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So important is baptism that Latter-day Saints, in temples such as this one around the world, perform vicarious baptisms on behalf of those who have died without receiving the ordinance.
Today’s reading, 2 Nephi 31, is a marvelously clear statement of the necessity of baptism. I certainly can’t improve on it, so I’m going to quote it. At least one or two passages, anyway — “for my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men” (verse 3):
“And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (verse 5)
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. (verses 10-11)
There are other related passages that I could cite, but, of course, you should really just read the chapter. Here, though, is another verse, on a distinct but related topic, that strikes me:
And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. 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. (verses 19-20)
We ought, it seems to me, to pay very close and special attention to passages such as this, which tell us, in varying words but similar substance, “if you do x, y, and z, you will be exalted.”
Such straightforward formulae for obtaining the ultimate good, receiving the unsurpassable gift, are of immense importance.
Finally, the chapter closes with a reference to “the Father, and . . . the Son, and . . . the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.”
But. one might object, isn’t this the language of Trinitarianism?
Yes. Of course. It absolutely is. And, as a matter of fact, the Book of Mormon contains stronger statements of the oneness of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost than does the New Testament.
Latter-day Saints, contrary to common accusations and the common assumptions of Mormons themselves, believe in the Trinity. We simply don’t view the unity of its members in the same way that mainstream Christianity does. The Nicene ontological Trinity isn’t the only option on offer.
I published an article making this argument, and other related arguments, some years ago in Element, the journal of the Society for Mormon Theology and Philosophy. It got very little circulation. It will re-appear within the next few months, however, with modifications, in a publication from the Interpreter Foundation.
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