“Bring Forth . . . Fruits Worthy of Repentance”
Luke 3:7–9
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Elder LeGrand Richards wrote:
“Remission of sins comes only through baptism when one has truly repented of his sins; and baptism without repentance is not a means by which one can ‘flee from the wrath to come.’
“‘And he [John] came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
“‘Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
“‘Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham’ (Luke 3:3, 7–8).
“Peter held out this same promise of forgiveness of sins through repentance and baptism to those to whom he preached on the day of Pentecost:
“‘Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
“‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“‘For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call’ (Acts 2:37–39).
“What a glorious promise! Is there any honest seeker after truth who would not want to reach out his soul and accept such an invitation for himself and his loved ones as here extended by Peter? In addition to knowing what we should do when we seek the blessings and gifts of God, we should know where to find those who hold His Holy Priesthood and are thus authorized, through proper ordination, to officiate in His name. The reason we are not confused in these matters is that they were revealed to Joseph Smith through the restoration of the gospel. We use the Bible to show that these revealed truths are in harmony with its teachings.”
(A Marvelous Work and a Wonder [1976], 102–3.)
