[Teachldsseminary] TEACH: Using Water for Baptism

Mon Jan 8 11:53:55 MST 2007

I don't think the Lord is concerned with using water to baptize at all.
k

DC 61:17 I, the Lord, in the beginning cursed the land

Joseph Fielding Smith
In the beginning the Lord blessed the waters and cursed the land, but  
in these last days this was reversed, the land was to be blessed and  
the waters to be cursed. A little reflection will bear witness to the  
truth of this declaration. In the early millenniums of this earth's  
history, men did not understand the composition of the soils, and how  
they needed building up when crops were taken from them. The  
facilities at the command of the people were primitive and limited,  
acreage under cultivation was limited, famines were prevalent and the  
luxuries which we have today were not obtainable. Some one may rise  
up and say that the soil in those days was just as productive as now,  
and this may be the case. It is not a matter of dispute, but the  
manner of cultivation did not lend itself to the abundant production  
which we are receiving today. It matters not what the causes were, in  
those early days of world history, there could not be the production,  
nor the varieties of fruits coming from the earth and the Lord can  
very properly speak of this as a curse, or the lack of blessing, upon  
the land. (Church History and Modern Revelation, 4 vols. [Salt Lake  
City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1946-1949], 1:  
206 - 207.)

DC 61:19 the destroyer rideth upon the face thereof

Joseph Fielding Smith
These brethren while encamped at McIlwaine's Bend on the Missouri,  
beheld the power of the destroyer as he rode upon the storm. One of  
that number saw him in all his fearful majesty, and the Lord revealed  
to the entire group something of the power of this evil personage. It  
may seem strange to us, but it is the fact that Satan exercises  
dominion and has some control over the elements . . . Paul speaks of  
Satan as the “prince of the power of the air.” (Eph.2:2) The Lord  
revealed to these brethren some of the power of the adversary of  
mankind and how he rides upon the storm, as a means of affording them  
protection. They were commanded to use judgment as they traveled upon  
these waters, and the saints coming to Zion were instructed to travel  
by land on their way up to Zion. Moreover, notwithstanding the great  
power of Satan upon the waters, the Lord still held command and he  
could protect his people whether on land or by water as they  
journeyed. (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:207)

DC 61:20 I, the Lord, was angry with you yesterday, but today mine  
anger is turned away

B. H. Roberts
During the three days upon the river some disagreements and ill  
feeling had developed among the brethren and explanations and  
reconciliations had become necessary; it had also been discovered  
that progress on their journey by the river in canoes was slow, and  
hence it became necessary for those who had been appointed to  
purchase the printing press, Sidney Gilbert and William W. Phelps;  
and the Prophet, Sidney Rigdon, and Oliver Cowdery, who had been  
commanded to hasten their return to Kirtland, found it imperative to  
find a more expeditious means of travel than by the canoes. The  
greater part of the night at McIlwaine's Bend was devoted to these  
matters. The brethren became reconciled to each other, and those  
whose affairs more especially cried haste started overland the next  
morning for St. Louis, and the rest of the company continued the  
journey via the river. (A Comprehensive History of The Church of  
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret  
News Press, 1930], 1: 262 - 263.)

DC 61:22 it mattereth not unto me, after a little…whether they go by  
water or by land

“As the language here clearly illustrates, Doctrine and Covenants 61  
must not be understood as a strict prohibition against travel by  
water. The elders had become vulnerable to Satan’s power over the  
waters only because of their murmuring, hard feelings, and lack of  
faith. Now that they had repented they were no longer vulnerable and  
could travel by water if necessary, as long as their missionary  
responsibilities were not neglected.” (Stephen E. Robinson, H. Dean  
Garrett, A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City:  
Deseret Book Co., 2001] 2:180)

DC 61:23 the canal

“The Ohio canal, running north and south about thirty miles west of  
Kirtland, connected Lake Erie with Columbus, Ohio, and the Ohio  
River.” (Stephen E. Robinson, H. Dean Garrett, A Commentary on the  
Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2001] 2:180)

DC 61:27-28 power to command the waters

Power over the elements and the spirit of discernment, or the power  
“by the Spirit to know all” Satan’s ways are both available through  
the Melchizedek Priesthood, “For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto  
his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after  
this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break  
mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of  
their course.” (JST Gen 15:30)  Had it been necessary, Joseph Smith  
could have dispensed with the destroyer binding him so that water  
travel was completely safe, but instead the Lord’s intent was to  
instruct the brethren to be careful of Satan’s traps and that they  
“might bear record” (v. 4) of destructions to come.

Bruce R. McConkie
Moses stretched forth his rod and the waters of the Red Sea parted.  
Whatever turbulence throbbed through their restless waves ceased at  
his word; the laws of gravity ceased to triumph and the very waters  
congealed, forming a wall on the right hand and on the left, between  
which the chosen seed then trod on dry ground. Enoch moved mountains  
and changed rivers from their courses. Elijah and Elisha smote the  
waters of Jordan with a holy mantle, and they divided hither and  
thither, leaving dry ground for their path. Unto the servants of the  
Lord “is given power to command the waters.” ("D&C61:27D&C 61:27.)  
(The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols. [Salt Lake  
City: Deseret Book Co., 1979-1981], 2: 277.)

On Jan 8, 2007, at 10:31 AM, terisa wrote:

A student from the Jr/Sr Seminary class asked her teacher this  
morning the question of why if Satan has power over the water, water  
is used for baptism? If someone has an answer I will forward to the  
teacher.
   Thanks...
   Terisa in Wyoming
   EMS
   (20 Awesome Freshmen and Sophomores!)

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