shall merely forsake the way of the ungodly. Jesus fulfilled in His
coming the law of carnal commandments--a law which Paul asserts was
but a sort of schoolmaster to train the people and prepare them for
the coming of Jesus--and established through His ministry "the more
perfect law" of the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation. And that
law requires that those who believe in Jesus, and repent of their evil
doings, shall further take upon them His name in the ordinance of
baptism. One night, there came to Jesus a Pharisee named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews. "Rabbi," said Nicodemus, recognizing in Jesus a
power greater than his own, "We know that Thou art a teacher come from
God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be
with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Nicodemus was puzzled; for he thought, of course, only of a physical
rebirth, and could not understand how such a remarkable thing could
happen. So he asked, "How can a man be born when he is old?" Then Jesus
answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." This
Jesus said, of course, of the ordinance of baptism and of the Holy
Ghost. Not only, then, must one believe and repent, but one must also
be baptized in water in fulfillment of the requirement of the law.
Without such a renewal of the spiritual life, a man may not even see
the kingdom of God.
{131} [Sidenote: Humility and obedience the psychology of baptism.]
There are some people who pretend not to see any value in the ordinance
of baptism. How can baptism make one any better, they ask, or have any
effect on one's subsequent life? These people do not understand the
true nature of the ordinance. There was once a Syrian captain named
Naaman who became afflicted with the loathsome and infectious disease
of leprosy. At the suggestion of an Israelitish captive, Naaman sought
out the Prophet Elisha in the land of Israel, that the affliction might
be rebuked. Elisha did not even come forth to see Naaman, but sent a
messenger to him with this word: "Go and wash in Jordan seven times,
and thy flesh shall come again to thee and thou shalt be clean." Then
Naaman became angry, because he did not understand the principle of
obedience. Why should he wash in Jordan? Were not the waters of the
rivers of Damascus better than the water of Jordan? But his servants
prevailed upon him, saying, "If the prophet had bid thee do some great
thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he
saith to thee, Wash, and be clean." Here was sound reasoning, Naaman
listened; he went down to the Jordan and dipped himself seven times;
he came forth with his flesh as clean as that of a little child, and
was healed. What was it that healed Naaman? Was it the water of Jordan,
with curative powers greater than those of the rivers of Damascus?
Certainly not. Naaman bowed his haughty and powerful will to that of
God. He humbled himself; he was humiliated. He learned the lesson of
obedience, which is better than sacrifice. And the Lord God has chosen
the ordinance of baptism as the means whereby men may show their
humility, {132} their complete acceptance of the mission of Jesus,
their sincere repentance, and whereby further they may become initiated
into the Church of Jesus Christ. Here the Lord makes use of a wonderful
psychology, and baptism literally washes away sin.
[Sidenote: The law of obedience in daily life.]
Moreover, obedience and humility of the kind required by the ordinance
of baptism is demanded also in the daily walk of life. A young man in
a chemical obedience in laboratory attempted one day, by a process
of electro-plating, to put a new covering of yellow gold over his
watch case. He prepared very carefully the solution of gold-leaf in
aqua regia; he built up an excellent voltaic battery; he made all
the connections close and secure; and he cleaned carefully the old
watchcase that the new gold might be deposited upon it evenly and
smoothly. Then in the evening, when everything was in readiness, he
suspended the case properly in the gold solution, closed the circuit,
and went home, hoping to find his watch case in the morning with a
beautiful new coating of yellow gold ready to polish. But when he
entered the laboratory the next morning, and went to examine his
electro-plating, he found to his horror that his watch case was as
black as coal. What had happened? Everything was as he had left it the
evening before. So far as he could tell there was no reason why his
experiment should not have been successful. Then he resorted to his
books again. After patient searching, in the volumes on his desk, he
arose a wiser and a more careful man. He had overlooked one requirement
of the law. In the process of electro-plating, he remembered now, the
gold is deposited in its usual yellow form only when the gold solution
is warm. When the electric current is {133} passed through a cold
solution, the gold is deposited in an unusual black form. The young
chemist had learned that obedience is better than sacrifice.
[Sidenote: The example set by Jesus.]
