Talk - Baptism (for 8 year olds)

Here is a talk that I have used when I have spoken at Stake Baptisms for 8 year olds.

[Address person being baptized] Do you know that you are just about to participate in your very first saving ordinance and make your very first official promise to Heavenly Father?

Today when you are baptized you will promise Heavenly Father that you will do your best to remember and follow Jesus and keep all of His commandments. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that whenever we make a promise to Him, He makes a promise right back to us.

Today Heavenly Father also will make you a promise. He promises you that He will forgive you if you make mistakes and do something wrong if you repent. He also promises that you can have the gift of the Holy Ghost with you and that you can obtain eternal life someday.

When we make a promise to Heavenly Father and He makes one right back to us, those promises are called covenants. Heavenly Father never breaks His promises to us, and we need to try every single day never to break our promises to Him.

Let’s go over once again what you will promise today:
1. To take upon you the name of Christ (D&C 18:21-25)
2. To bear one another’s burdens that they might be light (Mosiah 18:8)
3. To stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places even until death. (Mosiah 18:9)
4. To obey the commandments of God and to serve him (Mosiah 18:10)

God promises:
1. To accept you as a member of his Church
2. To forgive your sins if you repent
3. To give you the gift of the Holy Ghost
4. To bring you into the kingdom of God in heaven as you strive to be obedient

Even though you are only eight years old you know how hard it is not to make mistakes, don’t you. Mistakes like not telling the whole truth, or being mean to someone and laughing about it. It is hard for everyone to choose the right every single minute of every single day. Heavenly Father knows that. So on this day He gives you another great gift - the gift of the Holy Ghost. Someone else will talk about this wonderful gift after you are baptized. The Holy Ghost will help you choose the right.

Jesus also needed to be baptized. Even though Jesus had never sinned, he still needed to be baptized so that He could be a good example to others.

[Show the picture of Jesus and John the Baptist]

Every Sunday you have a chance to remember the covenant you made this day. That is what people do when they bow their heads during the Sacrament. You can remember the promises that you made to Heavenly Father and the promises He made to you. You can think about what kind of person you were during the week between Sundays and if you have been honest, kind, obedient and loving. You can also make a decision on how to do better the next week. But most importantly you can remember that Jesus died and was resurrected that we all might live again some day. And that He suffered in Gethesmane to atone for our sins and understand exactly what we experience and be there as a true friend to support us.

Remember that this is the first day of the rest of your life. It is my prayer that you will always remember the promises you'll make to Heavenly Father and the promises He will make to you.