Mosiah 18

The Baptismal Covenant

Some decisions are so important that they can affect everything else in our lives. Making a covenant with God through the ordinance of baptism is one of those decisions. Alma taught his people by the waters of Mormon about the covenant we make with God when we are baptized. This lesson can help you better understand the baptismal covenant and how it can influence your relationship with God and others.

Helping students discover relevance. When students see how God’s word in the scriptures is relevant to their own situations and circumstances, they are generally more motivated to learn and apply gospel teachings. One way to help students see relevance is by asking them questions such as “How might this event or teaching be similar to your experiences?” or “How does this truth apply to your life?”

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to bring a picture or journal entry from the day of their baptism to class. They could also ask others who were there what they remember.

Any who have not been baptized could come ready to share thoughts and feelings they experienced while attending a baptism or questions they might have about baptism.

Possible Learning Activities

Your baptism

To begin your study today, think about your baptism and try to remember details from that day. If you have not yet been baptized, reflect on what you know about baptism or what you remember from having attended a baptism.

If students brought pictures as suggested in the student preparation, consider displaying them and inviting the class to try to identify whose pictures they are. You could then invite volunteers to share what they remember about their baptism. The following questions could help students to remember and discuss their feelings about baptism.

• What are your favorite memories from that day? How did you feel?

• How has your decision to be baptized influenced your relationship with God and other people?

Alma teaches the words of Abinadi

Mosiah 18 contains the account of Alma, who was once one of King Noah’s priests, teaching the words of Abinadi to others. Alma was forced to teach in secret because King Noah wanted to kill him for believing Abinadi’s testimony of Jesus Christ.

Read Mosiah 18:1–7, looking for what Alma taught the people.

• What did Alma teach about the Savior after hearing Abinadi’s testimony?

• Why do you think Alma chose to teach what he did in these verses?

The baptismal covenant

After teaching the people about redemption through Jesus Christ, Alma taught about the importance of baptism. From his teachings we can learn that when we are baptized, we enter into a covenant with God. As you continue to study Alma’s teachings, ponder what you know about the covenant we make at baptism and renew each time we take the sacrament, as well as any questions you might have. Prayerfully seek to better understand how this covenant can influence your relationship with God and others.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what a covenant is:

A covenant is an agreement between God and man, an accord whose terms are set by God (see Bible Dictionary, “Covenant,” 651). In these divine agreements, God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments. (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Power of Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 20)

For the following study activity, consider inviting students to work with a partner. Have one partner look for what we promise when we are baptized and the other look for the blessings Heavenly Father offers us. Then invite them to share what they found with each other.

In Mosiah 18:8–10, Alma described the covenant of baptism. Read Mosiah 18:8–10 and consider marking what we commit to do when we are baptized and, in a different color or style, marking the blessings that Heavenly Father offers us.

Mosiah 18:8–10 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily. You will have an opportunity in the next lesson to practice applying the doctrine taught in this passage to a question or situation.

Consider creating two columns on the board and writing “We covenant to …” at the top of one and “God offers …” at the top of the other. Invite students to come to the board and fill out what they find from Mosiah 18:8–10.

• What do you think it means to “mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort”? (verse 9).

• What are some ways we can “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places”? (verse 9). Whom do you know that is a good example of doing this?

• How have you seen God bless you or others with the promises He makes with us through baptism?

Keeping your baptismal covenant

The remainder of the lesson is intended to help students understand how to keep the baptismal commitments that Alma described in Mosiah 18:8–10.

The following videos could be used to show examples. Invite students to watch for and share phrases from verses 8–10 that they see demonstrated in the videos. (The videos are available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) Students could then come up and underline a statement on the board that they felt was demonstrated in the video. You could then ask them why they picked that statement.

• “No Cussing Club” (4:56)

  No Cussing Club

  One boy’s crusade to encourage clean language has far-reaching effects.

• “Eyes to See” (from time code 4:55 to 6:53)

  Eyes to See

  Sister Craig teaches that with the help of the Holy Ghost we can learn to see others and see ourselves as the Savior does.

