Mosiah 18: 8, 10, 8-10; 24: 15

How have you been blessed because of baptism?

" 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) 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;" (Mosiah 18: 8)

"10 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?" (Mosiah 18: 10)

"8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) 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;

9 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—

10 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?" (Mosiah 18: 8-10)

"15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Mosiah 24: 15)

And here's the introductory commentary for the reading assignment this week, May 20–26: We Have Entered into a Covenant with Him Mosiah 18–24 : 

"The account of Alma and his people in Mosiah 18; 23–24 shows what it means to “come into the fold of God” (Mosiah 18:8). When Alma’s people were baptized, they made a covenant with God to “serve him and keep his commandments” (Mosiah 18:10). While this was a personal commitment with God, it also had to do with how they treated one another. Yes, the journey back to Heavenly Father is individual, and no one can keep our covenants for us, but that doesn’t mean we are alone. We need each other. As members of Christ’s Church, we covenant to serve God by helping and serving one another along the way, “bear[ing] one another’s burdens” (Mosiah 18:8–10). Alma’s people definitely had burdens to bear, just as we all do. And one way the Lord helps us “bear up [our] burdens with ease” (Mosiah 24:15) is by giving us a community of Saints who have promised to mourn with us and comfort us, just as we have promised to do for them.

See also “The Lord Delivers the Covenant Peoples of Alma and Limhi” (video), Gospel Library."

Baptism for me means entering into a covenant with God, to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and endure to the end. I'm so grateful for the privilege and opportunity for me to renew this covenant as I partake of the sacrament when I go to church every Sunday. It's so comforting and convenient to be able to renew my covenant without entering the waters of baptism again because partaking of the emblems of our Lord's body and His blood which was spilled for our sins, is like being baptized again or being born of water again. 

Blessings because of the opportunity and privilege I've had to be baptized when I turned 8 have been numerous--they are countless. I'm so grateful my parents made the choice to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ by entering the waters of baptism and becoming confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and raising us, their children up in the gospel. I wouldn't know exactly what kind of life I would choose to live myself by now if I didn't have the opportunity and privilege to have been raised by my parents or if my parents did not make the choice to embrace the gospel themselves when I was still a baby.