“Having Authority Given Me of Jesus Christ”

D. Kelly Ogden, Andrew C. Skinner

Today’s baptismal prayer is exactly the same as given anciently in the Book of Mormon, with only one alteration. Instead of saying “Having authority given me of Jesus Christ,” we say “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:73). Daniel H. Ludlow wrote: “One possible explanation for this difference … is that the disciples in the Book of Mormon received their authority directly from Jesus Christ; therefore, they rightfully could say ‘having authority given me of Jesus Christ.’ However, in this dispensation priesthood bearers have been given the power to baptize from John the Baptist, who was commissioned by Jesus Christ to come to earth and restore this authority. Therefore, in this dispensation we use the words ‘having been commissioned of Jesus Christ.’”19

Verse by Verse: The Book of Mormon: Vol. 2

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