The World:—This certainly makes the interpretation appear most absured. But, do you consider water baptism essential to salvation?
Nicodemus:—I do, most assuredly. I am aware that this doctrine sounds as strange to the people in these days as it did at first to me. But it is, nevertheless, true. It was not Christ's doctrine, it was the doctrine of the Father who had sent Him, and who had sent John also with a similar message. "My doctrine is not mine," said the Savior, "but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7: 16, 17.) Again He said, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (John 12: 49, 50.) Therefore, when Christ impressed upon me the necessity of a new birth, of the water and of the Spirit, He taught me a commandment which He had received from His Father, and which He said was life everlasting. I am surprised that anyone possessed of ordinary intelligence could think for a moment that God, the fountain of all truth and wisdom, would send His Son down to the earth to teach the children of men ordinances which were not necessary for them to observe. Nor can I think of anything more foolish than for Christ to send out missionaries into the world to teach people to observe an ordinance, which, when they had obeyed it, they were no better off than they were before. How dare anyone charge the Almighty with such folly?
The World:—We have no further questions to ask the witness.
Latter-day Saints:—Our next witness is the Apostle Peter.
PETER'S TESTIMONY.
The World:—Were you commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to preach His Gospel?
Peter:—I was. In sending His Apostles forth to preach the Gospel, the Lord said unto them, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28: 19, 20.)
The World:—Baptism is, therefore, a commandment of the Lord?
Peter:—It is, and Christ has said, that he that breaks one of the least of His commandments and teaches men to do so, the same shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matt. 5: 19.)
The World:—Do you believe water baptism to be essential to man's salvation?