[T]the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

Everything shall live because of the water.  Water of Life.

During His last Feast of Tabernacles feast day, Jesus referenced Ezekiel’s vision as He taught the people.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

In our generation, the Lord explained the process of flowing living water a little more clearly.

But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.

Why Do We Need Living Water?

The Fall brought death into the world. In Moses 6, Moses taught that earthly birth came by water, blood, and spirit.  However, because of the Fall, we die.

That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory; For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;

The Savior’s atonement transcended and overcome the Fall.  He embodied the living water, blood, and Spirit necessary to become immortal. Immortality is given to all of Heavenly Father’s spirit children through Jesus Christ’s grace.

That is such an awesome gift! But we have an even greater opportunity, if we choose to accept it.  If we’re cleansed by living water and sanctified by His blood, we can “enjoy…eternal life in the world to come.”   Life with God. Life that heals and creates life. Life that flows in and through all things.  Living Water.

A first step to being cleansed by living water is baptism.  As we’re immersed in water by one having authority, our old selves “die” and we are spiritually reborn. We covenant to be new creatures and live according to Heavenly Father’s commandments.

The Woman at the Well

I love that we designate the Samaritan woman Jesus talked to in John 4 as “the woman at the well.” Extra-canonical works identify her as Photine and describe her extraordinary dedication to the Gospel, I love meeting her as the woman at the well.

The image of that resonates so deeply with my soul. Here a woman brings a vessel to draw and carry water. It’s a task, a daily chore, probably something she’s done her entire life.  Are her thoughts distracted?  Regardless of her circumstances, she goes to the well, with a pitcher to be filled.

And Jesus, instead of bypassing Samaria, decided “he must needs go through Samaria.” And so on that particular, eternally significant day, Photine met the Living Water at the well of her fathers.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Come and Drink

Am I drinking of His water? Are the “dead” things in my life healed and living? How often do I visit the well? What am I doing to become a “well of living water springing up unto everlasting life?”

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Each Sunday, an authorized servant of Jesus Christ passes me a tiny vessel already full of water and invites me to drink. Depending on me and how I approach the Sacrament and my covenant, that water could be just plain water to me and have no impact whatsoever. But by the power of the priesthood, that water is blessed to sanctify. It is Living Water if I present myself a willing vessel.

Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;

Come unto Him and drink.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Reference: My main source of reference is a talk by Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary General President. It was given in April Conference, 2014. She quotes some of the Brethren, but all of my quotes come from her talk. I encourage you to read the whole talk. It is wonderful. Here is the link: Keeping Covenants Protects Us, Prepares Us, and Empowers Us

What do you think?

What is our purpose on Earth?

First off I would like to ask you some personal questions. This is to set up the basis for what I am proposing here. As you read the questions, answer them in your head then go on to the next question.

1. Why do you think you are on earth? What is your purpose here?
2. Is there something that only the members of the Church are supposed to accomplish or are all of God’s children supposed to do something while here?
3. Do you think our Father in Heaven had an actual plan that included certain things for every single child or do you think his plan was different for each child?

My claims

I am going to make some claims about the answers to the questions I just asked. Hopefully, I can back up all my claims using quotes from the General Authorities of the Church.

Think about the Grand Council in heaven before we came here. When our Father in Heaven presented the plan of happiness, do you think it only included the choice of who to send as Savior? I don’t think so. Do you think that when he told us of his plan to create a world just for our mortal experience that he didn’t think past getting us here? I don’t think so.

I submit that in that council meeting we were taught all the finer points of our Father’s plans to exalt each and every one of us. These plans include all of God’s children, not just those who happen to belong to the Church in mortality. I submit that God wants to exalt each and every child with equal longing.

I don’t believe that any of His children are dispensable. He wants us all back in his presence. But what is required for us to return to his presence? There are two crucial things that must happen, the first is the covenant of baptism, the second is the series of covenants we make in the temple.

When we enter mortality we become separated from our Father in Heaven forever, unless we accept Christ’s atoning sacrifice and choose to make sacred covenants with God to obey Christ in all things, so Christ can forgive our sins, making us pure enough to be able to live with God again someday.

This process requires that we all be brought back into the family of God through covenants. This is what happens when we accept the atonement and are sealed back into the family of God. Every man, woman, and child will need to be sealed back into the family of God through covenant before the great work of our Redeemer can be considered complete. Hence the tremendous need for temple work.

But to get to the temple to be sealed, we all must first be baptized, since baptism is the first covenant we make with God. It is the gateway covenant. Do you think that only those who are currently Mormons are supposed to make covenants? Are only those who are currently Mormons supposed to get sealed? Heaven forbid! Our Father in Heaven requires these covenants from every child, for without these covenants we would be lost to him. By “every child” I mean every mortal who has ever lived or who ever will live.

