Talk given at Josiah’s baptism, 13 April 2013

How would you like to go on a treasure hunt?

Yes?  Well, then here’s your own personal treasure map.  (Handed all three children a set of scriptures open to D&C 89:18-19).  Now you follow the underlined verses while I quote them.

“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments…shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.”

I happen to know that all three of you are keeping the commandments—since you’re being baptized—so you must have found some hidden treasures.—Have you?

No!?

Yes, you have, and I’ll prove it.  Braden, what does God look like?  Like a glorified man?—That’s right.

Josiah, are you a child of God—a son of God?

Jordyn, are the Father and the Son one person, or two?

Do you know that there isn’t a minister of another church in any of the towns around here that knows those things?  But you know them.  Those are hidden treasures.  They’re treasures that are available to everyone, but you have to be keeping the commandments to be able to discover them.

Do you know that families can be together forever?

Do you know that husbands and wives can be married eternally?

Do you know that the Church is true?

Do you know that the Book of Mormon is true?

Do you know that the other scriptures are true?

Do you know that we’re being led by a true prophet of God?  Do you know that Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson are prophets?

These are “great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.”  They’re available to everybody, but only a few have found them.

Do you know that you can be baptized and have your sins washed away because of repentance?  Most of the people in the world don’t even know how to repent.  They don’t know that they have to repent, and that they have to be baptized.

Everyone has to be baptized, even those who have already died without being baptized.  Do you know that we can go to the temple and be baptized for them?  The Bible even says so (1 Cor. 15:29), but not one other church in the whole world understands that except ours.

These are “great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.”

Do you know that you can have the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead, as your constant companion?

Do you know that you boys will be able to hold and use the Priesthood of God?

You are the luckiest and most blessed young people in the world.  I really believe that.  You have parents who have taught you these great treasures of knowledge.

I could go on and on about the hidden treasures you’ve found.  You young children know more about God and true religion than the pope does.  Think about it; you really do.

Don’t take any of this for granted.  You’re blessed above everyone else in the world.  You’re being baptized by true authority.  In a few minutes you’re going to be the cleanest people in the world.  From here on out you’re going to have the ability to repent when you’ve done something wrong, and to go to sacrament meeting and take the sacrament, and to leave sacrament meeting as clean as you’ll be when you come up out of the water from being baptized.  You can be happy.  You can have a clean conscience.

These are hidden treasures.  Only a few people find them, but they’re available to everyone.

I know this Church is true.

I know that Jesus is my Savior and Redeemer.

I know that what you’re doing today is the most important thing that you’ll ever do until you go to the temple to be married and sealed to a companion.  You boys need to look forward to receiving the priesthood.  That’s another important step.

These are “great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures,” and you’ve found them.  Study your treasure maps, and you’ll find lots more.