The ritual of baptism, both for the living and the dead, is Jesus Christ–centered: “Baptism is in similitude of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ” (Romans 6, chapter heading). In fact, Jesus is symbolically associated with every element dealing with baptism—prayer, the font, white clothing, water, and the acts of immersion and emerging from the water. As to the antiquity of baptism for the dead, Joseph Smith taught, “The doctrine of Baptism for the dead is clearly shown in the new testament.”27 Paul’s statement reads, “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?” (1 Cor. 15:29). Joseph Smith also stated, regarding the ordinance of baptism for the dead, “God decreed before the foundation of the world that that ordinance should be administered in a font prepared for that purpose in the house of the Lord.”28 However, we note here that baptisms for the dead were started only after Jesus Christ preached to the spirits in prison.
Jesus Christ–focused items include the following:
Baptismal prayer: Three names of Jesus are found in the prayer, “Jesus Christ,” “the Son,” and “Amen” (Rev. 3:14).
Baptismal font: See entry “Baptismal Font.”
Ritual immersion: Baptism is called a “burial” (JST, Gen. 17:5; D&C 76:51). In Romans 6:3–11, a discourse on baptism, Paul used many terms that pertain to death—dead, buried, death, and died. He also used terms that speak of the Resurrection—raised up, newness of life, resurrection, live, raised from the dead, liveth, and alive.
Emerging from the waters: The immersion (signifying the burial) in the waters is followed by the emerging from the waters, which signifies the Resurrection. When the recipient of baptism comes “forth out of the water [it] is in the likeness of the resurrection of the dead in coming forth out of their graves” (D&C 128:12). In other words, the candidate becomes a new person or a “new creature” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; see also Eph. 4:20–24). Thus, both the immersion and emerging from the waters are symbolic, of the tomb and of the womb. In sum, immersion in baptism represents both our physical and spiritual death and our being made alive again in Christ.
“Born Again”: The scriptures record that those who submit to baptism are “born again” and become like children. Moses 6:58–60 presents a juxtaposition of children born naturally of mothers and of persons born spiritually of Christ. When born of woman, three elements are present: water, the blood of our life-giver mother, and spirit. These three elements are present at our spiritual rebirth: the water of baptism, the blood of our Life-giver Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of God. And they are present, or represented, as we remember Christ and our covenant to Him when we partake of the sacrament. Those born again become “the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters . . . spiritually begotten . . . born of him” (Mosiah 5:7).
White clothing: Denotes purity, which is possible only through the Atonement of Christ.
Water: Water is a vital component in the baptismal rite—“The ordinance of baptism by water . . . to be immersed in the water and come forth out of the water” (D&C 128:12). The water of life, or, the “fountain of living waters” (Jer. 2:13; 17:13) calls to mind Jesus Christ. The water symbolically washes and cleanses us from our sins: “Why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16).