Becoming the Lord’s People through Baptism
Mosiah 18:8
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light . . .
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland wrote:
“Alma began baptizing all who wished to make a covenant with Christ. He asked that they ‘serve [God] and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly’ upon them. These new disciples would also demonstrate their faith by:
“Coming into the fold of God.
“Being called his people.
“Bearing one another’s burdens.
“Mourning with those that mourn.
“Comforting those who stand in need of comfort.
“Standing as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places.
“Entering into a covenant to serve God and keep his commandments.
“This declaration by Alma at the Waters of Mormon still stands as the most complete scriptural statement on record as to what the newly baptized commit to do and be.”
(Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 106.)
