Fourth Article of Faith

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 In the scriptures we learn of these four essential ordinances. The first being faith, I have learned through the scriptures as well as in my own life, that my faith is there very beginning of everything.  For my prayers to be answered, I must first have faith that God will answer me. To be healed through the atonement I must have faith. As we develop our faith in Jesus Christ, it leads us to do, or to act, one of those actions is repentance.  Repentance, is a sincere and honest desire to change or to turn away from sin, and it is by our faith in Jesus Christ that we have that desire, and it is through Jesus Christ that we are healed or cleansed from sin. The next step is baptism, we are not only baptized to follow the example of Christ, but to receive a remission of our sins or forgiveness of our sins. When we are buried in the water, it is symbolic of the burial of Christ, when we rise out, it is symbolic to the resurrection of Christ, in Romans 6 Paul counseled us to "walk in [a] newness of life" as Jesus, (Romans 6:4). With this newness of life, God has provided a gift to aid us in our daily walk. That gift is the gift of the Holy Ghost, this gift is given as it says in the fourth article of faith, by the laying on of hands. This is done by someone holding the priesthood authority of God, which was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, along with all the priesthood keys to perform such ordinances has been restored through a prophet as God has done in times of old. I know that these ordinances are essential for us to return to live with our Father in heaven,  the scripture testify of this, Gods chosen servants testify of these things, and I testify of these things.

 3 Nephi 11
32 And this is my ^adoctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear ^brecord of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the ^cHoly Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.