The need for covenants

Covenants are critical to any of God’s children getting back to him. Sister Wixom says, “Keeping covenants protects us, prepares us, and empowers us.” Keeping covenants protects God’s children from sin. Keeping covenants prepares God’s children to re-enter His presence as worthy individuals, ready to be exalted, which is why we came here in the first place. Keeping covenants empowers us to be more obedient than we can be without covenants. For covenants are what enable us to have the gift of the Holy Ghost, he who warns us, guides us, protects us, and strengthens our resolve to be obedient and to do good always.

Elder Robert D. Hales asks us, “Do [we] understand and do [our] children understand that when [we] are baptized [we] are changed forever?”

 

He also explained that “when we understand our baptismal covenant and the gift of the Holy Ghost, it will change our lives and will establish our total allegiance to the kingdom of God. When temptations come our way, if we will listen, the Holy Ghost will remind us that we have promised to remember our Savior and obey the commandments of God.”

Washington DC Temple

Once we have started down the road of covenant making with God we are no longer on neutral ground. It takes understanding to make a covenant with God. Once we understand something we are held accountable for it. Our performance or lack thereof now becomes the basis for our judgment at the last day. So yes, making a covenant with God changes everything. Once we understand what our Father in Heaven wants for us, even refusing to be baptized has eternal consequences. We can only be saved in ignorance if we never have the opportunity to learn of God’s will for us. Once we know His will, we are no longer on neutral ground, and we are accountable to Him for our choices.

Elder David A. Bednar said: “As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple.”

Sister Wixom continues:

Temple ordinances lead to the greatest blessings available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. They are those ordinances necessary for our exaltation in the celestial kingdom. As we strive to keep our covenants, our feelings of inadequacy and imperfection begin to fade, while the ordinances and the covenants of the temple come alive. Everyone is welcome to walk that path to eternal life.

Big picture

We revel in each child’s baptism. We remind them how important this ordinance is because it will lead them to the temple and all of its blessings. But do we stop to consider all the other children and adults in this world who have need of the same covenant so they can get to the supreme blessings found only in the temple?

There isn’t a single child who has ever come to mortality that is not required to be baptized in order to return to our Father in Heaven. It is a universal requirement. Just as universal is the requirement that every child of God receive the covenants of the temple. He cannot exalt us without these covenants. These are the required parts of exaltation, not optional parts, or parts for only some of God’s children.

To read more of Kelly Merrill’s articles, click here.

So yes, you were born to be baptized. This covenant is a requirement for exaltation, which is the reason we came to mortality in the first place. It is required for you and for your atheist neighbor down the street. It is a universal requirement. Being baptized only starts us on the path to exaltation. The temple doesn’t end the journey, it only furthers the journey.

Once we have been baptized and have gone through the temple (and are sealed to a spouse if we are so lucky), we still have a lifetime of obedience ahead of us to prove to ourselves and to our Father in Heaven that we are willing and able to obey anything Christ’s requires of us to get back home. But all of God’s children need baptism, not just those we go to support in extended family gatherings in the Stake Center each month. We were ALL born to be baptized.

Kelly P. Merrill

Kelly Merrill is semi retired and writes for https://gospelstudy.us. He lives with his wife in Idaho. His strength is being able to take difficult to understand subjects and break them down into understandable parts. He delights in writing about the gospel of Christ. Writing about the gospel is his personal missionary work to the members of the Church and to those of other faiths who are wanting to know more about Christ’s gospel and His Church.

gospelstudy.us

My husband and I were living in Japan when I met the missionaries. I had a great testimony of Christ from my childhood upbringing. I had been searching for more truth about Him ever since I was a child and especially now being a new bride with a stepson to raise. I knew a little about the Book of Mormon and Christ visiting the American continent from a friend in high school who was a member of a splinter group of the Latter-day Saints, but I had never heard the full story of the restoration. When the missionaries came to our apartment in Japan, their message filled in all the questions I had had since childhood. I was happy to set a baptismal date. But an atheist who was my husband’s friend had planned to vacation with us the very week of my baptism. I wanted my husband to be present but I didn’t want his friend’s spirit to disrupt the most wonderful time of my life. So our guest did not attend, but he was waiting for us when we returned home.

That night he and I had a one-sided conversation on religion. He dominated the discussion, telling me about his falling away from God, his disillusionment with religion, his disdain for doctrine of any kind, and his enlightenment at the realization of atheism. He was a smooth talker, the kind of man I would imagine Korihor to be (an anti-Christ character in the book of Mormon.) I was not equipped to have a Bible-bashing type debate. I knew the church was true, I knew my decision was right, but I had a young and tender testimony. I didn’t know where to find the scriptural references to back up my decisions. I’m not a verbose person. I’m more apt to contemplate things deeply and I was taught as a child to quietly respect your elders. So I sat there and listened, praying all the while to remember the feelings I knew were true and to simply get through the night so I could call the missionaries the next day and have them help me get over the ugly feelings I was having during this conversation.

