Near the end of his writings, Nephi discusses the question: Why was Jesus baptized? He tells us that baptism enabled the Savior to humble Himself before His Father and to make a formal commitment to obey Him. Then, Nephi adds another reason:
It showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
2 Nephi 31:9
Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate…because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Baptism, like all of the ordinances of the gospel, may seem arbitrary. Why do we try so hard for precision as we participate in these sacred ceremonies? One reason may be that the precision is symbolic of our desire to align ourselves precisely with God’s will and with His law.
As a pioneering heart surgeon, President Russell M. Nelson relied on two principles which he had learned from the scriptures: “first, that all blessings are predicated upon obedience to law, and second, that to every kingdom there is a law given.” (See Doctrine and Covenants 130:20, Doctrine and Covenants 88:38.) Years later, as he explained to medical students a technique used to stop and start the heart during surgery, someone in the room asked, “What if it doesn’t work?” President Nelson responded, “It always works, because it is based on divine law.”
He later explained to students at Brigham Young University that this principle applies to all aspects of our lives:
Divine laws are God’s gifts to His children…. Just as divine laws governing the heart and the flight of airplanes keep you safe on an operating table or while traveling, abiding by God’s laws will keep you safe as you progress toward eventual exaltation. Let me say it as succinctly as I can: As you abide by God’s laws, you are progressing toward exaltation.
“The Love and Laws of God,” Brigham Young University Devotional Address, 17 September 2019
Today, I will remember the importance of understanding and following divine laws. I will be grateful for ordinances, which help us discipline our minds and remind us of the “straitness of the path” leading back to God.
Leave a Reply