[Page 65]Abstract: The word baptize appears 119 times in the Book of Mormon; three speakers (Jesus Christ, Mormon, and Nephi) account for 87% of all of these usages. Each of these individuals have distinctive patterns in how they use the word baptize, indicating that each speaker has his own unique voice. When one accounts for the fact that Christ says relatively fewer words than Mormon, it is evident that per 1,000 words spoken, Jesus Christ uses the word baptize more than any other speaker in the Book of Mormon. This finding holds true for Christ’s words both in and outside of 3 Nephi. Among other patterns, we demonstrate that Jesus Christ associates his name with baptism more than any other Book of Mormon speaker and that Christ is responsible for 58% of the Book of Mormon’s invitations to be baptized. Additional patterns and their implications are discussed.

The scriptures teach that baptism is a requirement for entering the Kingdom of God. This message is particularly prominent in the Book of Mormon. Baptize¹ appears 119 times in the Book of Mormon (in contrast to 138 times in all other books of scripture combined). Speaking of this emphasis, Noel B. Reynolds has written, “The Book of Mormon accounts make clear that baptism by water is the act wherein repentant [Page 66]converts to Jesus Christ can witness to the Father that they have repented and covenanted to keep his commandments.”²

In the Book of Mormon, baptize first appears in 1 Nephi 10, where Nephi describes a dream Lehi³ had depicting the work of John the Baptist. Nephi says baptize again in 1 Nephi 11:27. The next time the word occurs is in 2 Nephi 9:23, when Jacob states, “And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel.” This is the first mention in the text of the necessity for all people to be baptized. In 2 Nephi 31 (the next chapter in which baptize appears), Nephi continues this message, saying, “If the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (2 Nephi 31:5). While the word baptize does not appear between 2 Nephi 31 and Mosiah 18, it does appear in every subsequent book. The final occurrence of baptize is in Moroni 8:10: “Teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children” (Moroni 8:10). Thus from the beginning to the [Page 67]end, Book of Mormon writers consistently emphasize the importance of being baptized. Table 1 shows how often the word appears in the various books of the Book of Mormon.

Table 1. Occurrences of baptize(and its derivatives) by book.

Unique Voices in the Book of Mormon

While one could profitably study the doctrine of what it means to baptize or be baptized in the Book of Mormon, analyzing how different speakers in the Book of Mormon utilize the word provides an additional lens of examination. The idea that distinct voices can be heard in ancient texts is not new to this study. For example, Dorota Dutsch has examined Roman literature written between 300–200 BC. Her study focused on works written by two male Roman authors (Terence and Plautus). Both these men included female characters in their works, and these female characters were consistently portrayed as having distinctive patterns of speech.⁴ Similar analyses have been done on the Book of Mormon.

One specific type of analysis that examines different authorial voices is known as stylometry. Some stylometric studies of the Book of Mormon have confirmed that there are indeed different authorial voices in the [Page 68]Book of Mormon.⁵ Roger Keller’s examination of themes and patterns in the words used by Book of Mormon speakers provides one example of how the distinctive ways speakers discuss specific topics can be a useful lens. Keller said that “[s]ince the Book of Mormon is believed by Latter-day Saints to be a compilation of writings from numerous ancient authors, then one should be able to discern the unique content words used by the authors whose messages are preserved within its pages.”⁶ Keller’s study focused on “content words,” words that “are theologically, culturally, and historically significant.”⁷ He created word clusters, related groups of words, and analyzed them to determine if there were statistically significant differences in how they were used.

One word cluster Keller identified was a group of 109 words related to the ancient Near East. This cluster included words such as Babylon, Egypt, Jeremiah, and Moses. Collectively, these 109 words are used 1,179 times in the Book of Mormon. Keller then examined whether certain speakers in the Book of Mormon used these words more frequently than others. He noted, “The authors who are most distant in time from the Ancient Near East context use the words of this group the least, while those nearest in time, use them the most.” ⁸ Keller expected his study of content words and other stylometric studies to support each other, and found that “there are clear and recognizable differences in the content words used and the meanings attached to them by the authors within the Book of Mormon.”⁹

Book of Mormon Speakers’ Use of Baptize

The present study seeks to further the work of analyzing word patterns of different individuals in the Book of Mormon to see how this elucidates the key word baptize. While the word baptize appears throughout the Book of Mormon, it is emphasized to different degrees by the different [Page 69]speakers in the book. In order to determine which speakers used the word baptize, we used a database known as “The Voices of the Book of Mormon,” created by John Hilton III, Shon Hopkin, Jennifer Platt, Randal Wright, and Jana Johnson. This database parses the text of the Book of Mormon by the person to whom the text is attributed.¹⁰

[Page 70]Table 2 shows how many times individual speakers in the Book of Mormon say baptize. (The last column is the speaker’s total spoken words as a percentage of the total words spoken in the Book of Mormon.)

