Missionaries & Baptism - Binding Ourselves to God

Dressed in white the Gardner family awaits their baptism. (I love the braids. They certainly help keep hair under control when being immersed in water.) This family is in the St. Helena Branch. Many of our missionaries taught them.

President Quinn and I spent the week traveling through the mission holding zone conferences with our missionaries. It was a wonderful week! We always joke that the Santa Rosa and San Rafael Zones, who we meet with on Friday, get the best zone conference as it is the fifth time we present our messages and training!

At zone conferences, as you can imagine, we often talk about baptism. The ordinance of baptism is something that our missionaries are encouraged to discuss in their first conversations with people they meet.

This week President Quinn taught our missionaries that when they extend a baptismal invitation they are also inviting their friends to enjoy greater power from Jesus Christ. He quoted President Nelson, in his October 2022 conference talk. “Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples – and keeps them – has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.”

*Elders Farnsworth and Elder Willhite with Shirley.*

We teach our missionaries, when talking about baptism with their friends, they should help them to understand that baptism is not the final event in their spiritual journey, but the first step in becoming a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. Baptism starts a person on the covenant path, a pathway to other saving ordinances in the house of the Lord. The scriptures say in 2 Nephi 31:17 “…for the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh…the Holy Ghost.”

Preach My Gospel – A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaches us, “Keeping the covenant of baptism is the first step in binding ourselves to God so the Holy Ghost can cleanse, strengthen and change our nature for the better. Experiencing this sanctifying influence is called spiritual rebirth.”

*Sisters Wright and Risser with Alberto*

Each baptism in our mission is celebrated by everyone! Our office secretary, Sister Nate, puts the baptismal photos in our weekly CASRM Newsletter. This last transfer we hit a record for our mission of 57 baptisms! This is not just a number, this is 57 people. During zone conference, as President Quinn talked about numbers he also talked about names, for each name represents a soul. Here is a slide from President Quinn’s training. He taught our missionaries that we are in the people business.

*The names of each person that has been baptized this last transfer in the California Santa Rosa Mission.The missionaries enjoy seeing this slide.*

President Quinn and I love attending baptisms whenever we can. There is always rejoicing as someone comes out of the waters of baptism. We love seeing the smiles on the faces of our missionaries and their recently baptized friends. The great hope and renewal of baptism is experienced each Sunday as we partake of the sacrament. Elder Renlund teaches that, “While baptism is a singular event, we renew our baptismal covenant repeatedly when we partake of the sacrament. The sacrament does not replace baptism, but it links the initial elements in the doctrine of Christ, faith, repentance, and the reception of the Holy Ghost. As we conscientiously partake of the sacrament, we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives…the Holy Ghost becomes our companion.” President Quinn went on to teach the missionaries the importance and joy of weekly partaking of the sacrament. He invited our missionaries to reflect on how the sacrament “links” all the elements of the Doctrine of Christ.

*A baptism of three people in the Laguna Ward here in Santa Rosa.*

I am personally deeply grateful to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to take the sacrament each week. It is a great blessing to be renewed, strengthened, and sanctified, just as if I had been baptized again! The Lord is so good!

Have a great week! Love, Sister Quinn

Below are pictures of missionaries from the different zone conferences this week! Enjoy!