Here, again, the fair inference is, that those who would reject baptism, could not be redeemed; hence the necessity of baptism.
Turning to the revelations which the Lord has given in this dispensation, in which he commissioned men to preach the Gospel, he said: "Go ye into all the world, preach the Gospel to every creature, acting in the authority which I have given you, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned."[T]
[Footnote T: Doc. and Cov., sec. lxviii: 8-10.]
Still more emphatic, perhaps, because it leaves nothing to implication, is the passage which reads (and this, too, is in connection with sending out men to preach the Gospel): "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is not baptized, shall be damned."[U]
[Footnote U: Doc. and Cov., sec. cxii: 29.]
Thus in the present dispensation, as well as in the former ones, committed to the Jews and Nephites, the necessity of baptism is beyond all question.
[CHAPTER XXII.]
OBJECT OF BAPTISM.
In speaking of the necessity of baptism I incidentally referred to the object of the ordinance also; which the reader will doubtless remember, is for the remission of sins. Such was the object for which John the Baptist administered baptism. Mark says: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."[A] Luke also says: "And he [John] came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."[B]
[Footnote A: Mark i: 4.]
[Footnote B: Luke iii: 3.]