Possible Modern Fulfillment of the 7 Trumpets

The following is not LDS Doctrine. See Brainbender.blogspot.com for more information and links on the BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. Is the Gulf Oil Spill the 2nd Trumpet?

Seven Seals
Joseph Smith asked God the meaning of the 7 Seals in Revelation. God explained that the 7 Seals represented the things revealed during each 1000 year period since the world's existence or since the creation of man on the Earth. Seal 1 had to do with conquest as humans spread out over the Earth. Seal 2 involved war as humans fought over contested lands. While there was still free land available it was probably easier to just move into unclaimed areas than go to war over land. Seal 3 involved the invention of money which probably refers to the Phoenician invention of the Silver Shekel of Tyre. Seal 4 speaks of plague. Money enabled man to live in cities. However, city living leads to poor sanitation and more risk of disease. Seal 5 refers to the Christian Martyrs and the death of Christ. Seal 6 mentions the Sun, Moon, and Stars being darkened which refers to the Dark Ages and the Great Apostasy. It also mentions earthquakes. Earthquakes have always occurred but became more terrible after the discovery of concrete. Seal 7 opens with silence for a 1/2 hour and then describes the sounding of 7 Trumpets. If Adam lived 4000 BC then Seal 7 would have opened around 2000 AD. we are in the days of the 7th Seal and the Trumpets maybe beginning to sound.

Seven Trumpets
What are the Trumpets. The Trumpets represent the tribulation that the corrupt political, economic and religious system of the world inflicts upon the people. Types of the tribulation are the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by Titus who burned the temple and crucified thousands of Jews on the walls of the city. The wrath would refer to the judgments of God upon Titus and Rome thereafter which involved the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, fire, drought, plague, and an early death just 2 years after becoming Emperor.

Another fulfillment of the 7 trumpets could refer to the fall of the Roman Empire. In addition to declining morals and corruption, Rome was economically bankrupt. They had sent much of their gold over to the orient in exchange for luxuries. Low on gold, Rome didn't have enough to put into their own currency. This led to a devaluation and contraction of the money supply. Contraction of the money supply and cheap slave labor led to greater unemployment. Greater unemployment led to more and more people relying upon government welfare. Rome put what money they had to fund the games to keep the unemployed mobs amused and pacified.

Rome was first invaded by the Goths by land, and then the Vandals by sea. Then they were hit by Attila the Hun who conquered following the river valleys. Next the Arab Muslims arose and slaughtered millions of non-Roman Catholic Christians and Sephardic Jews. The Ottoman Turks and Arab Muslims continued their conquest of Christian and Jews until all the rival Christians capitals of Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Constantinople were destroyed. God's judgment and wrath upon Europe and Rome were the Plagues associated with the Dark Ages.

Today, in the Last Days the prophecy of the 7 Trumpets will be fulfilled yet again. History repeats itself. That is what makes the Bible so universal is that themes repeat themselves over and over again on both the global as well as the individual scale. Today, I was thinking upon the difficulty that our nation is already experiencing and I was wondering if the Trumpets are not already sounding.

First Trumpet - Hail and Fire Destruction of all the grass and 1/3 of trees (Rev 8:7).
Job speaks of treasures of hail and snow and then equates that with the day of battle and war (Job 38:22). The first trumpet in the fall of the Roman Empire was invasion by land by the Goths. Because the American Empire is an Economic empire, our first trumpet would involve an economic war designed to devaluate currencies and bankrupt nations. Trees and grass refer to rich and poor nations.
First Trumpet = Financial Crisis?