As always, Jesus Himself practiced the doctrine that He presented to
His people. Jesus was baptized. Moreover, in His own baptism, Jesus
taught both the necessity and the proper mode of baptism. John was
baptizing in the river Jordan. Apparently, he selected places where
the water was deep; for, later in the ministry of Jesus we read, that,
John was baptizing in Aenon, near to Salim, "because there was much
water there." When He was ready to begin His ministry, Jesus went to
John to be baptized. But John forbade Him, saying, "I have need to
be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said
unto him, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill
all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. And Jesus, when He was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water." From this record, it
is clear that Jesus recognized the ordinance of baptism as essential
to salvation, and therefore set the example Himself. Then Jesus was
baptized correctly; He went down into the water; He was immersed;
He came up out of the water. For it is now an accepted fact that
John baptized by immersion. In Stanley's _Eastern Church_ occurs the
following passage, which Dr. Geikie considers of such authority that
he quotes it in his excellent _Life and Words of Christ_: "The mode of
John's baptism has been and still is much discussed, but the practice
of the Eastern Church, and the very meaning of the word, leave no
sufficient grounds for questioning that the original form of baptism
was complete immersion in the deep baptismal {134} water." This form of
baptism it was certainly that the apostles themselves practiced, else
there could be no meaning to the favorite figure of Paul, "Know ye not,
that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. For if we have been
planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the
likeness of His resurrection."
[Sidenote: The purpose of baptism.]
Do you ask what is the purpose of baptism? As has been already
suggested baptism serves to wash away sin, and to initiate the
repentant believer into the Church of Christ. John's baptism was for
"the remission of sins." Peter, the chief apostle, called to the people
on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." And it follows
that since baptism is for remission of sins, those who have not reached
the age of sinning have no need of baptism. There has grown up in
the world a vicious habit of baptizing infants and little children.
Such a practice is wrong. Jesus Himself said of little children, "Of
such is the kingdom of heaven." Infants and little children have not
learned to know the difference between good and evil. They cannot sin.
Baptism should not be administered to them till they reach the age of
discretion. "Little children need no repentance," wrote the Nephite
prophet, "neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the
fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins."
{135} [Sidenote: The door of the sheepfold.]
This then did Jesus teach: Baptism is essential; it is correctly
performed by complete immersion in water; it is for the remission of
sins; it should be administered only to those who have reached the
age of accountability; only by obedience to the law can one enter the
kingdom of God. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth
not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way,
the same is a thief and a robber. . . . I am the door: by Me if any
man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture." Only through Jesus, you see, can one enter the sheepfold, and
become a member of it. And the way to enter by Jesus was thus stated in
His final commission to the eleven apostles, just before He ascended to
heaven. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." "He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be dammed."
THE REFERENCES
Psalm 1. Acts 2:38.
John 3:1-5. Moroni 8:8-14.
2 Kings 5:1-14. John 10:1-18.
Matt. 3:13-16. Matt. 28:19-20.
Rom. 6:3-5. Mark 16:15, 16.
{136} THE QUESTIONS
1. What are the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel?
2. Show that baptism is required by the teaching of Jesus.
3. By what process does baptism wash away sin?
4. How does the law of obedience operate in the daily affairs of life?
5. How did Jesus show in His own acts that baptism is essential to
salvation?
6. What is the proper mode of baptism?
7. What is the purpose of baptism?
8. To whom should baptism be administered?
9. Summarize the teachings of Jesus concerning baptism.
10. What is the teaching of our own Church concerning baptism?
{137}
XVIII
THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST
[Sidenote: What Jesus told Nicodemus.]
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born of water and of the
spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." We have just learned
what it means to be born of water. When a man has gained the gift of
faith and believes sincerely in the saving mission of Jesus Christ;
when he has added to his faith works, and has learned to walk in the
way of the righteous--then he must be baptized by immersion in order
to fulfill all righteousness. As we have learned, such a man is then
born of water: for, by obeying the law, he has laid aside his sins,
and comes forth out of the water spiritually a new man, reborn. There
are some people in the world who hold that when a man has done all
this, he has fulfilled all the requirements, and may therefore hope to
gain admittance into the kingdom of God without observing any further
ceremony. But Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the
spirit." Evidently, then, to enter the kingdom of God, one must be born
not only of water, but also of the spirit. And to be born of the spirit
means to be born of the Holy Ghost. But, by what means may one be born
of the spirit?
[Sidenote: The laying on of hands.]