After about three hours of listening to his biased debate, a thought came to my mind. I felt a sense of confidence buoy it up, so I took a chance and let it out. “If you’re right and there is no God, then when we die, we’ll never know. But if I’m right, when you die, an angel will meet you on the other side. He’ll introduce himself as the angel Moroni and he will welcome you to “Phase Three” of your life, where you’ll learn all the lessons of the gospel that you didn’t have the opportunity to learn during “Phase Two”.” The atheist finally stopped talking. A gleam reflected in his eyes and a smile broadened his face. He stared back at me in silence for what seemed like an eternity, and then he asked, “Is that what you believe?”

My atheist friend had never heard of the plan of salvation. He had rejected his religious upbringing—doctrine that focused on Christ but had lost plain and precious truths like the plan of salvation. He had never thought of an afterlife with a purpose, where those who did not have a chance to hear or accept the gospel would be given that chance. He had clouded his mind with the image of a cruel God, merciless to those who would not subject themselves to his will, quick to punish with an eternal wrath. The plan of salvation was a startling new idea to him. For the first time he learned how it maps out a loving step-by-step guide of mankind’s progression beginning with a pre-earth life existence, a chance to come to earth to learn and grow, and a post-earth life existence where all of His children will have the opportunity to learn and progress even further. This plan is one of love and acceptance, not hate and exclusion. It offers opportunity to all of mankind, regardless of one’s social, geographical, economic, or political upbringing. The pompous will be made humble and the meek will rise to their level of exaltation—equally loved in the eyes of the Lord. It means even the vilest of sinners can repent and start over if they are willing to listen and to have a change of heart.

I could tell he was intrigued—why wouldn’t he be? All his life he felt death was a dead-end to happiness. If he died unreconciled to God he would be damned, so in order to avoid such a dismal eternity, he decided God did not exist. His alternative was equally dismal, but I suppose it offered him some degree of comfort because it absolved him from responsibility for his actions. But the plan of salvation was an alternative he hadn’t considered before. The light in his eyes was new and fresh, like he had just come up out of a pool of water—invigorated from the cool wetness softening a rough and dry exterior around his heart. Without even knowing it, he was receiving a prompting from the very spirit whose existence he vehemently denied.

The power of the Holy Ghost goes beyond our earthly ability to persuade. We have been taught that the Holy Ghost was sent by Jesus Christ as a Comforter to his followers after he left them. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and is vital in testifying of truth—all truth—but especially the truthfulness of God’s eternal plan. He speaks in a still small voice that often comes to us as impressions or thoughts. Training your heart to recognize it can take a lifetime, but it gets easier when we live our lives according to the gospel truths we have been taught. Listening to the promptings from the time I was a young child led me to the fullness of the gospel as an adult. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism allowed me the privilege of His companionship as long as I remain worthy to receive it. Witnessing the spark in the eyes of our atheist guest was a testimony of the workings of the Holy Ghost in another person—bearing witness to truth.

It was twenty-six years ago this weekend when I received baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have spent years doing my best to follow the promptings in my everyday life. Some days are better than others, but the promise is still binding—by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:5.)

To view more of Nanette’s articles, click here.

I wish I could say this man’s heart changed permanently that day. In reality, he was too set in his ways to explore further. I had my own struggles, being a new and tender branch of this discipleship, in need of protecting my own growth from the elements of doubt and scorn. But what was born witness to me that day was truly unforgettable—the Holy Spirit whispered a truth to me that I was able to convey in a way that made sense to our guest. And while it was not enough to change an atheist’s heart overnight, it was enough to strengthen my own testimony at a time when I needed it—perhaps more than he—for it made clear to me my relationship with God, His love for me as His daughter, and the true and undeniable pathway to my heavenly home.

Nanette ONeal

Nanette O’Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.

Last week we saw in the parable that one man alone had the proper ladder. He lowered it from above and climbed down to help us up. Christ is the one man and the ladder is a symbolic representation of His atoning sacrifice and ultimate resurrection. The ladder has two long planks, each of equal importance; each representing what Christ did when he partook of the Atonement.

The Importance of the Two Planks

The first plank represents the suffering he went through for each of us, both in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. The weight of all the sorrows, sufferings, sins, and pain of mankind pressed on Him for three hours during the night before His crucifixion. It caused Him to bleed from every pore. And yet he survived. He was the only one who could have, being divine in nature from His Father in Heaven. And the reason for this suffering? So that our weak and mortal bodies would not have to go through the agony. We would not have survived it. He was divine, he had the added strength and help from above. And his flawless life made Him the only one qualified to endure.

The second plank represents his ability to overcome death. While Christ had the power to remain alive, He was willing to lay down His life. He suffered on the cross for three hours before he gave up the ghost. This He did so that He could take up His life again for our sake, which He did when after three days in the tomb, His spirit was reunited with His body and He became a perfected being. Mary was the first to witness this event. She came to His tomb on the morning of the third day to dress and care for his body. She was met by an angel who told her He had risen. She was the first of many to witness the resurrected Savior. He visited His twelve apostles, ate with them, and allowed them to feel the wounds in His hands and feet so they knew of a surety that He had indeed overcame the sins, suffering, and mortality of the world.