Second Trumpet - Meteor falls into the Ocean destroying 1/3 of ships and sea life (Rev :8-9).
The second trumpet in the Fall of the Pax Romana involved invasion by sea by the Vandals. We have just likely been attacked by sea as millions of gallons of crude oil are currently gushing from a sabotaged oil drilling platform into the Gulf of Mexico. I will not be surprised when we are told the spill is much worse then previously reported. Time will only tell the consequences of that much oil spilled in the Gulf which affects 1/3 part of the US coastline. All that oil in the water is consuming all the oxygen which will destroy all sea life in the Gulf of Mexico. I have no idea what kind of an impact this much oil will have on the US coastline when all this oil reaches shore. Could this spill be so big that it affects the food chain, migratory birds, etc.
Second Trumpet = Gulf Oil Spill?

Third Trumpet - Wormwood falls from the Heavens causing fresh water to become bitter (Rev 8:10-11).
We have been warned by our government about the potential threat of Iran or some other terrorist group of detonating a nuclear bomb on US soil. President Obama warned us during his UN nuclear summit earlier this year. The US government is currently conducting drills this month (NLE 2o10) to prepare for just such a scenario. Alex Jones, a talk radio host from Austin TX, has also taken note of the warnings by our government. Alex Jones is concerned with the possibility of several simultaneous devices being detonated in several US cities as a pretext to go to war with Iran. Alex Jones and Bill Cooper in TX both warned of 911 as well. William Cooper was mysteriously killed after being first to warn of a 911-style attack (see 3Ne 6:23).

We know that some involved with the monolithic conspiracy want the US to go to war with Iran. According to the prophecy in Dan 8 that the goat with the single horn will strike and kill the ram with the two horns which represent Media (Iraq) and Persia (Iran). Then Daniel says the horn of the goat will be cut down. Now this prophecy we are told specifically by Daniel applies to Alexander the Great. After Alexander the Great's death, the Greek Empire was divided into four parts. Some people believe this prophecy foretells that America will eventually be drawn into war against Iran. The trigger as Alex Jones and other have said, would be some kind of 911 false flag event on US soil. Just like Iraq, if Iran seeks to trade oil in Euros, then the US will feel compelled to prevent Iran from violating the Petro-Dollar system which is the only thing holding up the US dollar. Most people don't understand that if any country desires to import any oil from any other country, they can only buy that oil using US Dollars. Now that the US Dollar is off the gold standard, the Petro-Dollar System is the only thing holding up the near bankrupt US Economy.

Many Bible Christians are aware that "wormwood" in Russian is "Chernobyl." Therefore, many Bible readers have associated this trumpet with a nuclear bomb being detonated within the US. The main candidate site for this is Kansas City, MO. This is to be the hub of the the NAFTA superhighway from Canada to Mexico. Such an event would clear the way for the completion of this NWO project. The US has at least 500,000 FEMA grave liners sitting in fields in both Madison and Conyers, GA as well as other sites in Indiana that have been identified on Google Earth. Also, the US has finished several mass grave sites in California, Indian, Arizona, and Texas. I don't believe our government builds anything that big that it doesn't eventually plan on using.

But another correlation with scripture would be the events effect on fresh water in America. If a nuclear device or dirty bomb were detonated anywhere in the Missouri/Mississippi River watershed areas, all waters downstream would be contaminated with radioactivity. Farmers who depend on that water would not be able to use it for farming.

Could there be another fulfillment of prophecy by Joseph Smith about the land of Missouri? (Graham W. Doxey, “Missouri Myths,” Ensign, Apr 1979, 64). Joseph Smith was visiting a great friend to the LDS church, Gen. Alexander Donovan, at his office when a man came to repay a legal bill with a deed to land in Jackson County. Joseph Smith told Donovan not to accept the deed because, "God’s wrath hangs over Jackson County … and you will live to see the day when it will be visited by fire and sword. The fields and farms and houses will be destroyed, and only the chimneys will be left to mark the desolation." That prophecy was fulfilled following the Civil War (See Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:538–59).

Heber C. Kimball may have also made a statement with regard to Missouri. Amanda H. Wilcox in Salt Lake City in May 1868 reported him as saying, "The western boundries of the State of Missouri will be swept so clean of its inhabitants that, as President Young tells us, when we return to that place, ‘There will not be left so much as a yellow dog to wag his tail.’ ” (Prophetic Sayings of Heber C. Kimball to Sister Amanda H. Wilcox, n.p., n.d., p. 6.)

