Gospel Principles

The core principles of the gospel are faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Faith

Faith is the first principle of the gospel. When you have faith, you believe in something that you can’t see but you know is there. Much like you know the sun will come up every morning, you can also know God is real.

Faith is built as we test God’s promises and see the blessings. For example, God has promised that He will answer if we pray. We have to pray first before we see the blessings. The Book of Mormon compares faith to a seed. We have to plant faith in our hearts and it will begin to grow. If we are patient and continue to nourish the seed, our faith will grow strong like a tree (see Alma 32:27–42).

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Repentance

The Bible teaches us that God is loving and He forgives His children as often as they ask. As we repent and change, God forgives us of our mistakes. In turn, we must follow Jesus’s example and forgive others.

Repentance isn’t just saying you’re sorry. It starts with a real desire to change. You need to confess your sins to God and to anyone you’ve wronged, make amends if possible, and try never to repeat the sin. Of course, you won’t always be perfect, but if you are sincere about your efforts, the grace of Jesus Christ will help you become clean again.

Baptism

Baptism is a covenant—or a promise—that you make with God. When you get baptized, you promise to serve Him and follow His commandments to the best of your abilities. Jesus taught, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This means that baptism, or being “born of water,” is a requirement to get into heaven.

The Promises of Baptism

YOU PROMISE: to serve others

“Bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” (Mosiah 18:8).

YOU PROMISE: to show love and compassion

“Mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of
comfort” (Mosiah 18:9).

GOD PROMISES: to give you the Holy Spirit

“. . . that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you” (Mosiah 18:10).

YOU PROMISE: to be a good example

“Stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be
in” (Mosiah 18:9).

YOU PROMISE: to keep God's commandments

“Ye will serve him and keep his commandments” (Mosiah 18:10).

GOD PROMISES: to give you eternal life

“. . . that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life” (Mosiah 18:9).

Baptisms in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are performed by immersion, meaning a person is immersed all the way under water and brought back up. The Bible tells us that “when [Jesus] was baptized, [He] went up straightway out of the water” (Matthew 3:16). Baptism by immersion is beautifully symbolic, not only of the washing away of sins, but of death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism signifies the end of your old way of life and birth to a life committed to following the example of Jesus.

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The Gift of the Holy Ghost

Although baptism is itself a significant event, it is not fully complete without being born of the Spirit (see John 3:5), which means receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. The Holy Ghost is given to you after your baptism so you can receive God’s help, guidance, and comfort throughout your life.

Common Questions

Below are questions often asked about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Click here to see the full list.

God has provided a way for everyone to receive all of His blessings—even after death. Baptisms and other essential ordinances can be performed on behalf of those who have died without the opportunity. The Apostle Paul spoke of baptism for the dead in the Bible (see 1 Corinthians 15:29), and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continue that same practice in temples today.

Here’s how it works: Latter-day Saints study their family history to discover names of people who have died without being baptized. Members are then baptized on behalf of those ancestors in the temple. This service for others is offered in love—and because life continues after death, those who have died are aware of the ordinances and can choose whether or not to accept them.

Because baptism includes making a promise to follow Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, we believe that a person must be able to discern right and wrong and have sufficient understanding to choose baptism for themselves. This is one reason why the Church doesn’t practice infant baptism. Instead, children may be baptized beginning at eight years old.

After a person is baptized, those with proper priesthood authority place their hands on the baptized person’s head to confirm him or her a member of the Church and give the gift of the Holy Ghost. When someone receives the Holy Ghost, it means the person may have the Holy Spirit with them as a constant companion to comfort and guide them and to witness of truth.

The Purpose of Life

Jesus Christ’s Church