Baptism in D&C 20

There’s one more theme in D&C 20 that clearly is connected to the Book of Mormon.  In this section of the Doctrine and Covenants we are given instructions on the manner of baptism in the Church.  In verse 37 we have this direction about who is prepared for baptism.  They need to “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 their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church."  Moroni recorded a similar requirement among the Nephites: "Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end" (Moroni 6:2-3).  The only substantial difference between the two passages is that the Doctrine and Covenants adds the phrase “truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins.”  This was apparently a point of contention between Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith, for when Oliver saw this in Joseph’s revelation he commanded the Prophet to delete the phrase.  Joseph affirmed that it was according to revelation, and the phrase stayed. 

            The actual mode of baptism described in the instructions the Savior gave the Nephites is also similar to what we find in D&C 20.  We are told, “The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water” (v72-74).  In the Book of Mormon we had this language: “On this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water” (3 Nephi 11:23-26).  Both accounts highlight the need to go down into the water, to say the set prayer, immerse the person in the water, and then come up again out of the water.  The words of the ordinance are slightly different; one uses the phrase “Having authority given me of Jesus Christ” and the other “Having been commission of Jesus Christ.”  Both phrases clearly are meant to portray the same idea, and in French the two passages are actually the same (but in Spanish they are different like in English).  I don’t know why they would be slightly different, but the important point is that the Book of Mormon clearly was central in establishing the manner of baptism for the Church in our dispensation.