Fourth Trumpet - Darkening of a third of the sun, moon, and stars (Rev. 8:12).
If this has any relation to what happened in Rome, then this might refer to Martial Law being imposed in the US and the fracturing of the US into regions. During Roman times Germanic Barbarians were allowed to infiltrate and then they were used by a faction in the government to break up the Empire.

Fifth Trumpet - (Woe #1) Locusts from the Bottomless Pit (Rev 9:1-10).
I am not sure who will be the locusts this time. In the Roman Times, this may have referred to the Arabs and Ottomans that conquered Non-Catholic Christians and Sephardic Jews in Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East. Christ warns in The Book of Mormon about the remnant of the seed of Jacob being among us. Could this refer to the large Hispanic population in America that if incited could simply walk off the job and cause a breakdown of society?

3 Ne 20:15-16 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blesssing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

Sixth Trumpet - (Woe #2) Eastern army of 200,000,000 men kill 1/3 of mankind
This likely refers to Armageddon and most of us are familiar with what will happen there. 2 Witnesses who prophecy will call down Moses in Egypt type plagues to protect the city of Jerusalem from being taken by the invading armies. The 2 witnesses will finally be overcome, but resurrect on the 3rd day. Christ will split the Mount of Olives and save the remnant of Jews who will convert to Christianity when they behold their Savior and Redeemer and recognize that He is Jesus Christ.

Baptisms for the Dead by Vicarious Proxy

1 Cor. 15: 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

Mal 4: 5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

1 Peter 3: 18-19; 4: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; . . . For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


LDS practice an ordinance referred to as baptism for the dead. This sacred ordinance is one of the ordinances done in LDS temples. LDS believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church on the Earth with authority to baptize in the name of Christ and the only church with the fullness of truth. For the LDS people, it is not enough to become baptized ourselves by God's priesthood authority which was restored to the Earth by angelic messengers after long years of apostasy and spiritual darkness. LDS understand the Bible to teach that true believers have responsibility to make this truth available to our kindred dead as well as every person who has ever lived on the face of the Earth.

Christ was very clear to Nicodemus that unless an accountable individual was baptized by water and the spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of heaven. However, during the dark ages and until the Restoration, the authority and sealing keys had been lost from the Earth. Consequently, there have lived and died millions of faithful Christians who God knows would have received the proper baptism by the proper priesthood authority had they had the opportunity.

Because God is faithful and just, Baptism for the dead performed by vicarious proxy is the way God has provided for those of us living to do for those who have died, something they could not do for themselves in life, and that they cannot do in death. According to the Bible, Christ promised to preach the gospel to the disembodied spirits in prison. Then the Bible says that Elijah would return and turn the hearts of the children towards our fathers. And then the Bible says that Christians would enter into baptism on behalf of the dead by vicarious proxy.

A friend of mine expressed the sentiment that, in his view, the idea of baptizing a faithful Catholic, or person of Jewish faith was disrespectful not only to them but to their other living relatives who may not be LDS. This friend claimed that baptizing in the name of a person who was of another faith would be like someone burning a Book of Mormon or an effigy of Joseph Smith. According to my friend, baptizing in the name of someone who was not already LDS was very rude and disrespectful to the memory of that person and what they stood for. In response to that sentiment, I had the following thoughts.

1. When an LDS member enters into baptism on behalf of someone who has died, it is done in a spirit of love, honor and respect. LDS believe that we enjoy the fullness of truth and consider baptism for the dead to be an expression of honor and respect to those who have gone before. Baptism for the Dead is also an expression of God's love and perfect justice and mercy. LDS understand that we stand on the shoulders of giants and without the faith and courage of those who have gone before, we would not be where we are today. So, it is important for others to understand that baptism for the dead is wholly meant to honor our forbearers and not disrespect them or their culture, faith, and beliefs.

