26. Baptism

CHAPTER 26

BAPTISM

 

The ship was completely immersed in the water!   When it struggled back to the surface, the deck was flooded and water poured into the areas below.  Another giant wave hit the ship a moment later that filled it with so much water that it was barely able to stay afloat.  The ship remained upright only because the heavy water in the lower levels provided some ballast to resist the pounding power of the rolling waves.  Without any time to prepare, the ship and her passengers were swallowed in the swirling sea.  Suddenly they were in jeopardy!

          Lehi clung to the wooden mast as his personal tree of life, and Hantuman avoided being swept overboard by holding tightly to the rod of iron which connected the rudder to the wheel of the ship.

         

          After the first two waves went by, Lehi and Hantuman were completely and thoroughly drenched.  They dashed and literally swam below deck as fast as they could to warn Nephi.  They awoke Nephi just as another wave rolled the ship perilously onto its side.

         

          “Nephi, Nephi, we perish!” they yelled.

          Nephi arose from his sleep.  He saw the water flooding in upon them and realized that the ship was listing dangerously on her side.

Nephi immediately called upon the Lord with a strong and powerful voice to rebuke the sea and the raging of the water.  “Peace! Be still!”

Instantly the crashing of the waves ceased and the ship righted herself.  There was calm once again.  Nephi said to Lehi and Hantuman, “Where is your faith?”

          Hantuman and Lehi, still soaked to the skin and somewhat afraid, looked at each other in amazement.  They wondered.

Lehi asked Hantuman, “What just happened?  How did this happen?”

          Hantuman did not answer but turned to Nephi and inquired reverently of him, “What miracle have you done?  For even the sea obeys your command.”

          “It is not my command the elements obey,” Nephi expounded.  “They obey the True Master.  They obey their Creator.  So it was when the ship of our first father Nephi was beset by a terrible tempest.  He prayed that the winds would stop and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.

“What is past is but a type and a foreshadowing of that which is to come again.  Behold, by this we shall know Him.  He will command the elements and they will obey.  And though He is holy and without sin, yet shall He be baptized with water to fulfill all righteousness.”