After Baptism What?

Acts 2:41-47; Baptism—and consequent membership in the Church—is the beginning, not the end, of that spiritual progression which leads to salvation. Baptism opens the door, places the repentant soul on the strait and narrow path, and starts him off in a course of godliness and virtue. Until a person makes the covenant of baptism he has no hope nor promise of eternal reward.

Acts 2:41-47; "The gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water," Nephi says, "and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate." (2 Nephi 31:17-18.)

Acts 2:41-47; After baptism the saints must work out their salvation (Philipians 2:12), and as they do so their salvation becomes nearer than when they first believed and were baptized. (Romans 13:11.) The process of working out one's salvation is the process of going forward on the strait and narrow path, of keeping the commandments after baptism, of working the works of righteousness, of enduring to the end.

Acts 2:41-47; Nephi propounds this question: "After ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?" to which he answers, "Nay," and counsels instead: "Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:19-20; D&C 59:23.)

Acts 2:41; 41. Three thousand souls] There were one hundred and twenty brethren present when the successor to Judas was chosen. (Acts 1:15.) Jesus himself had chosen and commissioned both apostles and seventies. (Commentary I, pp. 323-328; 430-434.) More than five hundred brethren saw the risen Lord, probably when he appeared on the mountain in Galilee. (1 Corinthians 15:6.) Thus there could have been many priesthood bearers available to perform these three thousand baptisms.

Acts 2:44-45; Acts 2:42; 42. Apostles' doctrine] To believe in Christ and obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel. Fellowship] See Romans 15:1-7. Breaking of bread] The sacrament of the Lord's Supper. See 1 Corinthians 11:20-34. 43. Wonders and signs] See Acts 5:12-16.
44-45. See Acts 4:32-37.

Acts 2:46; 46. Eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart] So complete was their devotion and so total their consecration that even their mundane affairs were conducted with an eye single to the glory of God. "Eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works." (Eccles. 9:7.)

Acts 2:47; 47. Such as should be saved] That is, such as by faith and repentance, by baptism of water and of the Spirit, and by covenanting to endure in righteousness to the end, were beginning to work out their salvation.