2. When a member of the LDS faith is baptized on behalf of someone else who has died, that baptism does not make the person who has died LDS. This baptism only provides the ordinance to be accepted by that person if they so choose. Therefore, the act of the baptism really does nothing to the deceased other than invokes their name and memorializes them. If they wish to accept the ordinance, they are free to accept, decline, or ignore it altogether of their own freewill and choice.

3. On the other hand, if God has not yet revealed to you that the LDS church is His true Church on the Earth, and you do not believe that God restored His sealing power and priesthood keys necessary for baptism to Joseph Smith and modern prophets and Apostles, then our using that authority that you do not recognize shouldn't bother you. If there is no authority, our actions do nothing. Instead, you may do better expressing sorrow at what you consider an unfortunate waste of time in researching geological and family history records and in doing the ordinances.

4. There really isn't much of a difference between LDS Baptism for the Dead and the Christian belief that Jews will one day become Christian after Armageddon. Many Christians interpret the Bible to teach that in the Last Days, the nations of the Earth will gather to a great battle around the city of Jerusalem. According to mainstream Christian belief, right before the city of Jerusalem is completely destroyed, Jesus Christ will appear, divide the Mount of Olives, save the surviving Jews who will run to their Savior and then declare in wonderment, "what are these prints in your hands and in your side." In response, we are told Christ will say, "these are the wounds I received in the house of my friends." At that point, those Jews will be converted to Christ and become powerful witnesses who will convert Jews across the Earth to Christianity. This belief in the eventual conversion of the Jews to Christianity is taught by every major Christian denomination and non-denomination. And as you can guess, this kind of belief is very offensive to many Jews just as LDS Baptism for the Dead is also offensive to some for similar reasons.

5. Remember that all LDS beliefs involve both a spiritual and temporal aspect. This goes back to our belief in God who is both a physical and spiritual reality. Accordingly, Baptism for the dead is a physical or temporal representation of the LDS belief that the Bible prophecy will be fulfilled that one day "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ."

6. Above, I stated how my friend likened Baptism to the Dead to Anti-Mormons demonstrating outside the Conference Center or at the Manti Pagent and burning Books of Mormon or effigies of Joesph Smith for LDS members to view. While an Anti-Mormon can claim he is showing disrespect for LDS beliefs our of a spirit of love and concern, the difference between this behavior and Baptism for the Dead is that LDS Baptism are done in private and Anti-Mormon demonstrations are done in public for LDS to see.

The publicness on the one hand, and the private nature of Baptism for the Dead really makes all the difference. We all believe in the God-given, self-evident freedom of speech and religious expression. But we also believe in the golden rule that we should not do unto others what we would not want them to do to us. Accordingly, I respect another persons freedom and right to burn all the Books of Mormon they want to and to throw as many darts at a picture of President Monson that they desire, so as they do it privately and not with the intent to do it in my sight so as to shock me or offend me. In the same way, I hope others would recognize our God-given right of religious expression. LDS Baptism for the Dead is done privately and unfortunately only made public by a few anti-Mormon adversaries who are really the ones guilty of creating the offense by making this ordinance not only public but casting it in-the-face of living non-LDS relatives.

How the Father Draws us to Christ

John 6: 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Some Christians interpret the Bible when it says that Christ is our only mediator with the Father (Heb. 1: 2, 1 Tim. 2: 5) that there is no more need for prophets, apostles, water baptism, temples, church organization, or priesthood authority. These same Christians see these gifts as somehow getting in the way of a personal relationship with Christ. According to this interpretion, Christ destroys the law and the prophets. However, the Bible also teaches that no one cometh unto Christ except the Father draws him. The Father does not deal directly with man since The Fall because we can no longer endure His presence. So, the Father uses instruments in His hands like prophets, Apostles, scripture, prayer, baptism and other ordinances to bring us the Christ until we have fully come unto Christ and seen his face and know that He is. Thereafter, Christ becomes our only mediator with the Father. But, the Father uses many instruments like baptism, prophets, apostles, scripture, priesthood, the temple and other sanctifying gifts of the Spirit to draw us to Christ.

