As Quin prepared to be baptized last month, I had one thing that wouldn’t leave my mind:
Make sure she knew that her baptism day was ALSO all about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. I wanted her to feel how important it was, and not just an afterthought of the visual baptism.
I mean, most of us even refer to this day as our “baptism day”, right?
And yet I’ve grown to learn that receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the most important things that happens that day.
Enoch had this figured out, though.
As Enoch taught the wicked people around him, he taught that God wanted them to turn to Him, believe, repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
But then He mentions the reason.
WHY do we want to have faith and repent and be baptized?
“If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men…
“Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.” (Moses 6:52)
What a cool perspective, right?
Obviously, making covenants at baptism is an important part of that ordinance, and I don’t want to minimize baptism at all.
And faith and repentance have individual benefits on their own.
But overall, the purpose of these gospel-essential steps are to prepare each of us to be worthy to actually receive the companionship of a member of the Godhead!
The companionship of a member of the Godhead.
The ability to be prompted, comforted, guided, taught, protected by One who has the same united purpose with our Father and our Savior.
I’m so grateful for the day that I was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and I’m grateful my daughter is now able to have this precious gift in her life, too!
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