Table 2. Use of baptize by major Book of Mormon speakers.¹¹

As indicated, more than three-quarters of the uses of baptize come from Jesus Christ and Mormon. Of the major speakers in the Book of Mormon, Nephi₁ is the only other individual to frequently employ this word. We might expect other major speakers, such as Moroni₂, Alma₂, King Benjamin, and Jacob also to utilize this word often, but they do not. Because Jesus Christ, Mormon, and Nephi₁ are the speakers who use baptize frequently enough to see unique usage patterns, we will focus only on these speakers throughout the remaining tables in this article, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Although Mormon uses baptize more than any other speaker, it is important to note that Jesus Christ uses the word much more frequently than any other individual in terms of times used per 1,000 words spoken. As we will see, this has interesting implications. While Christ is the most frequent user of baptize, the Lord is the least frequent among major Book of Mormon speakers (in terms of times used per 1,000 words spoken).

Admittedly, it is difficult to distinguish between the voices of “God, the Father,” “Jesus Christ,” and “The Lord.” While good arguments could be made for combining these voices, we determined that if a statement is specifically attributed to the Father, or if context made it [Page 71]clear that the Father was speaking (e.g. 2 Nephi 31:11), we categorized that statement as being from the Father.¹² We likewise attributed words in which Jesus Christ was textually identified as the person speaking (e.g., 3 Nephi 30:1 2) as belonging to him. Generic references to deity (e.g., Lord, God) were assigned to the Lord.

One interesting insight from isolating instances when Jesus Christ was explicitly identified as the speaker in the Book of Mormon is that it allows us to see subtle differences in the way the words of the Lord are recorded as opposed to those specifically attributed to Jesus Christ. One important difference in their speaking patterns is that the Lord says baptize only once, but Jesus Christ says it 36 times. This seems to indicate a significant difference in speaking patterns, since Jesus Christ and the Lord speak approximately the same number of words.¹³

As we analyzed the ways in which Jesus Christ, Mormon and Nephi₁ employ the word baptize, we found patterns and idiosyncrasies in the ways each of them do so. The following three sections focus on these unique usage patterns.

Christ’s Use of Baptize

It is important to recognize that Christ’s emphasis on being baptized is not simply a function of his focus on this topic in 3 Nephi 11. In fact, not only does Jesus Christ say baptize more per 1,000 words than any other speaker, he is consistent in his use of baptize throughout the text. Table 3 illustrates this point.

Table 3. Christ’s use of baptize inside and outside 3 Nephi 11–28.

Table 3 indicates that in addition to regularly saying baptize in 3 Nephi 11–28, Christ also consistently uses the word throughout the entire text of the Book of Mormon. In 3 Nephi 11–28 Christ speaks 9,694 [Page 72]words and says baptized 25 times — 2.58 times per 1,000 words.¹⁴ Outside those chapters he speaks 4,467 words and says baptized 11 times — 2.46 times per 1,000 words.¹⁵ In 3 Nephi 11 he gives the specific manner of baptism; however, apart from that deviation, Christ is fairly consistent in his use of baptize throughout the text. He typically focuses on the idea that people should be baptized in his name and receive the Holy Ghost (e.g., 2 Nephi 31:12).

Aside from looking at quantitative differences in the use of baptize among different Book of Mormon speakers, we can look at how certain collocates of baptize are unique to certain speakers. For example, Christ is much more likely than other speakers to associate name with baptize, as illustrated by Table 4.

Table 4. Appearances of baptize and name in the same verse.

There is a stark difference between these speakers in terms of their propensity to use baptize and name in the same verse. Christ uses name in 61% of the verses in which he utilizes baptize. In contrast, Mormon only does so 11% of the time (he is the only person to utilize the phrase baptized in the name of Jesus). We never hear Nephi’s voice employ baptize and name in the same verse. Importantly, Mormon’s use of name and baptize appears to be related to Christ’s, a point that will be revisited later in this article.

While this example shows a clear difference in voice, it may also expand our understanding and appreciation of the ordinance of baptism. Christ’s consistent connections between baptism and his own name can perhaps deepen our appreciation for the nature of baptismal covenants. It [Page 73]may also aid us in taking more seriously the concept of baptism when we realize how personal it is for the Savior, given how closely he associates the ordinance with his own name.