Noone comes unto Christ except the Father draws Him (John 6: 44)
Christ is our only mediator with the FAther (Heb. 1: 1-2, 1 Tim. 2: 5)
The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ and leads us into all truth. (John 16: 13, John 15: 26)
The Scriptures teach of Christ (John 5: 39)
Prophets teach to come to Christ (John 6: 45)

Prophets --> Scripture --> Holy Ghost --> Jesus Christ --> Heavenly Father

Jesus Christ showed us the way to Salvation by entering into the ordinance of water baptism. Christ then told Nicodemus that unless a man be born again both of water and of spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. However, some Christians interpret Christ's words to Nicodemus to mean that there is no need for the ordinance of water baptism. They interpret John 3:3-5 to mean that man has already been born of water at birth, and needs to be reborn of the Spirit only. However, we know from the Bible that Jesus Christ was baptized and reborn by water immersion and that the same practice was done by the early Saints. However, some cannot rectify the need for this work with Paul's teaching that we are saved by grace and not by works. Had John 3:3-4 said "except a man be reborn of water and of the Spirit" then I suppose there would not be room for debate here. And several versions of the Bible are translated this way.

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Eph. 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Looking at John 3:3-5 again, Christ tells Nicodemus "except a man be born [from above]" he cannot see the kingdom of God. Christ in verse 6 then clearly explains that to be born from above [γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν, gennethe anothen] involves being born of water and the Spirit. Later in scripture, we clearly see the Early Apostles continue the ordinance of John of the Baptist's water immersion in the Early Church. Specifically, Cornelius is water baptized after the Holy Ghost comes upon him (Acts 10: 47), and Phillip baptizes the Eunuch (Acts 8: 38-39).

John explains in 1 John 5:5-8 that rebirth or being born from above like mortal birth involves both water, blood, and spirit. like mortal birth, if one of the three elements is missing; the result is a stillbirth. In the case of being born again (from above), the water is the ordinance of baptism by water immersion, the blood is the blood of Christ's atonement, and the spirit is the presence of the Holy Ghost. Again, without any of these elements, rebirth is incomplete and stillborn.

1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

But if both the work and ordinance of water baptism is necessary for salvation, how do we rectify this with Paul saying that we are saved by grace alone and not by works (least we boast?). Never mind that Paul was speaking specifically about the "Law of Moses." Is the Bible being contradictory, or can we resolve the need for certain works with the power of grace?

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, the Bible says that that person becomes justified. But justification is just the first step in the process of sanctification and perfection. So, what is Justification?

Heb. 12: 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Justification is described as being acquitted from the law. Acquittal is what happens when a judge postpones or withholds judgement. In reality, acquittal does not prove innocence but says that evidence has not yet proven our guilt. Or that in this case, our guilty verdict will be postponed to a later date. In reality we really are guilty. But by justification the Holy Ghost can operate with us as if we are innocent. That is, the acquitted person who accepts Christ is able to receive the Holy Ghost by the merits and mercy and grace of Christ. The hope is that postponing judgement to the end, we will have been given time sufficient to prove our guilt or innocence. Whereas if we all were judged up front, we would all be guilty. God gives us time to repent and apply the saving grace of Christ's atonement.

But the atonement of Christ isn't just grace but also power. Christ's atonement is not just about sweeping our sins under the rug but also about changing us, purifying us like silver, making us new creatures, and turning us away from sin such that we have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually. So as the Holy Ghost enters into the Justified, He begins the necessary process of sanctification leading to perfection. As the believer feels the spirit, power, light and love of God; sin looses all enticement. This is how our love may become perfect, even in the flesh and in this world (Titus 2: 12, 1 Jn. 4: 17).

