What are the qualifications for baptism as outlined in the holy scriptures? These include having a desire to come unto Christ and enter into His fold and be baptized (see Mosiah 18:8); having confessed one’s sins (see Mark 1:5) and truly repented (see Moroni 6:2); believing in Christ (see Mosiah 26:22; Alma 19:35; Acts 8:37; 16:31); having received a testimony of Him (see D&C 76:51); coming forth with a broken heart and contrite spirit; being humble, easily entreated, penitent, and with godly sorrow (see Moroni 6:2; Alma 7:23); showing forth fruits (works) meet (worthy) of a follower of Christ (see Matthew 3:8); having a willingness to bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort (see Mosiah 18:8–9); being willing to witness before the Lord a desire to enter into a covenant with Him to serve Him and keep His commandments (see Mosiah 18:10); and being willing to “stand as a witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places … even until death” (Mosiah 18:9). Those who are thus prepared and qualified literally take upon themselves the name of Christ, having a determination to serve Him to the end (see Moroni 6:3). The Doctrine and Covenants sums it up well:
And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. (D&C 20:37)
We should come forth with a broken heart and contrite Spirit, being truly repentant, taking the name of Christ upon us with a determination to serve Him to the end. Elder Bruce R. McConkie reminds us that the qualifications for baptism have always been the same in all dispensations:
“See that ye are not baptized unworthily,” Moroni taught. (Mormon 9:29.) To be worthy of baptism, men must have faith in Christ; they must confess their sins and forsake them; they must “manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins.” (D&C 20:37.) In describing how the church operated in his day, Moroni says that converts “were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it.” He says that the elders did not “receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.” (Moroni 6:1–3.) And thus has it been in all dispensations. (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985], 248)