What is the Baptism of Fire & Baptism of the Holy Ghost?
This post is an annotated summary and transcript of the video “What is the Baptism of Fire & Baptism of the Holy Ghost? – Part 2.”
Video study guide by Rob (“Zombre DoC” on YouTube)
Three Baptisms: Water, Fire & The Holy Ghost
There are three baptisms spoken of in scripture: baptism by water, fire, and the Holy Ghost. John the Baptist said, “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 [meaning Christ] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matt 3:11). Commenting on all three baptisms Joseph Smith stated:
“We will leave this subject here and make a few remarks upon baptism the baptism of water with the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it. All three are necessary and inseparably connected. A man must be born of water and the spirit in order to get into the kingdom of god… There is one God, one Father, one Jesus, one hope of our calling, one baptism that is all three baptisms make one.” (Joseph Smith, April 7, 1844, Nauvoo, IL; DHC, volume 6, pp.316-7)
Jesus explained to Nicodemus, “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” (John 3:3-5). Jesus was explaining the importance of receiving the three baptisms – by water, fire and the Holy Ghost.
Scriptural Example of the Baptism of Fire & the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
Helaman 5 explains these two events – the baptism of fire and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It’s likely not what we may think. Nephi & his brother Lehi were imprisoned by Nephite dissenters living among the Lamanites. Just before they were to be killed the record says,
22 And after they had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them that they might slay them.
23 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned.
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36 …and behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels.
Nephi & Lehi both experienced baptisms of fire, which were witnessed by the Lamanites who stood ready to kill them. An awful solemn fear overcame the Lamanites as the walls of the prison shook exceedingly and a cloud of darkness overshadowed them (Helaman 5:27-28). Then unexpectedly, three times a still, mild voice was heard above the darkness saying, “Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you” (Helaman 5:29-33).
As the earth continued to shake, the Lamanites became “immovable” because of the cloud of darkness and fear which came upon them (Helaman 5:34). Aminadab, a Nephite dissenter who once belonged to the church of God, instructed them to “repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ” (Helaman 5:41). The Lamanites fervently did so, insomuch that the cloud of darkness dispersed from overshadowing them, and “behold, they saw that they [the Lamanites] were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire” (Helaman 5:42-43).
Cleansed by Heavenly Fire, A Remission of Sins
This fire encircling them was not a natural, orange-colored fire. Rather, it was a bright heavenly fire, baptizing them, or cleansing all 300 individuals in the prison. The purpose of a baptism of fire is exactly that: to cleanse an individual on the condition of deep repentance, humility and faith in Jesus Christ (Helaman 5:41,47).
One can have many baptisms of fire in their life, but we only receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost once. The cleansing from a baptism of fire prepares an individual to interact with heaven. When the Lord recognizes our hearts to be truly broken and our spirits contrite, He promises He will baptize us with fire and with the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 9:20). The gift of the Holy Ghost is His gift that He seals upon us in His role as the Holy Spirit of Promise (D&C 76:52-53).
So, thus far in Helaman 5, the Lamanites have received a baptism of fire, but have not yet received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. As “every soul” in the prison was encircled about by a pillar of fire, next came the baptism of the Holy Ghost (the ordinance or event). “And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words” (Helaman 5:45). Another voice then declared, “Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world” (Helaman 5:46-47). Christ had determined they were sufficiently prepared to receive the actual gift of the Holy Ghost.
48 And now, when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them.
Because of this event, these Lamanites were truly reborn of the Spirit. So great a change came upon them that they felt compelled to share their experience and teach others. “They were bidden (not forbidden) to go forth… and minister unto the people, declaring throughout all the regions round about all the things which they had heard and seen, insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them.” Why? “Because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received” (Helaman 5:49-50). Anyone receiving this gift will feel the same desire to share it with others.
How do we know this was the baptism of fire and the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Because Moroni confirms it as such. “Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost” (Ether 12:14).
Seeing Heavenly Fire
Few individuals are blessed to have their spiritual eyes open to see the heavenly fire present during this event. Most are not. For example, Enos received this ordinance without seeing a heavenly fire. The people at the temple with King Benjamin also received it without mentioning any heavenly fire. If our spiritual eyes are not yet open, we will most certainly feel the physiological burning sensation in the heart and body, but we may not see it.
Because the purpose of the baptism of fire is to cleanse us for the remission of sins, we can receive many baptisms of fire throughout our life. But the ordinance of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, or the gift of the Holy Ghost, only happens once. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is much greater than a baptism of fire.