We Must Climb the Ladder One Rung at a Time

This is the story of the Atonement. But our story with the ladder is left unfinished. We last saw the entire human race down in the pit with their Savior and the ladder. The people knew this man was the only one with the right ladder to save them. But what good is the correct ladder if you won’t start to climb?

Taking a step on the first rung of the ladder is an act of faith. We are taking his word for it at this point. How can we be sure? Sometimes we need to act in faith before a witness of truth can be seen. The first rung is faith—faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith that He is who He says He is. Faith that He will do what He says He will do. We may not have much to go by, but we can exercise faith, for at least one step. And that’s where the miracle begins.

We see He is there with us, right behind us, guiding our steps. If we are injured He helps us along the way. Some people are too weak to make it on their own. That’s alright. He will carry us when we need it. He does this for each and every one of us.

Now it’s your turn to get on the ladder. Do you hesitate or do you take the leap of faith and begin the climb? Christ is there for you just as he had been for the others. Your heart softens and you take another step onto the next rung—the rung of repentance.

I don’t know how anyone can begin the climb toward our heavenly home and not stop to give gratitude to our Savior who provides the way. If it were not for his suffering, we would never make it. If it were not for His crucifixion and resurrection, we would not be promised the same glorious outcome. Repentance is the perfect way to show our Savior the gratitude in our hearts for what He did for us. And the beauty of the matter is, each rung up the ladder represents other things we can do to show our gratitude, too.

The next rung is baptism—an ordinance of the gospel that even Jesus participated in. Baptism is an outward expression of our commitment to the Savior. Christ set the example by being baptized, and the practice continued from that point on. Babies and small children are innocent and do not require baptism, but those who are older need it. When people die without it, we should not worry for them. In Christ’s church, even back in Paul’s day, the practice of baptism for the dead by proxy was a common occurrence (1Corinthinas 15:29). Christ would not set up his church in such a way as to exclude some of His children simply because they died before baptism. He had a back-up plan because He is perfect.

The next rung is to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, another ordinance given to us when we decide to climb the ladder, or when we commit to the plan of the Savior. The gift of the Holy Ghost provides comfort, promptings, and clarity of mind to help us through our daily lives.

Most Important Rungs – Faith and Repentance

There are more rungs to climb, but what I love to remember is that two of these rungs come up more frequently than others—faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance. Faith is an action word that drives us daily to make good choices which align our will to the will of our Savior—to stay on the ladder, so to speak. Repentance is a cleansing of the heart that can and should be done daily because we make mistakes along the way.

One more rung that comes up regularly is partaking of the emblems of the sacrament (or communion as it is called in other Christian denominations). Taking the sacrament is like being baptized again—we are washed clean of sin and we can start fresh. So while the “baptismal rung” comes up once, the “sacrament rung” acts in the same manner as the baptismal rung, but it comes up weekly as we attend church. This allowing us to climb one step further up the ladder toward Heaven.

Stay on the Ladder

The key is to stay on the ladder. Your Savior is right behind you. If you fall off, he’ll come down and help you back on, no matter how many times this might happen. He’s not going to pull up the ladder without you. Remember, no one will be left in the pit.

If we remember that the two planks of the ladder represent Christ’s part in the Atonement, and the rungs are like the ordinances and laws of the gospel, we’re ready to understand how this entire system is a two-way covenant between us and the Lord—the topic for next week.

Nanette ONeal

Nanette O’Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.

Why Mormons Wait for Age 8 to Baptize

A Mormon girl is baptized

Mormons believe that baptism should be a choice, even for children. They need to be old enough to have at least a basic understanding of gospel principles and know how to pray to be sure this is what God wants them to do.

Mormons believe that children younger than age eight cannot sin, because they aren’t old enough to really make choices. They often don’t know right from wrong, and they need time to learn and to practice being good Christians. Children who die younger than age eight return directly to Heavenly Father’s presence, regardless of how they lived their lives on earth or what religion, if any, they belonged to. They are not accountable for their choices.

During those seven years, their parents are responsible for teaching them right from wrong and helping them learn how to make good choices. Their church teachers and leaders help. Following is an explanation of some of the ways Mormons help their children prepare to be baptized on or near their eighth birthdays.

Learning Mormonism at Home

Mormon parents believe that preparing their children for baptism and teaching them to be good Christians is the responsibility of the parents. The Church’s role is to help the parents.

They begin by setting a good example for their children. They try their best to live their faith so their children can see what they do and try to emulate it. They know their children learn best simply by watching their own parents and that children often want to be like their parents.

These parents also establish good habits for their family. The Church has introduced a range of programs parents can introduce into their homes to help with that process.

Family Home Evening

One evening a week, usually Mondays, Mormon families gather together to learn their faith in the home. They choose their own lessons, based on what they feel their family needs to know. They can use church resources or create their own materials.

