This week in my scripture study I am reading about Christ’s baptism, I am pondering why he was baptized, being a perfect and without sin, in the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 31:7-9 and 12 I found my answers.  Verse 7 says "...but notwithsanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbelth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments."  

Christ was baptized to show us, the children of men, to be humble and to show his father, and us, his willingness to be obedient to God his Father, and to be obedient to his commandments.  He showed us the path we should be on is straight and the way to Heaven is through the narrow gate.  The gate symbolizes baptism.  I love that image, of a straight path with a narrow gate. (See 2Nephi 31:17) “For the gate is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins..."

In verse 12 Jesus then again reminds us one of the reasons he was baptized when he says, “Wherefore follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do”.  He was baptized as an example for us to follow.  This has caused me to ponder my own obedience to the commandments of our Father in Heaven. Do I honor my parents? Do I love my neighbor?  Do I follow Christ’s example of humility, obedience, kindness, patience, and charity, I could do so much better…

I know through following Jesus’ example of baptism we receive remission for our sins; we receive the Holy Ghost and are taking deliberate steps to become like him.  I also know that by following Christ’s example daily we can have peace, happiness, and guidance in this life and throughout eternity.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-024-the-baptism-of-jesus?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-024-the-baptism-of-jesus?lang=eng

The gate

In my minds eye I see my maternal grandmother’s house.  This house a small white was modest house surrounded by a wire fence and large cottonwood trees.  She had the most magical raspberry patch, where we hid when it was time to go but didn’t want to leave, where we made little nests for the tiny pink baby mice we rescued, and the place we spent time with grandma picking(and eating) the most delicious raspberries.  They tasted so sweet they could have come from heaven.  That’s really how I felt about my grandmothers little white farmhouse. It was like heaven.  We entered grandmas house from the side porch, after having driven down a long dirt road and circling the large trees in the dirt driveway.  There it stood this little spot of heaven, a happy place where in I felt absolutely loved.  At the edge of the drive there was a narrow gate at the head of the strait white cement path that led to grandma’s door.  As we step out of the car Grandma would emerge from this little white house wearing a dress, white apron, and the biggest smile. Her eyes twinkling as she came to greet us.  She always seemed, in my mind to be so happy to see us.  Entering the narrow gate of grandma’s house was like entering another world.  It was magical, peaceful, happy, and holy.  Beyond grandmas narrow gate there was freedom to roam, explorations to me made, horses to ride, a creek to be played in, cousins to laugh with, stories to hear and haystacks to climb.  Beyond the gate there was love and acceptance to be felt, imaginations to be used, and work to be done.  Beyond the gate I can still smell baking bread, the taste of sweet and softest date filed cookies, and sweet fresh cream over my cracked wheat cereal topped with lots of sugar and berries.  Beyond the gate of grandma’s house was where I loved to be. I still hear her laugh till her eyes tear up and roll down her cheeks.  Here I loved to listen to grandma relate news of the town and farm, extended family members, and share her testimony and faith.  Here in this small old house beyond the narrow gate I learned the peace and power of prayer.  As a family we would all gather around the large heavy wooden table and pray over supper (lunch) then at dinner our chairs would be turned to the side and we would kneel before the meal showing reverence and gratitude to God for our lives, the gospel, our freedoms and land, our family and our savior.  My grand parents prayed as if there really were a Heavenly Father that could hear them, that they knew him and had a personal relationship with him. I know that they knew the Savior.  I felt it in their home. 

They showed me by their example how to love, pray and come to know our Heavenly Father.  And so it is with our Savior he was baptized to show us and witness to his father, our God, his humility, his obedience, faith and trust in Heavenly Fathers plan.  (See the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi chapters 31.)  Jesus Christ exemplified through being baptized the straight path and narrow gate through which can we gain eternal life and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Like my grandmother’s narrow gate entering the narrow gate of baptism we find peace, happiness and love in this life and the next.  I love this gospel.  I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior!  I know they tenderly and happily call to us to come and follow the Savior down the strait path to the narrow gate.  I know as we do so they come smiling, like my grandmother did, to greet us.