Sacred Ordinances Point Us To Christ

"Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord. " - Alma 13:16

Alma tells us that in Christ we have a "remission" of sins. We know that Christ will take away the sin and stain from our lives if we come to him, but that does not prevent us from going back to our old ways. Not only will Christ take our sins, he will also take away our desire for sin; if we submit ourselves to him. When this change happens in our life we must be vigilant in following Christ. As we continue in the word of Christ, we will have the power given to us from him to stay clean from and avoid the captivity of sin. Keeping free of sin will enable us to one day enter into "the rest of the Lord."

It is also interesting that Alma says the ordinances of the gospel, a key ordinance being baptism by immersion, were given so that we might know how to "look forward on the Son of God." All ordinances given by the Lord to his people have been for this purpose, in addition to providing for his people an opportunity to make sacred covenants with him. Knowing this, it is no surprise that God provides us with so many opportunities to participate in sacred ordinances.

Saved

"I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins." - Alma 5:21

This is the one and only way to be saved in the kingdom of God. If we are not worthy we will not be redeemed. We become worthy by cleansing ourselves with the atoning blood of Christ and keeping his commandments.

Obtaining Guidance

"And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead? To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
" - 2 Nephi 18:19-20

Seek God. There will be many other purported options when looking for guidance, but they lead to the darkness of apostasy. We can obtain the guidance we seek by approaching our Heavenly Father in prayer, listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, studying the scriptures, and listening to the counsel of God's living prophets and apostles.

Waiting on the Lord

"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me." - 2 Nephi 6:7

"The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." - Lamentations 3:25-26

"For since the beginning of the world have not men heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath any eye seen, O God, besides thee, how great things thou hast prepared for him that waiteth for thee." - Isaiah 64:4 & D&C 133:45

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." - 2 Corinthians 2:9

"For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man." - D&C 76:10

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." - John 14:15

There are great and marvelous things prepared for those who are obedient. These things are so great that they do not enter into the heart of men except it is given him by the Holy Ghost.