The meetings usually follow a standard procedure, but family members take turns carrying out each duty, so even little children learn how to lead music or conduct a meeting. Young children often even teach the lessons with the help of an older family member.

Most meetings begin with a hymn and family prayer. Following this, they may carry out family business as needed before going on to their lesson for the week. This is sometimes done after the lesson. Many families play games together for a while following the serious parts of the evening and then enjoy a treat. The evening is a wonderful way for busy families to make sure they reserve some memorable quality time together.

Family Prayers

Mormon families try to hold family prayer at least twice a day, mornings and evenings, as well as at shared meal times. This lets the parents model an appropriate prayer—given from the heart, not from recited pieces—and allows parents to teach children that prayer is a way to communicate with God when the family faces challenges or is joyful.

Personal Prayers                        

As soon as Mormon children can repeat prayers, their parents teach them how to say their own personal prayers. At first, they may only repeat the words their parents tell them to say, but before long they are holding their own conversations with God twice a day or more often. They learn how to build a very personal relationship with God, discussing their own thoughts and sharing their lives with Him.

Choosing and Honoring Values

Parents help children learn what God and Jesus Christ want us to do. They help their children learn how to set priorities and how to make moral decisions that come about in their lives. They demonstrate this through their own lives, and when the children encounter an issue, they help the children learn how to make their own decisions about handling the challenges.

Children can often make wise moral choices at an early age, and Mormon parents have faith in their children. They encourage children to be worthy of what their parents know they can learn to do. Often, as I teach children at church, even the very young ones will share experiences in which they encountered moral decisions and chose the Christ-like path for themselves.

When children make mistakes, parents teach their children how to repent and to make changes for the future. Although God does not hold little children accountable for their mistakes, they do need to learn what to do when they make one and this time allows them to practice the proper procedures and also to fill their hearts with a love for following Jesus Christ and a sadness for mistakes.

Learning at Church

At church, children begin to attend classes at age eighteen months. They begin by attending a nursery where they play with toys, learn church songs, have a snack, and enjoy a simple and brief lesson. These lessons bring the gospel to the very simplest level and is taught through pictures and simple activities.

When they are three, they begin to attend regular classes. The first classes are fairly basic, but they gradually move up in complexity and many adults, reading the manuals for children who have been baptized, are surprised at just how much those children are learning. Even when I taught little children, I was at first surprised at how much young children are taught and how eager they are to learn it. I’ve learned not to water down the lessons we’re asked to teach. They understand much more than I once gave them credit for.

Read the actual lessons taught to Mormon children at Church.

The children I am teaching this year just completed an entire year on the life of Jesus Christ, as taught in the New Testament of the Bible. This year, they will be studying the Book of Mormon, which also includes many lessons on Jesus Christ and His teachings. They will mingle learning the stories with learning how Jesus Christ wants them to live their lives. They will also study basic Mormon beliefs, preparing them for their baptisms as they turn eight throughout the year.

My students are ready for baptism. As I’ve taught them for the past several months, I’ve been impressed that they have not just memorized a lot of information. They think deeply and some of the discussions that arise in our class would stump adults. One child will ask a deep question and other

Mormonism
To read more of Terrie’s articles, click the picture.

children will offer powerful thoughts on the topic. They care about their Savior and they want to understand—really understand—what He wants them to know. Their love for Him is very deep and they demonstrate that they have spent a great deal of private time thinking about their faith.

They are ready—even more ready than I was as a teenaged convert—for their baptisms. They have learned what they are agreeing to at their baptisms and have made personal commitments to live as Jesus wants them to live. When they meet with their bishop (pastor) to share their testimonies and their desire for baptism, they will be ready to commit to an eternal life with their Savior and with their God.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Baptisms Declining

Deseret News reports that Baptist baptisms are at their lowest point since 1948, with just 314,959 in 2012. Mormons, a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are one of the few churches still experiencing growth in number of baptisms. They are reported to be the second fastest growing religion in America by the National Council of Churches, although the Mormons themselves do not make that comparison, noting that churches count their members in different ways. Membership in the Mormon faith recently reached 15 million people.

Deseret News notes that the decline most churches are facing comes from a general reduction in religious interest overall. Fewer people attend church or consider membership in a religion important, even if they consider themselves spiritual. (See Herb Scribner, Royal christening comes despite drop in baptisms, Deseret News, Oct. 23 2013.) In addition, more people are married outside of their own religion and so avoid baptizing a child into a church until the child is older and can make a personal decision. Fewer people are married in churches, making them less motivated to follow through with other sacraments.

Prince George’s baptism was carried out in a fairly traditional manner without a great deal of press and fanfare. Only family attended. He was dressed in an elegant white gown that was a replica of the one used by every royal infant since Edward VII. Six godparents were named and parental advice was offered by officiating clergy. The infant is three months old.

Do Mormons Baptize Infants?

