Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

“Lesson 12: Alma Baptizes at the Waters of Mormon,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, 39

It is important for us to make and keep baptismal covenants. When we keep our covenants with Heavenly Father, he will always fulfill his part. But if we do not keep our covenant promises, the covenant is broken. Keeping our baptismal covenants is a key to blessings and eternal life.

Read Mosiah 17:2–4; 18.

To prepare him self for baptism, Alma believed the words of a prophet, and repented of his sins (Mosiah 17:2–4; 18:1).

The Kind had sent his men to find Alma, but he found refuge at a place called Mormon within a thicket of trees. It was a good hiding spot for Alma to teach the people, because it was sometimes infested with wild beasts, and had clean water near by (Mosiah 18:4–5).
The people of Alma feel joy and clapped when they learned they could be baptized. (Mosiah 18:11).

The people promises to "bear one another’s burdens . . . mourn with those that mourn yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things . . ." and in return Heavenly Father promised that they would "be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that [they] may have eternal life" (Mosiah 18:8–10).
None of us is perfect but we must do our best to keep our covenants with God.

How can we show that we have taken Jesus Christ’s name upon us and that we are standing as his witnesses?

What does it mean to bear one another’s burdens and mourn with others? In what ways did Christ serve us and others while he lived on the earth? How can we follow Jesus Christ’s example and serve others?

Alma give his people commandments to help them keep their baptismal covenants. They included: Having no contention with each other, to have faith, to have their hearts knit together in unity, to love each other, to teach each other, to observe the sabbath day, give thanks to the lord, and to give of their "substance" that none of them would be without. (Mosiah 18:21–23, 27–29). How can we live more like Alma’s people?

We can renew our baptismal covenants each Sunday threw the ordinance of the sacrament. To renew means to make like new or begin again. Review the sacrament prayers to find the covenants contained in them (see Moroni 4:3; 5:2 - also see D&C 89:6 about the use of wine for the sacrament - today we use typically use water instead).

Think about how well you are honoring the name of Jesus Christ as you read the following story from President George Albert Smith, the eighth President of the Church:

· “A number of years ago I was seriously ill. … I became so weak as to scarcely be able to move. One day … I lost consciousness of my surroundings and I thought I had passed to the Other Side. … I began to explore … and after I had walked for some time … through the forest, I saw a man coming towards me. I became aware that he was a very large man, and I hurried my steps to reach him, because I recognized him as my grandfather. … I remember how glad I was to see him coming. I had been given his name and had always been proud of it. When Grandfather came within a few feet of me, he stopped. … He looked at me very earnestly and said:

“‘I would like to know what you have done with my name.’
“Everything I had
ever done passed before me as though it were a flying picture on a screen. … My
whole life had passed before me. I smiled and looked at my grandfather and
said:
“‘I have never done anything with your name of which you need be
ashamed.’
“He stepped forward and took me in his arms, and as he did so, I
became conscious again of my earthly surroundings. My pillow was as wet as
though water had been poured on it—wet with tears of gratitude that I could
answer unashamed”

(“Your Good Name,” Improvement Era, Mar. 1947, p. 139).

If we are willingly keeping the commandments and give service to others, we are honoring the name of Jesus Christ.

Labels: Alma, Baptize, Book of Mormon, D and C, Jesus Christ, Lesson 12, Moroni