Poster Article:
John the Baptist Followed Jesus Christ

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26).

One time when Jesus was teaching in the temple, some chief priests and elders of the people came and asked Him, “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” (See Matt. 21:23.)

They were trying to make the Savior look bad in front of the people. They didn’t want people to believe in Him. If people believed in Jesus Christ, they wouldn’t follow them (the chief priests and elders).

But Jesus knew what they were trying to do, so He said, “I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

“The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matt. 21:24–25.)

Now, John the Baptist believed in the Savior and knew of His mission. Before his death, John had told people that “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me [Jesus Christ] is mightier than I … : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matt. 3:11).

When the chief priests and the elders heard Jesus’ question, they were worried. They realized that if they said that John baptized people with the proper priesthood authority, Jesus would ask them why they didn’t believe John and follow Him (the Savior). But if they said that John did not have proper priesthood authority, the people wouldn’t believe them, because the people did believe John.

When the chief priests and elders refused to answer Jesus’ question, he refused to answer theirs. Then he told them a parable, or story:

“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

“He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

“And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

“Whether of them twain did the will of his father?”

The chief priests said that the first son did what his father asked. Jesus told them that those who believed John the Baptist and repented of their sins would go to heaven but that the chief priests and elders would not, because they didn’t believe John and repent of their sins. (See Matt. 21:25–32.)

When we learn the gospel, have faith in the Savior, repent of our sins, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, choose the right, and study the scriptures, we are following Jesus Christ.

Fourth Article of Faith Picture Scramble

By Caroline Benzley

Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. We can follow Jesus’ example by being baptized, too. To find out what two things we must do before we are baptized and what happens after we are baptized, cut out the pictures and glue them in place in the right order. For help, or to check your answer, read Articles of Faith 1:4.

Illustrated by Adam Koford

Gift of the Holy Ghost
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Repentance
Baptism

The Chief Priests by James J. Tissot; John the Baptist by Ted Henninger