Mormons do not baptize infants, but they do give newborns a name and a blessing in a brief ceremony held at the start of regular church services (in most cases). This is normally done within a few months of the child’s birth. An authorized Melchizedek priesthood holder acts as voice (speaks the blessing) and other priesthood holders are invited to participate. The men stand in a circle holding the baby with one hand and placing their hands on the shoulder of the man next to them while another priesthood holder, usually a teenage boy, holds the microphone. The Mormons have a lay ministry and any worthy man who is eighteen or older can hold this priesthood.  Because of this lay priesthood, babies are often blessed by their own fathers or grandfathers.

The child is given an official name that will be entered in the church records and is the same name used in legal records. Then the priesthood holder gives the child a blessing as inspired by the Holy Ghost and closes in the name of Jesus Christ. Generally, the father or person speaking the blessing will hold the baby up so members can see the infant, although this is not required.

Mormon Baptisms at Age Eight

Baptisms are not performed until the child is eight years old. This is when Mormons teach that children become accountable for their sins. Until that time, Satan has no control over them and the mistakes they make are just that—mistakes of a child who is still learning right from wrong.

Mormons believe the atonement of Jesus Christ covers the sins of Adam and Eve and also the mistakes of young children. There is, therefore, no risk to a child who dies before age eight, and he or she returns home to God as pure as when the child was first born. This information is extremely reassuring to parents whose child dies very young—sometimes even before baptism would have been possible.

For Mormons, the innocence of young children is further proof of the love and fairness of God. He knows where and when each child is born and knows even before the child is born whether or not the parents will have him baptized. It would be extremely partial of God to intentionally place one of his beloved children into a setting in which he can receive a baptism and another into a setting in which he cannot.

In many religions, a child who happens to die before the baptism can occur is considered unable to be saved. This would mean he is punished for a situation over which he has no control, and that would be unjust. God is never unjust.

What Happens to an Unbaptized Child Who Dies?

While some faiths, struggling to explain their view, suggest that perhaps because God knew the child would never have chosen baptism anyway, it didn’t matter where he was sent in mortality. However, Mormons believe that God did not send anyone to earth to fail. Even though He does indeed know everything, He loves us and wants us to succeed. He longs for us to make the right choices in life. As a result, he gives us the opportunity to do that. Even those who die without having received a proper witness from the Holy Ghost after age eight will have the opportunity to accept or reject the gospel of Jesus Christ after death.

If a Mormon child reaches age eight and his parents choose not to have him baptized, the child is not held accountable. We are accountable only for those things we can control. The parents will be held accountable for their choice, and the child is accountable only for those things he knows and is free to do.

Mormon baptisms are done by immersion, as was the baptism of Jesus Christ. They are performed by a priesthood holder—often a relative of the child—who immerses the child entirely under water for a moment after saying the baptismal prayer. Following the baptism, the child changes out of the white baptismal clothing and into dress clothing. He or she is then confirmed a member of the Church and can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.

How Mormons Prepare Children for Baptism

Preparation for baptism begins when a child is very young. Children learn to pray in their families and participate in family scripture study. Each week, the family holds a weekly Family Home Evening as well, in which a brief gospel message is presented, followed by family activities.

Children also learn the gospel in their church classes, which begin with “nursery” at eighteen months. In increasingly challenging classes, they learn everything an older convert would be taught. They also learn how to pray to know whether or not the Church is true and whether or not God wants them to be baptized. They are taught to do this before their baptisms, and while they might seem very young to receive such an answer, Mormons have faith in their children—as does God. They are also encouraged to pray for a testimony of Christ as needed throughout their lives. Mormons believe baptisms must be performed of a person’s free will after receiving confirmation from God that it is the right thing to do.

While Mormons do not perform infant baptisms, they often attend the ceremonies of friends of other faiths. They don’t normally assign godparents to their children but many do serve as godparents for children of other faiths. There is no opposition to this; it simply isn’t part of their tradition.

Mormons, like people of many faiths, were very interested in the infant prince’s baptism and appreciated the family’s desire to keep it a spiritual and essentially private event. For Mormons, baptisms of any faith are sacred events to be honored and cherished.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

The Book of Mormon, of course, does not actually use the word Christian in this section, which occurred in Old Testament times. The term developed in New Testament times and was initially used by outsiders to describe the followers of Jesus Christ. In 2 Nephi 31, we are continuing to follow Nephi’s sermon. Nephi was a prophet who came from Jerusalem just before the fall and is now living in what is today known as the Americas. He talks to his followers about the “doctrine of Christ.” This is a singular term, so it is not referring to everything Jesus taught. Jeffrey R. Holland, a Mormon apostle, said,

In the Book of Mormon, ‘the doctrine of Christ’ is simple and direct. It focuses on the first principles of the gospel exclusively, including an expression of encouragement to endure, to persist, to press on. Indeed, it is in the clarity and simplicity of ‘the doctrine of Christ’ that its impact is found. …

… The doctrine of Christ is not complicated. It is profoundly, beautifully, single-mindedly clear and complete” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 49–50, 56).

