The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A Lesson 3: Baptism, A Continuing Covenant

The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A Lesson 3: Baptism, A Continuing Covenant
"Heavenly Father desires that all of us have faith in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, and repent of our sins. After we repent, we are baptized into Christ’s Church. Baptism is necessary for our salvation. But just being baptized is not enough. We begin a new way of life at baptism, but we must always continue to progress toward perfection."

"The prophet Alma asked his people after they were baptized: “Have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14). Have we all felt our hearts change and our spirits be reborn? We should strive to have these feelings after our baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ."

"Many people enjoy a spiritual feeling at the time of their baptism. One member described it this way: “I will never forget the emotion inside my soul; to be clean, to start fresh as a child of God. … It was such a special feeling!” (quoted by Hartman and Connie Rector in No More Strangers, 4 vols. [1971–90], 3:175).

Our baptism represented an important change that took place inside us. Because we were repentant, baptism cleansed us and gave us a chance to start a new life. We should remember the clean, secure feeling we had at baptism."

"A covenant is an agreement or promise between two or more people. At baptism, we made a very important covenant with God. As President Spencer W. Kimball said, “To be baptized is to enter into a covenant … with God … to do, … to work righteousness as well as to avoid evil” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 94)."

"We renew our baptismal covenants through the covenants made when we partake of the sacrament. As we keep our covenants to remember Jesus Christ and to keep His commandments, we are promised a blessing."

"The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that baptism in Christ’s Church is a beginning. But simply being baptized is not enough. We must do many things after baptism to help us achieve eternal life.

1. 1. 
   Pray to Heavenly Father.
2. 2. 
   Fast for special needs.
3. 3. 
   Attend and participate in church meetings.
4. 4. 
   Partake of the sacrament regularly.
5. 5. 
   Be concerned about each other’s welfare.
6. 6. 
   Repent of our sins.
7. 7. Follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost" 

"Sometimes we make mistakes. Then we must repent to keep our baptismal agreements. When we openly admit that we have sinned and repent (see lesson 2, “Repentance”), we will again progress toward perfection. When we are honestly seeking for guidance from the Holy Ghost through prayer, we will receive guidance to help us overcome mistakes and avoid repeating those mistakes in the future."

"President Spencer W. Kimball said: “The way to perfection seems to be a changing of one’s life—to substitute the good for the evil in every case. Changes can come best if we take one item at a time. … For if one pays one-tenth of his income annually, he is perfect in that respect. It is not difficult to become perfect in avoiding a swearing habit, for if one locks his mouth against all words of cursing, he is en route to perfection in that matter. If one studies the scriptures with all reasonable devotion, he has approached perfection in that matter also” (“Be Ye Therefore Perfect,” in Speeches of the Year, 1974 [1975], 241–42). "

"The prophet Nephi said that we “must press forward” and “endure to the end.” The Lord has promised us eternal life with Him as we show our love by obeying Him and keeping our baptismal covenants. (See 2 Nephi 31:19–21.) True happiness on earth and eternal joy hereafter come from living the covenants we make with the Lord."

"President Joseph Fielding Smith explained it this way:

“One of the great purposes of the true church is to teach men what they must do after baptism to gain the full blessings of the gospel. …

“We must endure to the end; we must keep the commandments after baptism; … we must so live as to acquire the attributes of godliness and become the kind of people who can enjoy the glory and wonders of the celestial kingdom” (“The Plan of Salvation,” Ensign, Nov. 1971, 5)."

"At the time of our baptism a “change of heart” began within us. We made covenants to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and to keep His commandments. As we try each day to do these things, we will have His Spirit to be with us. His Spirit will help us to become like Him."