Covenants at the Waters of Mormon:
What Do I Promise Heavenly Father When I Am Baptized?

They are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him (D&C 20:77).

When wicked King Noah condemned Abinadi to death, Alma, a repentant priest, pleaded for the prophet’s life. Furious, Noah tried to have Alma killed, too, but he fled into the wilderness and began teaching the gospel. Those who believed him went to hear him preach near a fountain of pure water in a place called Mormon.

One day Alma said to a large group of believers, “Behold, here are the waters of Mormon … 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;

“Yea, and are willing to 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 all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

“Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

“And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.” (Mosiah 18:8–11.)

We, too, make the same covenants and can feel the same joy when we are baptized. Although she has not yet been baptized, six-year-old Macy Nelson of Gilbert, Arizona, is preparing to keep her covenant of comforting those who stand in need of comfort. She loved Grandma Lolly and Grandpa George very much and did lots of fun things with them. Grandpa George was her special buddy and was a “silly grandpa” who always made her laugh.

When he died in 1997, Macy cried. But then she looked up at her mommy and asked, “Who is going to take care of Grandma?”

“I don’t know,” her mommy replied.

Macy said, “I will.”

Grandma Lolly moved into Macy’s home, and she was happy to give Grandma her room. Macy continues to take care of Grandma with lots of hugs and kisses, and she thanks Heavenly Father that they are a “forever family.”

Color the flannel-board figures, then mount them on heavy paper. Cut them out and use them to retell the story “Covenants at the Waters of Mormon.”

Alma pleading for Abinadi’s life; Alma baptizing; Alma teaching—people clapping hands; Modern girl hugging her grandmother.
(Illustrated by Beth Whittaker.)

Painting by Jerry Thompson