This question is a very important one, since a man may not hope to
enter the kingdom of God if he has not been born--or quickened--by
the spirit. In the preceding lesson, it was stated that the Prophet,
Joseph Smith, once stated the principal doctrines of the Church of
Jesus {138} Christ of Latter-day Saints in a sort of creed, known as
the Articles of Faith; and that the fourth article, in enumerating the
first principles and ordinances of the Gospel, names the ordinance of
the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost as the fourth
essential step in becoming a member of the Church of Christ. According
to this statement, then, one may be born, or quickened, of the
spirit--after having been baptized--through the ordinance of the laying
on of hands. But was this the teaching of the primitive church and of
the Lord Jesus Himself?
[Sidenote: The teaching and practice of Paul.]
Anxious that the saints to whom he ministered should grow in the
knowledge of God, and should not stand still merely rehearsing the
first and practice principles of the Gospel, the Apostle Paul wrote
to the Hebrews as follows: "Therefore leaving the principles of the
doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again
the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward
God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands." It is
very interesting to note that Paul lists here as one of the first
four principles the ordinance of the laying on of hands. But what use
did Paul make of the ordinance? It happened once that Paul, in his
missionary travels, came, to the city of Ephesus, and found there
certain disciples who had been baptized, apparently, by the followers
of John the Baptist. Paul asked of these disciples, "Have ye received
the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him. We have
not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said
unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, {139} Unto
John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism
of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on
Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they
heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when
Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and
they spake with tongues and prophesied." This use, then, did Paul make
of the ordinance of the laying on of hands: Upon those who had been
baptized unto Jesus, Paul laid his hands, and he confirmed them, and
the Holy Ghost then came upon them, endowing them with spiritual gifts.
Moreover, this practice was not limited to the missionary labors of
Paul alone; all the apostles likewise confirmed those who had been
baptized and conferred thus the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them.
[Sidenote: The practice of the apostles.]
Furthermore, it was understood that only such men as possessed the
necessary delegated authority from God might presume to confer the
gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. It is recorded in
the history of the doings of the apostles that Philip, a deacon, went
down to Samaria and preached the Gospel to the Samaritans. Many of the
Samaritans believed, and were baptized by Philip, among them a certain
man named Simon, "which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and
bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great
one." But Philip, apparently did not hold the necessary authority to
confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, and he was too wise and righteous a
man to attempt to do what he had no right to do. So, "when the apostles
which were at Jerusalem heard {140} that Samaria had received the word
of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come
down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: . . .
. then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Ghost." Naturally, Simon the sorcerer was very much interested in this
wonderful ceremony. Such power he had never seen manifested before. He
longed himself to possess such authority. Therefore, he offered money
to the apostles, saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I
lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him. Thy
money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God
may be purchased with money." The lesson here is perfect. The authority
to lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost may not be merely
assumed--not even by a man of such enduring faith as Philip's--neither
may it be purchased with wordly goods.
[Sidenote: The teaching and practice of the apostles derived from
Jesus.]
Of course, the apostles did nothing but what they had seen their Master
do, or had been instructed by Him to do. In this they were wholly
like Him; for He also declared, "The Son can do nothing of Himself,
but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth,
these also doeth the Son likewise." There can be no question, then,
that Jesus taught that the gift of the Holy Ghost should be conferred
by the laying on of hands by men holding the proper authority. Jesus
Himself practiced laying on of hands to confer blessings, to heal the
sick, to ordain, to authorize, and for other purposes. And He taught
very distinctly that God would not recognize any usurped authority.
"Ye {141} have not chosen me," said Jesus to the apostles, "but I have
chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit,
and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the
Father in my name, He may give you."
[Sidenote: What is the gift of the Holy Ghost?]
But what is the gift of the Holy Ghost which is conferred upon the
repentant and baptized believer by the laying on of hands? To His
apostles Jesus made this promise, "I will pray the Father, and He
shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever;
even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you." Again, Jesus said to them, further
explaining His promise, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in my name. He shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
And still continuing His instructions to these beloved disciples,
Jesus said again, "Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He
will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but
whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you
things to come." Now, we have already learned what the Holy Ghost is.
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, and is a personage
of spirit. But it appears that the special gift derived, through
obedience, from the Holy Ghost is the gift of mental and spiritual
insight--the gift of intelligence. The Comforter, said Jesus, is the
Spirit of truth; it shall teach all things, and bring to remembrance
{142} whatsoever has been heard; it shall guide into all truth, and
speak only such things as it shall itself hear; it shall show things
yet to come. To receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, is then to receive
the gift of light, and truth, and intelligence. Of this gift of the
Holy Ghost, the great Joseph Smith has said many important things.