The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are, to Mormons, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. These are listed in the Articles of Faith, a summary of thirteen Mormon beliefs. It is these four principles that are the subject of this portion of Nephi’s sermon.

Baptism

Nephi reminded his listeners that the purpose of baptism is to wash away our sins. However, Jesus Christ was perfect and had no sins. Despite this, He insisted his cousin John baptize Him. Why bother if He didn’t need to have sins washed away?

And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water? Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments (verses 6-7).

Jesus, then chose to be baptized to demonstrate to His Father that He had humbled Himself before God and would keep all the commandments. Besides washing away our sins, baptism is also a time to make covenants with God. A religious covenant is one in which we promise to do certain things. If we do them, God promises to do specific things for us. Mormons who are baptized promise to take on themselves the name of Christ and to keep the commandments. Jesus, being the Christ, committed Himself to do God’s will, and that included being baptized. Nephi reminded his listeners that if Jesus Christ needed to be baptized, they definitely needed to be baptized. It is not an optional stage of
Christianity.

Jesus’ Commandments

Jesus asked us to follow Him. Nephi asks how it can be possible to follow Jesus Christ if we don’t keep the commandments. One of those commandments was to repent and be baptized, and so it is important that we do this.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel (verse 13).

As we’ve mentioned in earlier articles, and as Nephi says here, we have to keep the commandments with full purpose of heart and no hypocrisy. What does that mean? It means that we aren’t saved by keeping the commandments. We are saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ. However, keeping the commandments is a sign of our faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ—but only if it is done for the right reason. If we are keeping them for show or to save ourselves, they have no value. If we keep the commandments because we love God and Jesus Christ, they do have value because they are the outward demonstration of an inward faith. Would you really believe someone is a Christian if he made no effort to live a Christ-like life? Is it easier to be Christ-like as your faith grows stronger? It is and that is what Nephi means when he says to follow the Son with full purpose of heart. We must not be like those described by former Mormon leader Marion G. Romney who “try to serve the Lord without offending the devil.” (“The Price of Peace,” Ensign, Oct. 1983, 6)

Endure to the End

And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved (verses 15-16).

What does it mean to endure to the end? The answer can be found in the Bible, when Paul says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Paul is telling Timothy that it is not enough to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and then wander back to our former life. We have to finish the course—continue living a Christian life until we die, keeping the faith until the very end. Paul had done just that.

Nephi explains, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life (verse 20).

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, finished his long sermon on Jesus Christ by discussing Jesus’ baptism. Remember that this sermon occurred about 559–545 B.C., so Jesus has not been born yet. However, Nephi has seen visions that taught him about the life of Jesus Christ.

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

Nephi reminded his people that he had taught of a prophet who would baptize Jesus Christ. This, of course, was John the Baptist. He addressed the issue of why Jesus Christ needed to be baptized at all. Baptism is most often referred to as a way to wash away our sins after we repent, so we can be born again and start over in God’s eyes. Jesus Christ was perfect and had no sins.

Nephi explained that Jesus, although not needing repentance, was baptized to fulfill all righteousness:

Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.

And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son (2 Nephi 31:7-11).

Jesus set the example for us by being baptized. Nephi asked his listeners if they could really think baptism was optional when even Jesus Christ was baptized. Clearly, it is not. Baptism has a number of spiritual purposes. One is to wash away our sins. Another is to obey God’s commands. Another is to make our first covenant with God.

A covenant is a two-way promise between God and man. God sets the terms and we must fulfill our part in order to receive His part. When we are baptized, we promise to take on ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and to keep His commandments. In return, God promises to forgive us when we repent and to let us live with Him forever.

Why Do We Have to Obey the Commandments?

As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, obedience to the commandments has to be done for the right reasons:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel (2 Nephi 31:13).

Being baptized allows you to begin working to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, also known as the baptism of fire. The Holy Ghost testifies to us of truth, keeps us safe, and guides us along the path back to God.

For many, it is an easy thing to commit to accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and to be baptized. Those are one-time events. The harder part is to press forward and endure to the end. It’s not enough to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and then to go on living as you did before you made that change. Baptism is the beginning, not the end.

“Coming unto Christ is not a single event with a fixed point of beginning or ending; rather, it is a process that develops and deepens during a lifetime. As an initial step in the process, we certainly must obtain knowledge and learn about Jesus and His life, teachings, and ministry. But truly coming unto Him also requires consistent obedience and striving to become like Jesus in our thoughts, motives, communications, and actions. As we ‘press forward’ (2 Ne. 31:20) on the pathway of discipleship, we can draw near unto the Savior with the expectation that He will draw near unto us; we can seek Him diligently with the hope that we shall find Him; we can ask with confidence that we shall receive; and we can knock anticipating that the door shall be opened unto us (see D&C 88:63)” (“Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 2).

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

What happens to children who die without having completed these steps, either because no one baptized them, they were too young to make their own choice, or no one told them they needed to do it?
Some religions believe there is nothing that can be done for these children, that they simply cannot ever live with God now. Mormons—a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do not believe these children are doomed. They believe the atonement of Jesus Christ protects them children from original sin and that it protects children who have not yet reached the age of accountability.