Many of us thought we received the gift of the Holy Ghost when we were confirmed at age eight. In reality, the pronouncement “receive the Holy Ghost” is an injunction to relentlessly pursue the gift from Christ himself (see David A. Bednar’s Oct. 2010 talk “Receive the Holy Ghost”). This event is the “endowment of power” promised by Christ to the twelve apostles in John 20:19-23 and later sealed upon them in Acts 2 at the day of Pentecost.
We should all inquire about this event in our lives and ask Father to lead us to it. It is important because it is the gate that opens up the path that leads to eternal life (2 Nephi 31:17-18). Christ himself didn’t receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until age 30, at the time of His baptism.
Fruits of Baptism of Fire & the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
Despite no mention of heavenly fire, the fruits experienced by the people of king Benjamin also confirm the baptism of fire and the baptism of the Holy Ghost event. These people offered up a broken heart and contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20), similar to what the Lamanites had done in Helaman 5.
- The people had “fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them” (Mosiah 4:1).
- They “viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth” (Mosiah 4:2).
- “They all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified [by the baptism of fire]; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” (Mosiah 4:2).
- They continued to cry out, “And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days” (Mosiah 5:5).
- King Benjamin replied, “the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant” (Mosiah 5:6).
Like the Lamanites, the people of King Benjamin received a remission of sins upon receiving the baptism of fire and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
- “And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words [crying out in prayer] the Spirit of the Lord came upon them and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ…” (Mosiah 5:3)
- “And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea we believe all the words which [king Benjamin] hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us [born again], or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2).
- King Benjamin replied, “And now, because of the covenant ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters” (Mosiah 5:7-8).
Just like the “greatness of the evidences which the Lamanites received” and those who were converted by their testimonies, (Helaman 5:49-50), the people of king Benjamin experienced some of those same evidences. “And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things” (Mosiah 5:3).
Joseph Smith’s Quotes on Baptism of Fire & Baptism of the Holy Ghost
“You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half-that is, baptism of the Holy Ghost.“ (Joseph Smith, July 9, 1843, Nauvoo, IL; History of the Church 5:499)
“The baptism of water, without the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it, is of no use; They are necessarily and inseparably connected.” (Joseph Smith, April 7, 1844, Nauvoo, IL; HC 6:316-7)
“In the German Bible is found a text… which I have given and taught for fourteen years about baptism… I [John the Baptist] Baptize you with water, upon your repentance, but when Jesus Christ of whom I bear record comes, who has the power and keys, He will administer the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost… how are you going to save people with water alone? For John said his baptism was good for nothing without the baptism of Jesus Christ, that is, the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.” (Joseph Smith, April 7, 1844, Nauvoo, IL; HC 6:316-7)
“There is one God, one Father, one Jesus, one hope of our calling, one baptism. All these three baptisms only make one.” (Joseph Smith, April 7, 1844, Nauvoo, IL; HC 6:317)
Ask Father
During times of darkness the gift of the Holy Ghost is not available to the people despite the pronouncement “receive the Holy Ghost.” For instance, when Christ appeared to the Nephites in 34 A.D., He restored the Church of Christ, which is the fulness, or the terrestrial order of the gospel. After 200 years of peace the people started to become wicked again and ultimately, fell into apostacy. During this time Mormon explains, “And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief” (Mormon 1:14).
The Nephites were still practicing religion, but they had “strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant” (D&C 1:14). Fortunately, there are a “few humble followers of Christ” (2 Nephi 28:14) who are beginning to experience the gift of the Holy Ghost again in our day in preparation for the second coming.
Ask Father to lead you to this gift. We should be seeking it with all our hearts by offering up a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20). The baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost is “the gate” that opens up “the path” that leads to eternal life (2 Nephi 31:17-18). “And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way, and there isnone other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (2 Nephi 31:21).
Additional scriptural clues identifying the baptism of fire and baptism of the Holy Ghost are scattered throughout the standard works if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand (see Enos 1; Mosiah 27; Alma 36; 3 Ne 11,12,17,18,19; John 14,15,16; Acts 2; Moses 6; JS-H 73-74; John 3). It is not an easy journey, but well worth the effort. If Lamanites and Nephite dissenters can sufficiently repent and offer the Lord a broken heart and a contrite spirit to receive this gift, why not you?
