Lesson 6: The Baptism of Jesus Christ
Primary 7: New Testament, (1997), 18–20
Purpose
To help the children want to keep their baptismal covenants.
Show video
What are the differences and similarities between your baptism and the baptism of Jesus?
Hula hoops and pieces of paper.
His
not the usual thing to do for Israelites
for remission of sins, but He did not have any sins
Show video
What are the differences and similarities between your baptism and the baptism of Jesus?
Hula hoops and pieces of paper.
His
not the usual thing to do for Israelites
for remission of sins, but He did not have any sins
___________________________Sources added by me _________________________
Where did you film it?
Goshen utah. It is down by a stream that runs through. They dug it out a bit too have it deep enough for that scene. Probably the greenest part of the property.
See Sister Carol B. Thomas's talk (4 things that happen when baptised)
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/spiritual-power-of-our-baptism?lang=eng#watch=video
Elder Hales
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/the-covenant-of-baptism-to-be-in-the-kingdom-and-of-the-kingdom?lang=eng_____________________________ https://www.lds.org/friend/2013/06/understanding-baptism?lang=eng
You promise:
- • To remember Jesus Christ.
- • To keep His commandments.
- • To take upon yourself the name of Christ, which means to put His work first in your life and do what He wants instead of what the world wants.
As you keep these promises, Heavenly Father promises that the Holy Ghost will be with you and that your sins will be forgiven.
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From True to the Faith: https://www.lds.org/manual/true-to-the-faith/baptism?lang=eng
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Wilderness around the site of Baptism?
"Jesus' baptism and temptations, events paired in the Gospels, bring to view an expansive desert, with its attendant lack of food and water and intense heat, broken only by the cool waters of the Jordan River and the ribbon of green vegetation growing along its banks. It was here that John the Baptist performed his healing, saving ordinance; it was hear that crowds gathered far from their homes. . . ." p 25 from Beholding Salvation, Brown, Holzapfel, and Pheysay.
The trek links to Exodus and the covenants of Sinai
Revelation -- voice of God and sign of dove Matthew 3:16-17 -- to John and perhaps to other witnesses? p.27
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Dummelow: p. 629
"The teaching of John was confined within the limits of O.T. ideas, and his aim was to make his converts pious Jews of the orthodox type. . . . his views of a far more spiritual kind tahn those generally current. . . . stress not upon the ceremonial law, but upon righteousness.
According to Dummelow the Judean Wilderness was about 10 miles wide.
_________________________
The trek links to Exodus and the covenants of Sinai
Revelation -- voice of God and sign of dove Matthew 3:16-17 -- to John and perhaps to other witnesses? p.27
____________________________
Dummelow: p. 629
"The teaching of John was confined within the limits of O.T. ideas, and his aim was to make his converts pious Jews of the orthodox type. . . . his views of a far more spiritual kind tahn those generally current. . . . stress not upon the ceremonial law, but upon righteousness.
According to Dummelow the Judean Wilderness was about 10 miles wide.
_________________________
Preparation
- 1. Prayerfully study Matthew 3:13–17; John 3:5; 2 Nephi 31:4–10, 17–21; Mosiah 18:8–17; and Doctrine and Covenants 33:15. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account (see “Preparing Your Lessons,” p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii).
- 2. Additional reading: John 1:29–34, Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, and Gospel Principles,chapter 20.
- 3. Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
Sister Carol B. Thomas
Did John eat honey?
By itself, m°li, like the Hebrew דבשor mel in Latin, can refer equally to honey produced by bees or to any number of other sweet substances, including dates, figs, pods, or sap/gum from carob or other trees. 1 For this reason, Eva Crane warns concerning possible -- https://web.duke.edu/classics/grbs/FTexts/45/Kelhoffer.pdf
Soap?
- 4. Materials needed:
- a. Bible or a New Testament for each child.
- b. A Book of Mormon.
- c. Fourth Article of Faith chart (65004).
- d. Picture 7-7, John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus (Gospel Art Picture Kit 208; 62133).
Suggested Lesson Development
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Attention Activity
Have two children come to the front of the class, face each other, and hold hands above their heads to form an area the other children can walk under. Explain that these children represent a very important gate. Tell the children that this gate is the entrance to the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. Have a child read 2 Nephi 31:17. Explain that one of the first steps to eternal life is going through the gate (being baptized). Have the children walk through the gate.
Scripture Account
Show the picture of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Teach the account as found in the scriptures listed in the “Preparation” section. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)
Discussion and Application Questions
Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading the references with the children in class will help them gain insights into the scriptures.
Matthew 3:
Matthew 3:
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
- •Who baptized Jesus? (Matthew 3:13.)
- •Why did John the Baptist hesitate to baptize Jesus? (Matthew 3:14.)
- •Why did Jesus want to be baptized? (Matthew 3:15; 2 Nephi 31:7, 9.)
- •Why do we need to be baptized? (John 3:5.) What does immersion mean? Why must we be put completely under the water when we are baptized? (3 Nephi 11:26–28.)
- •What happened right after Jesus was baptized? (Matthew 3:16–17.)
- •How do we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? (D&C 33:15.)
15 And whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church, by the laying on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them.
- •How did you feel when you were baptized? How did you feel when you were confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost?
- •What did you promise when you were baptized? What does Heavenly Father promise us? (Mosiah 18:8–13; D&C 20:37.)
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.
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.
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.
37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by theirworks that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.
Explain that these promises between us and Heavenly Father are the baptismal covenants. When we are baptized, we covenant to:
- Become members of Jesus’ church.
- Help others.
- Stand as witnesses of Heavenly Father at all times and in all places.
- Serve Heavenly Father and keep his commandments.
If we keep our covenants, Heavenly Father covenants to:
- Forgive our sins.
- Give us many blessings.
- Give us daily guidance through the Holy Ghost.
- Give us eternal life. (See Gospel Principles, chapter 20.)
- • When we go through the gateway of baptism, what are we entering? (2 Nephi 31:17–18.)
- 17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh aremission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
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18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
- What must we do after baptism to gain eternal life and be able to live forever with Heavenly Father? (2 Nephi 31:18–20.)
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
Article of Faith
Show the Fourth Article of Faith chart. Help the children memorize it.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on ofhands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Enrichment Activities
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
- 1. Write the following questions about baptism and their scripture references on the chalkboard or a piece of paper: Why are we baptized? (D&C 49:13; 2 Nephi 31:18.) How are we baptized? (D&C 20:72–74.) By whom are we baptized? (D&C 20:73.) When are we baptized? (D&C 68:27.) Have the children look up the scriptures and discuss the answers.
- 2. Write each of the following phrases on a separate piece of paper:
- For the remission of our sins
- To become members of the Church
- So we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
- To be obedient
- To get on the strait and narrow path
- To become holy
Have the children pass through the gate used at the beginning of the lesson. As each child goes through, hand him or her one of the papers. Explain that these are reasons why we must be baptized. Discuss with the children how we can keep our baptismal covenants. - 3. Using the picture of a child being baptized (62018) and the picture of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, tell about your own baptism or have a child tell about his or her baptism.
- 4. Help the children memorize 2 Nephi 31:20.
- 20 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.
- 5. Arrange for a group of children to sing
“Baptism” (Children’s Songbook, p. 100), or sing or read the words with the class.
Conclusion
Testimony
Bear testimony of the importance of baptism and that baptism is the gate to the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. Some of the children may also want to bear their testimonies about their own baptisms.
Suggested Home Reading
Suggest that the children study Matthew 3:13–17 at home as a review of this lesson.
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.
Related Images
Picture 7-7, John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus (Gospel Art Picture Kit 208; 62133)
