The Nephite Baptismal Prayer

[Bernard Gui]

Reading Mosiah 18 once again, I noticed for the first time (!) the prayer Alma said when he baptized the converts at the Waters of Mormon. It is usually overshadowed by Alma’s famous list of prerequisites for the candidates to accept as conditions for their baptism that immediately precede the procedure.

But then in the actual baptism Alma pronounces this prayer over each candidate prior to immersing him/her in the water. While it contains the essentials found in other baptismal prayers (including the one we use today), there are additional covenants and doctrinal instructional items. I love this one and kinda wish it were the one we employed for our baptisms. 

Quote

The prayer for the officiator before the baptism

Mosiah 18: 12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: “O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.”

The baptismal prayer:

Mosiah 18:13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.“

Similarities::

1. Call the person by name.

2. State the authority of the person performing the baptism.

Additions:

1. Baptism is a testimony that the person being baptized will serve God all his/her mortal life. 

2. A promise that the Spirit of God will be poured out upon the person being baptized.

3. A promise that God will grant him/her eternal life through the redemption of Christ.

4. Redemption through Christ was prepared by God the Father from the foundation of the world (which implies the pre-mortal existence).

Such a beautiful prayer. Comments?

Edited July 4, 2018 by Bernard Gui

[JLHPROF]

There are numerous variations on the baptismal ordinance since the restoration began.  Since those days we have eliminated all but two (living/dead).  But that doesn't make the various others any less valid, just not currently authorized.

[Prof]

A beautiful prayer, indeed!

Thanks for posting this!

[Bernard Gui]

18 hours ago, JLHPROF said:

There are numerous variations on the baptismal ordinance since the restoration began.  Since those days we have eliminated all but two (living/dead).  But that doesn't make the various others any less valid, just not currently authorized.

I really like the additional explanation of the covenant in this one, but, of course, the one we use is official and just as effective.

Edited July 5, 2018 by Bernard Gui

[Meerkat]

 There have been other covenants that have changed and become more simple over the years.  I don't believe the simplification changes their meaning.  I think it falls in the category of parables, as the Savior said in Mark 4:11-12 "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
            12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a wonderous gift.  "...when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
            19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
            20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
            21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
            22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
            23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
            24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."

Acts 8:17-24

Initially, Simon didn't understand.  But this scripture shows that enlightenment can begin with confusion, fear, hope then repentance.  When that can happen, the simple ordinance makes sense because they begin to experience "theSpirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.“ as mentioned in your reference.

[SettingDogStar]

I think the Lord (and correct me if I’m wrong) creates uniformity in ordinances because He knows how much they could get distorted if He didn’t. Perhaps in Alma’s time he understood that he just need to state the name and the authority and brief explanation of the covenant involved. It may not have been transcribed at all! We see the administration of ordinances change all the time to better keep unity and to make sure nothing goes to far off the rails. This is the reason Brigham Young chose to write down the Endowment and make it uniform, each temple had its variations in wording and some doctrinal points and he probably didn’t want anything false to creep in.

The best example I think is for the laying on of hands! Christ would heal at a distance, with clay, bathing, a handshake, even sticking his fingers in a guy ears! Haha! In more formal settings he laid his hands on those who were sick and showed the proper order of things.

I think that we have the guidelines for baptism and such so that the ordinances and blessings will be confidently administered across the world and that the required parts (authority and name) are all there. That’s why I LOVE Alma’s prayer, because it was kind of on the fly and a very personal experience with him and Helam!  Thanks for sharing!