How does the power and grace of Christ relate to works? Specifically, it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that man is empowered to enter into baptism and the everlasting covenant in the temple. Believers do not receive these ordinances by their own power but by the empowering grace of the Holy Ghost. This is why Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was water baptized. If he hadn't temporarily received the Holy Ghost he would have no power to be baptized by water and later by fire to make the Holy Ghost a constant and continual presence.

So we see the Bible clearly teaches that the atonement is both grace and transformative power. Receiving the sanctifying ordinances of God is only possible by the grace and power of Christ. Therefore, ordinances like baptism are proof of that the empowing grace of Christ is working. Then after being justified by Christs blood, the Holy Spirit and the spirit of the covenants and ordinances work to purify, perfect, and sanctify us beginning in this world. Covenants and ordinances do not deny grace but show that the atonement is both grace and power that will empower us to action. This is why grace without works is dead. But even though works are required, it is still all God's grace. The works become a manifestation of the power of God's grace within the believer.

Sanctification is also a manifestation of the grace and power of God. Sanctification is a process. The believer is not perfected all at first but grows grace to grace, line upon line and precept upon precept. We become perfected as we allow the grace, power, love and light of Christ to grow brighter in us every day. God does not force Himself upon us. But He does reach down to rescue us, and as He said, stands at the door and knocks. But we then must open up the door and allow Him to enter.

We are saved from the beginning but through the process of sanctification, we receive a better resurrection and reward in the next life. Exaltation and Eternal Life being the greatest gift of God. Accordingly, we all must ask ourselves. Do I give my whole soul to God or do I keep part from him. If we still sin then we still are withholding part of our will from God whose spirit would purge and purify regardless of the flesh.

Alma 5: 26-27 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? . . . Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

The Fall

Baptism of Water and Fire

There is considerable debate amongst Christians about the need for baptism. Some feel that baptism by water is necessary for salvation. Others interpret the Bible to teach that only a verbal confession of Christ is needed for salvation. In the following post I seek to review some of the more pertinent scriptures which address this issue.

Matt. 3: 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

John the Baptist was of priestly lineage and in line to serve as the High Priest as his father had done. However, John recognized the corruption and apostate state of the Jews and was forced to teach in the wilderness outside the current Jewish convention. John preached a preparatory gospel foretelling the coming of the Messiah who would not just baptize with water but would baptize with fire or the Holy Ghost. John baptized believers in the wilderness as a sign and token of their covenant, commitment, and acceptance of the coming Christ.

John 1: 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

John the Beloved writes that he was taught by John the Baptist himself that he would recognize the coming Messiah by seeing the Spirit descend upon him and remain upon him. We are later told that when Jesus of Nazareth came to John the Baptist to be baptized by water; there was some kind of heavenly manifestation where the Holy Ghost was said to have descended upon Jesus Christ "like a dove."

Matt. 3: 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Whatever the sign was, it was enough to convince John the Baptist and others that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah and Christ he and his followers had long been waiting for.

Luke 7: 20, 28 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? . . . For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

These verses sound as if John hadn't yet accepted Jesus as Messiah. However, it is more likely these men were sent from John to question Christ for their benefit and not his. In the second part, Jesus calls John great but less than the least in the kingdom of God. Was Christ condemning John the Baptist to Hell? No, Christ is telling these men that the baptism of John alone is not enough to enter into the kingdom of God. Christ will teach us again and again that both the baptism of water and fire is necessary to enter God's kingdom. But there is another important implication here. This passage suggests a distinction between heaven and God's kingdom. A follower of John the Baptist who had been baptized by water only could be promised salvation from hell, but that does not mean they would merit entrance into God's kingdom and exaltation.

