The Holy Ghost

John was hesitant to baptize Jesus, he felt that he needed to be baptized of Jesus. John’s words are found in Matthew 3:14: “I have need to be baptized of thee...” John the Baptist knew that Jesus Christ was the Savior of the Lord and felt unworthy to baptize Jesus Christ. I think this shows that John the Baptist was humble. The New Testiment Institute manual shares some further instruction on the Holy Ghost. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the dove that was present at Jesus Christ’s baptism was a symbol of the Holy Ghost, but not an actual dove. “The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 81). Jesus Christ was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness.” He was baptized to “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) This verse tells us that baptism is a step necessary to eternal life, to the Celestial Kingdom. Jesus Christ was baptized to set an example for us to know how to return to our Heavenly Father again. It is a vital step to follow the path of righteousness. Jesus Christ was baptized to: • To set an example for all men • Fulfill all righteousness, obedience • Show humility to the father We learn from Matthew 3:13-17, that Jesus Christ was baptized and that John the Baptist performed this ordinance. All three members of the Godhead were present. Jesus Christ was in the water, the Holy Ghost was present in the form of a dove, and our Heavenly Father was in the heavens above. The three members of the Godhead are three distinct spirits.