Note: all emphases in scripture quotes are mine.
The Lord is working again among the children of men to prepare a people who can stand his coming, instead of being burned to a crisp when he returns. Besides that, he would really like us to be rescued from the god of this world and be saved, even if his return is 2,000 years into the future (I believe it will be a lot closer than that, but what do I know?). The times of the gentiles have been fulfilled and are coming to an end. In order to save as many souls as possible, before the destruction and collapse of this planet's societies, the Lord has spoken from the heavens and is offering baptism to people.
You are not joining a sect, nor a formally organized religion. If you are Baptist, or Mormon, or Catholic, or Buddhist, or Muslim, or Jew or any of the hundreds of religions/societies that I did not name, you are welcome to be baptized by one having authority. You are still whatever sect you have chosen to be, though some of them may cast you out if they discover your baptism (LDS surely will). You will, however, become part of the Lord's church, defined below.
Your relationship with God is between you and God, alone. Your salvation is between you and God, alone. No man, whether he be a true prophet or a false one, has the right or obligation to stand between you and the Lord Jesus Christ. No religious leader, neither any secular leader has the right to take away your right to approach the heavenly throne.
For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 26:22)
But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance
(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 21:22)
Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 10:67-68)
Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:17)
So, in a nutshell:
1st- Learn about Christ, who he was and is. Believe in him.
2nd- Repent, which is to turn and face the Lord. It is to desire him above all else.
3rd- Be baptized by one having authority (this is what that baptism button on my blog helps with. You click on it and you will be brought to a site that should help you find someone in your area who can baptize you)
4th- Continue faithful, and you will be led to Christ, in the flesh (your flesh and his). Do what he tells you to do.
This may be a long journey. It won't be an easy journey, and it certainly won't be a popular journey. Like those of old time, you will most likely be mocked, scorned, cast out from your churches (at least if they are the kind that claim the right to exert control over your choices and over your relationship with God), and cast out from your families.
There are no hoops to jump through to be baptized. The only requirement is that you understand the doctrine of Christ and desire baptism.
The doctrine of Christ, according to Christ:
Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.
Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy 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. And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are bone.
And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.
(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 11:30 - 40)
2 Nephi, chapter 31 will also give you a lot of information on this subject (it is also in the Book of Mormon).
A note about the Book of Mormon. The book does not belong to a single sect. The early editions are public domain. The first edition, 1830, shows how unlearned Joseph Smith was (also, the original manuscript was one long run-on sentence. It was punctuated by an employee of E. B. Grandin, who made a few mistakes in the punctuation (one that I know of was putting a colon after Nephi said, "These are the words of my father," when, clearly, the words of Nephi's father were before that sentence, not after). So feel free to let God help you learn where he would have put the punctuation). Some of The Book of Mormon was cleaned up for the second edition, but there were also some changes that may or may not have been authorized by God. You have to discern that on our own, even though there will be many people willing to tell you what they think. It is a lie that the book the LDS sect has now (2017) is the one translated by Joseph, sans any alterations.
Here is a link to a pdf of the 1830 Book of Mormon. The first page was written by the person who made it available. After the picture, the actual book begins.
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