John 3: 3, 5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. . . Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ taught Nicodemus that both baptism by water and the Spirit are necessary for entrance into the kingdom of God. Birth requires a body, blood, water, and spirit. Being born again also requires these 4 elements: the body of the individual making the covenant, the blood of Christ's sacrifice, the water of baptism by immersion, and then the reception of the Holy Spirit which is the baptism by fire. Without any one of these element, the birth or rebirth would be stillborn (1 Jn. 5: 5-8). So far, this suggests that water baptism is still a required element necessary to show ones acceptance of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Matt. 28: 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Before Christ's ascension into heaven, Jesus charges his disciples to baptize all nations. Although not specifically stated, there is no reason to believe that water baptism and spirit baptism are no longer a requirement.

Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In fact, at the Day of Pentecost when the Gift of the Holy Ghost was fully manifest upon the Apostles, Peter invites those in attendance to enter into water baptism. Acts 2 goes on to say that "they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." There is no reason to believe that it was not water baptism that the 3000 received that day in addition to receiving the baptism of fire.

Acts 8: 36-38 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Acts 8 clarifies the practice of water baptism further. The Bible clearly describes Philip going down into the water with the eunuch and water baptizing him by immersion after the eunuch confesses his belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Acts 19: 1-6 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them;

Here Paul finds a group of believers in Ephesus and asks if they have received the baptism of fire. The group confesses they hadn't heard anything about the Holy Ghost after which Paul asks them who baptized them. The group tells Paul that they were baptized "Unto John's baptism." But Paul knew that John the Baptist hadn't really baptized these people, because had he actually done so, John would have told them to look forward to the Messiah and the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost which they knew nothing about. So, Paul baptizes these people again with water in the name of Jesus Christ, and then bestows upon them the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. This is one of several places in scripture that describes how the baptism of fire is conducted. Other scriptures include:

John 20: 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Acts 8: 15, 17 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: . . . Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10: 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

When one with authority bestows or confirs the Gift of the Holy Ghost on another, he does not just give the Holy Ghost. Rather, while laying his hands on the person, he invites the person to "receive the Holy Ghost." The reception of the Holy Ghost depends on the application of Christ's atonement, desire, repentance, humility, righteousness of that individual to conduct his life such that the Holy Ghost can dwell within him.

1 Cor. 3: 16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Rom. 6: 3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Paul reiterates the symbolic importance of the baptism by water as a sign and token of our covenant with God and acceptance of Jesus Christ by saying that being immersed under the water symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as our own rebirth as a disciple of Christ.

Now, after all this scriptural evidence supporting the need for water baptism and fire baptism, where does the doctrine come from that confessing that Jesus is the Christ, or accepting Jesus as your personal Savior is enough alone?

Rom. 10: 9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

That's it. Romans 10 is the only place. Paul does say that if a believer confesses that Jesus is the the Christ and that he was resurrected, that he "shalt be saved" from hell. But he doesn't say that the believer would necessarily enter into the kingdom of God or be exalted or dwell with God forever. Remember, there is ample evidence that the Bible makes a distinction between mere salvation from hell vs. exaltation and entering the kingdom of God. Yes, confessing Christ is enough for salvation from Hell. But not going to Hell isn't the goal; entering into the kingdom of God is. According to the LDS interpretation, these verses do not contradict each other. On the other hand, to accept the popular and prevailing Evangelical Christian doctrine that water baptism is not necessary, forces one to disregard a good chunk of the New Testament and many teachings of Jesus Christ himself. Of course, as my wife points out, a good reason to get water and fire baptized is because Jesus Christ himself did. And as disciples of Christ, shouldn't we follow in his footsteps?

In closing, I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking that water baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands alone is enough. It is how a believer becomes a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and enters into the kingdom of God. But spiritually being born again and the baptism of fire by the Holy Ghost is not an overnight experience. It requires daily striving, prayer, fasting, devotion and enduring to the end. And of course, without the Atonement of Christ, both the water and fire baptism would be worthless and dead. Remember that the blood of Christ is a necessary element in the process of re-birth and without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, none of us would be able to "work out [our] own salvation" (Philip. 2: 12).