Mormons believe children under the age of eight cannot sin because they aren’t old enough to know right from wrong. For this reason, they don’t baptize children until they are eight years old. Before the age of eight, Mormon children are taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and learn how to pray to ask God for a personal testimony of the things they are learning.

Children who die before they are eight years old return home to God in a perfect state. They are guaranteed a place in God’s kingdom for eternity. For Mormon families, this is a great comfort because Mormons also believe that families are meant to be forever. Mormons marry in temples, where marriages are “sealed” for all eternity. This means that when the couple is dead, they will still be husband and wife. God made marriage a sacred event that was never meant to end in divorce—not even at death. The children born to these families remain theirs forever.

When a child dies, then, the parents know they will someday be with that child again and be able to continue the process of raising the child. While this doesn’t take away the loneliness, it helps bring a certain amount of peace and reassurance to the family, as well as a motivation to continue to be worthy of their own return to God.

Because families are forever, a child who goes home to Heaven early will find herself surrounded by other family members who love her and are prepared to look after her until her parents arrive. Our connections to our families travel back through time, making us all truly one family—God’s family.

What the Book of Mormon, which is a companion to the Bible, says about infant baptism:

11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.

12 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!

13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.

14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.

15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism. (Moroni 8)

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

A Mormon girl is baptized

Later in His ministry, Jesus would tell Nicodemus:

3 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.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:10)

And so Jesus was baptized by immersion in the Jordon River. Immersion means to go completely under the water, and in baptism it is symbolic of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mormons baptize because it is a commandment to do so. Following Jesus’ example they are baptized by immersion. For this reason, it will come as no surprise that Mormons don’t baptize babies. However, that is not actually the reason babies aren’t baptized.

Mormons teach that the atonement of Jesus Christ overcame what some religions call original sin. They do not believe we are punished for any sins we didn’t personally commit, and commit knowingly. This means we must have reached the age of accountability, being able to learn right and wrong.

The Book of Mormon explains our feelings about why babies don’t need baptism:

10 Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.

11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.

12 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!

13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.

14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.

15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.

16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation.

18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from ball eternity to all eternity.

19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.

20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.

21 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ (Moroni 8).

This scripture, then, outlines the basis for Mormon beliefs on this subject. Baptism is a part of the repentance process. An infant cannot repent and so it is impossible for him to meet the requirements of baptism. Nor can he choose for himself whether or not to be baptized. This means that God would be forever punishing a child for something he had no control over. God is not partial or random. He is our loving and fair Father in Heaven and a loving God will not punish a child He created and loves unjustly because God is just.

Before a child or adult is baptized, he is prepared for the experience. No one can walk into a Mormon Church and say, “I know nothing about you, but can I be baptized and then join your church today?” We expect potential converts to study and understand what they are signing up for and then to pray to know it is what God wants them to do. Children raised in the church are taught at home and in church classes. People nine years old or older meet with the missionaries for a series of lessons or discussions in which they are taught the basics of the religion and learn how to pray for their own testimony. In addition, of course, they attend meetings.

Prior to baptism, a person who has gained a testimony and has accepted an invitation for baptism is interviewed to be certain he is morally worthy and has prayed for his own testimony. Since baptism washes away sin, the person about to be baptized must go through the repentance process first and the person doing the interview simply makes sure it has been done and that the person is ready for baptism. The interview is confidential.

The baptism is usually held on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday after church, although it can be held on other days. The people being baptized are dressed entirely in white, usually a jump suit for modesty and easier ability to get everything under water at once. Those who come to watch the baptism (non-Mormons are welcome) gather in chairs. A hymn and opening prayer are offered. There are normally two speakers, one speaking on baptism and one on the Holy Ghost. After the talk on baptism, the person enters into the font, as does the priesthood holder doing the baptism. This can be any man age sixteen or older who holds the priesthood. Children are usually baptized by their fathers, but it is not a requirement. (After all, Jesus was baptized by his cousin, not God or Joseph.)

The priesthood holder says the baptismal prayer and lowers the person under the water. Everything must be underwater at the exact same time. Two witnesses stand on either side of the font and make sure the prayer is said correctly, since it is one of the few prayers with exact words. They also make sure the person is completely under water for a moment. If not, the baptism is redone.

Then both people go into a restroom to dry off and change clothes. While this happens, there is usually a brief movie or perhaps the sharing of testimonies. When the two who were in the font return, a talk is given on the Holy Ghost. Often a church leader and representatives of auxiliaries the person will belong to welcome them formally.

The person can be confirmed and receive the Holy Ghost that day, but it is usually done a week or two later during regular church services.

This involves a group of priesthood holders who are about eighteen or older gathering around the recently baptized person, who is seated in a chair. They place their hands on the person’s head. One person, chosen by the newly baptized person, confirms him a member of the church and commands him to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.