• “Dayton’s Legs” (3:02)

  Dayton's Legs

  A 13-year-old boy in Arizona fulfilled his Duty to God by pushing himself to the limit so that his friend, who has cerebral palsy, could participate with him in a triathlon.

Choose at least one of the promises we make at baptism that Alma shared in Mosiah 18:8–10. For example, you might choose “bear one another’s burdens” (verse 8) or “keep his commandments” (verse 10).

Consider displaying the following questions and giving students sufficient time to ponder their answers. Then invite them to share their answers and other insights in small groups.

• What are some ways a teenager could keep that promise?

• Why do you think Heavenly Father included that as part of our baptismal covenant?

• How has the Savior shown through example how to keep that promise?

• When have you or someone you know kept that promise? What have you learned from those experiences?

Take some time to record in your journal how you feel you are doing at keeping the baptismal promises Alma shared in Mosiah 18:8–10. How have you successfully kept some of these promises? In what situations could you more intentionally keep one of them? How do you think it will affect your relationship with the Lord and with other people if you do?

Commentary and Background Information

Why is it important to understand my baptismal covenant?

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

I have noted throughout my life that when people come to fully understand the blessings and the power of their baptismal covenant, whether as new converts or as lifelong members of the Church, great joy comes into their lives and they approach their duties in the kingdom with contagious enthusiasm. (“Alma the Elder: A Role Model for Today,” in Heroes from the Book of Mormon [1995], 84)

Mosiah 18:14. Did Alma baptize himself?

President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) explained:

We may conclude that Alma held the priesthood before he, with others, became disturbed with King Noah. Whether this is so or not makes no difference because in the Book of Mosiah it is stated definitely that he had authority [see Mosiah 18:13]. If he had authority to baptize that is evidence that he had been baptized.

Therefore, when Alma baptized himself with Helam that was not a case of Alma baptizing himself, but merely as a token to the Lord of his humility and full repentance. (Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957–66], 3:203)

How can I keep my covenant to care for others?

Sister Sharon Eubank of the Relief Society General Presidency said:

As baptized members of the Church, we are under covenant to care for those in need. Our individual efforts don’t necessarily require money or faraway locations; they do require the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a willing heart to say to the Lord, “Here am I; send me.” (Sharon Eubank, “I Pray He’ll Use Us,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 55)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Sacred places

After reading the description of the waters of Mormon in Mosiah 18:30, ask students to reflect on places that are sacred to them because they “came to a knowledge of their Redeemer” there. You might give them time to record memories in their journals and ask for volunteers to share places they thought of without sharing details that are too personal.

God’s generosity

Consider using this idea in the section of the lesson under the heading “The baptismal covenant.” Hold up an item that students might be interested in having, and ask how much they would be willing to pay for that item. Ask them how they would feel toward you if you gave them the item as a gift if they agreed to try their best to appreciate and use it. As students study what God is offering us through the baptismal covenant and what He requires of us, help them understand His love and generosity in offering so much in comparison to what He asks in return. (See also Romans 8:16–17; Doctrine and Covenants 84:38.)

The sacrament

Consider inviting students to list on the board the promises we renew when we take the sacrament. These promises are found in Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79.

Then ask them how keeping these promises can help us keep the promises outlined in Mosiah 18:8–10. For example, you might ask, “How can always remembering Him help us to bear one another’s burdens?” or “How can taking His name upon us help us to stand as His witnesses in all places?”

Alma taught his people how to fulfill the baptismal covenant

Write the following scripture references on the board: Mosiah 18:21; Mosiah 18:18–19; Mosiah 18:23, 25; Mosiah 18:27–29.

Divide students into groups of four. Invite each student to read one of the scripture passages silently, thinking about the following questions. Then invite them to report what they learned to their group.

• How does the passage help you to better understand how to live according to the covenant we make at baptism?

• How can keeping your covenant in this way affect others in your ward or branch?

• How will following the counsel in this passage help you to have the Spirit of the Lord with you?