not welcome. As time drew nearer, I felt terribly disturbed, frustrated, and agitated. I refused to succumb to the Satanic stupidity and moved forward anyway. Contrary to my experience, my family members all seemed very excited and at peace about going to be re-baptized. It was very difficult for me, even as I was entering the water, but I continued believing the truth, cast out falsehood, and trusted in God. When I came up out of the water, I felt extremely happy and pleased and at peace, especially so after feeling an evil presence the previous two days. I am very satisfied and feel that my baptism by water is complete. I came out of the water full of joy, smiling and looking to heaven. I saw with my eyes clouds and a beautiful overcast sky, but felt and said out loud, “God is here”. I am not a man of many words, but God was with me and completely reversed my inside feelings from extreme “blah”, sadness, hopelessness, and doubt to extreme happiness, peace, faith, gladness, and hope. From the time of entering the water to the time I came out of the water was like night and day. What a change!!

1 comment:

  1. John & Jennifer,
    I am enjoying reading your series on re-baptism. The things you have written have resonated with me. I too have a witness that there is a new prophet in the land, one who has spoken with power, authority and Divine approval. Thank you for taking time to express in clear, simple, honest terms exactly what God would have His children consider at this time. If He is sending new prophets, with Divine approval, it certainly behooves those who love Him and want to gather to Him, to LISTEN and not dismiss His servants and their message without even a sincere consideration of the message! How like the children of Israel in the time of His mortal ministry we are today! Thank you again.
    Much love to you both, James Russell Uhl

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