Among others we find recorded this: "The first Comforter or Holy Ghost
has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is . . . powerful in
expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the
intellect with present knowledge." In another place, is recorded the
following: "We believe that the holy men of old spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost, and that holy men in these days speak by the
same principle; we believe in its being a comforter and a witness
bearer, that it brings things past to our remembrance, leads us into
all truth, and shows us of things to come; we believe that 'no man can
know that Jesus is the Christ, but by the Holy Ghost.'"
[Sidenote: The conditions and the source of intelligence.]
In studying about faith, and repentance, and baptism, we learned that
the same principles operate in the daily affairs of life, and underlie
all material success. So it is also with the source of principle of
the gift of the Holy Ghost. The young chemist who tried to cover his
watchcase with gold, learned to understand the spirit of truth, and
gained greater intelligence, when he obeyed fully the requirements
going before. And as he learned further the principle of obedience, he
grew steadily in scientific intelligence. So it is then with us. We are
required to exercise faith in God, and in His Son, Jesus Christ; we are
required to repent {143} of our sins, and to learn to live righteously:
we are required to be baptized by complete immersion in water for
the remission of sins; and then we are required to submit ourselves
to the ordinance of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost. When we have done all this we have fulfilled the requirements
of the law. Then our minds will be opened, and our understandings
quickened; for then the Holy Ghost can act upon us to give us light and
intelligence. This is being born of the Spirit; and therefore should
everyone obey the commandment of the Lord, "Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, for a remission of yours sins; yea, be baptized even
by water, and then Cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost."
THE REFERENCES
John 3:5. John 14:16, 17, 26.
Heb. 6:1, 2. John 16:13,14.
Acts 19:1-7. Hist. of the Church, vol. 3, page 380.
Acts 8:5-24. Hist. of the Church, vol. 5, page 26.
John 15:16. Doc. and Cov. 33:11.
THE QUESTIONS
1. What twofold requirement is contained in the teaching of Jesus to
Nicodemus?
2. How may one be born of the Spirit?
3. What was the teaching and practice of Paul concerning the laying on
of hands?
4. What was the practice of the apostles in the matter of laying on
hands?
5. Whence did the apostles derive their knowledge of the ordinance of
laying on hands?
6. What is the gift of the Holy Ghost?
7. What parallel may be found in the work of the world?
8. What is the source of intelligence?
{144} PICTURE: JESUS AND THE FISHERMEN, Zimmermann
{145}
XIX
THE FOUNDATION STONE
[Sidenote: A Resume.]
It is only natural that you should want to pause now, and review some
of the teachings that have been considered in these pages. Jesus
came to the earth to attend to His Father's business. That business
consisted of learning, Himself, to know God the Father, of teaching
all other men to know Him, and of bringing about the salvation of the
children of God. To accomplish His wonderful mission, Jesus taught
clearly what men should know about the Father and about Himself and
about the Holy Ghost; what men should know about the pre-existent life,
and why they are now upon the earth; and how they should worship God,
cultivate childlike faith in Him, and do the things that success in
worship requires. All these teachings, as we have seen, and all the
requirements, too, are in perfect harmony with natural law. To succeed
in any kind of endeavor one must follow just such steps as are outlined
by Jesus for attaining success in the struggle for exaltation. And,
certainly, we cannot rightfully hope to drift into the success of
eternal life, any more than we can hope to drift into the presidency of
the United States of America. Successful achievement is the crown of
persistent effort.
[Sidenote: A few questions.]
Now, as it is natural that you should want to pause at this point and
review these teachings, so it is natural that you should ask yourselves
such questions as these: Did Jesus intend that His disciples should
associate themselves in an organized community? Did He have in mind
the {146} organizing of a Church? Did He organize a Church? How did He
expect those who accepted His teachings to retain their devotion, and
to grow in their knowledge of God and His requirements of the faithful?
If He did establish a Church, how shall we recognize it? In this lesson
we shall discover what Jesus taught in answer to these questions.
[Sidenote: Parables by the sea.]
One day Jesus went "out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And
great multitudes were gathered unto Him, so that He went into a ship,
and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore."
Teaching the multitude in parables, Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven
is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men
slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his
way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then
appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and
said unto him. Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from
whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.
The servants said unto him. Wilt thou then that we go and gather them
up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up
also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and
in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together
first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the
wheat into my barn."
"Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His
disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the
tares of the field.