Baptism

Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, and to heaven that we do the will of God. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:555.)

Scripture: 2 Nephi 9:23

Quote:

Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, and to heaven that we do the will of God.

(Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:555.)

Lesson:

On some poster paper, draw a path that leads to a gate that has a blank sign on the front of it. Invite someone to read 3 Nephi 14:13-14 aloud. Ask your family what the "strait gate" is and what it leads to. What is the difference between a strait gate and a straight gate? (Have someone use a dictionary for help, if necessary.) Read together 2 Nephi 31:17-18 and discuss the following questions:

" What do you think should be written on the sign? (Baptism.)

" How would you label the path on the other side of the sign? (The path to eternal life.)

" Why is a gate a good symbol for baptism?

" Why do you think the Lord called the gate "strait" (restricted or narrow)?

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 295.)

Activity:

Make the following two-sided wordstrips with black marker.

(The first item in each line goes on one side of the wordstrip, while the second item goes on the other side.)

Strip #1:

I

will

follow

Jesus

He

will

forgive

me

Make the following two-sided wordstrips with red marker.

Strip #2:

I

will

always

remember

Jesus

He

will

give

me

the

Holy

Ghost

Make the following two-sided wordstrips with blue marker.

Strip #3:

I

will

keep

his

commandments

He

will

give

me

eternal

life

With the appropriate colored marker, make a thin border around the edge of the front side of each wordstrip. This will help you identify which side is the front. Place the wordstrips (front side showing) on the floor. Have your family choose each color of words and form a sentence. These sentences will tell them three of the promises they make to Jesus when they are baptized. Turn over each word strip to find the corresponding promise that Jesus makes to them.

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Sharing Time, Family Time, Anytime: Book Two, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1994],p. 6-7.)