2017-5-28 Mendoza Baptism

2017-5-28 Mendoza Baptism

This week was very special. We held a baptismal service for the Mendoza family, and we have shared in so much joy with them. I suppose if you didn't really understand baptism, it wouldn't make much sense, or mean as much. But, when you begin to grasp what this opportunity really is, it is life-changing. The talks and testimonies at the service were so spirit-filled, my favorite part was when the youngest of the 3, Bea, gave her testimony. It wasn't very intelligible, but it was the most touching. Me and my companion love this family so much, it is very neat indeed that we will neither forget nor be forgotten, that these past few months with them have made a significant portion of all of our stories.

One story I really like is found in Acts 19:1-6. Paul travels to a city where he meets some disciples of John the Baptist. John was a prophet and his teachings were true and essential, but only preliminary to the doctrine and ministry of Jesus, his cousin. 

The clear-minded and humble of John's flock immediately rallied to Christ when His ministry rolled forth, which of course was John's purpose and even his teachings: (matthew 3:11) "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire"

Despite this, some disciples of Johns stayed as disciples of John and not accepting the Messiah. There were, at one point, Pharisees who allied with disciples of John to try and find mistake or sin in the Christ. But the disciples of John that Paul runs into seem to just be out of the loop, for Paul asks them: "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" (acts 19:2) they respond "we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost". I liken that to those I teach, who have faith in Jesus Christ, and have beliefs, but sometimes we teach them something critical from Christ's teachings, and their response is "what in the world is that? No one ever mentioned that to me"

Paul's response is perfect, citing the teachings of both John the Baptist and Christ Jesus (acts 19:4) "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". And from the next verses we learn they were obedient to the teachings and Paul "laid his hands" to baptize them with Christ's baptism, that is of fire or of the Holy Ghost. Maybe we are surprised to learn that people are baptized first by complete immersion in water, but then are also baptized by the laying on of hands. As the the doctrine suggests, and as Paul's ministry indicates, baptism by water is incomplete without receiving the Spirit of God. On Sunday as we laid our hands on the heads of the 3 Mendoza family members, I could feel the impact of the moment, that they had been made clean and worthy enough to have the Spirit of God become their companion. And unlike the Lamanites who were baptized with the Holy Ghost and "knew it not" (3 nephi 9:20) these new members know exactly what happened, and are more blessed for it.

Thanks for reading! Love you all!

Elder Fish