Another example of Christ’s unique use of baptized in the Book of Mormon is in the personal connection he makes between it and himself. Christ uses phrases like “Whoso believeth in me and is baptized shall be saved” (3 Nephi 11:33) and “Come unto me and be baptized” (3 Nephi 21:6). When we included every possible reference to Christ (e.g., “come unto him, be baptized unto the Lord) Jesus Christ still is much more likely to say baptize in reference to himself than other speakers are to say it about him.

Christ associates himself with being baptized in 23 verses, which is more than all other speakers combined, making him responsible for 56% of the appearances of baptize that relate to Christ. This number is disproportionate with the fact that he is responsible for only 30% of the appearances of baptize in the text. Christ’s abundant association of himself and baptize can help readers of the Book of Mormon recognize the close connection between being baptized and coming to Christ. As with the connection with name and Christ, this can perhaps deepen our understanding of how important baptism is to Christ.

Of the 119 instances of baptize in the Book of Mormon, 12 are invitations or commands to be baptized.¹⁷ Of those who frequently say baptize, only Jesus Christ and Mormon issue invitations to be baptized. Table 5 illustrates their relative usage, along with the others who issue invitations to be baptized. From Table 5, we see that while Christ is responsible for about 30% of the instances of baptize in the Book of Mormon, he is disproportionately responsible for 58% of the invitations to be baptized. Such direct invitations to be baptized are unique to the Book of Mormon,¹⁸ and Christ predominantly extends these invitations. All of these invitations to be baptized are associated with the concept of repentance. Clearly Christ places emphasis on the importance of being baptized.

[Page 74]Table 5. Invitations to be baptized.

Nephi’s Use of Baptize

Perhaps the most unique aspect of how Nephi₁ discusses baptism is that he is the only speaker to mention the event of Christ’s being baptized. He does so in three separate pericopes,¹⁹ demonstrating that this is a topic of importance to him. In connection with his words about Jesus Christ’s baptism, he consistently uses the phrase Lamb of God and baptized together.²⁰ For example, Nephi states, “And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world” (1 Nephi 10:10), and (in an apparent reference back to this verse) “I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world” (2 Nephi 31:4).

Alma₂ is the only other speaker to combine these phrases, and he only does so once.²¹ This may be more a function of Nephi’s relative propensity to employ the phrase Lamb of God; nevertheless, it does provide an interesting and unique collocate.

[Page 75]Mormon’s Use of Baptize

Mormon utilizes the word baptize throughout his narrative. Most frequently he describes the action of people being baptized. Instances of this include verses such as the following:

Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and did baptize them; yea, he did baptize them after the manner he did his brethren in the waters of Mormon; yea, and as many as he did baptize did belong to the church of God; and this because of their belief on the words of Alma. (Mosiah 25:18)

“And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.” (Helaman 3:26)

In both of these preceding verses, Mormon connects the words baptize and church, something he has a unique propensity for doing, as evidenced in Table 6.

Table 6. Church and baptize appearing together.

Differences and Similarities between the New Testament and Book of Mormon

In addition to how individual speakers within the Book of Mormon use the word, there are also different patterns in how baptized is used in the Book of Mormon as opposed to the New Testament.²⁴

[Page 76]In contrast to his frequent use of baptize in the Book of Mormon, Christ speaking in the four Gospels says baptize only .25 times per 1,000 words spoken. Put differently, given any 1,000 words, Christ is 10 times more likely to use the word baptize in the Book of Mormon than the New Testament. We find one possible explanation for this in 1 Nephi 13:26, where an angel speaking to Nephi says, “for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away … Wherefore, thou seest that … there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.” It is possible that some of the “covenants of the Lord” taken away may be some of Christ’s teachings about baptism in the Bible. If this is the case, it could account for the drastic differences in Christ’s use of baptism in the Book of Mormon and the New Testament.

Another plausible explanation is that the Nephites were particularly confused about baptism. In 3 Nephi 11:28, Christ suggests that there had been arguments among the Nephites about baptism and tells them, “And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.” Noel B. Reynolds also made this point saying, “Detailed instructions on baptism are given explicitly to settle some earlier (and unreported) disputations”.²⁵ Christ may have focused so many of his words to the Nephites on baptism because he knew they did not fully understand it.²⁶

Christ uses baptize differently in the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. Primarily, in the four gospels Christ’s use of baptize centers on the phrase “baptized with the baptism that I am baptized [Page 77]with.”²⁷ However, Christ never uses this phrase in the Book of Mormon. Similarly, most of the phrases Christ uses in the Book of Mormon are not used in the New Testament.

For example, Christ’s frequent association between baptize and name stands as a contrast between his teachings in the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. In the New Testament, baptize and name appear together nine times.²⁸ However, in only one of these instances does Christ say these words in the same verse (Matthew 28:19). While Christ frequently extends invitations to be baptized in the Book of Mormon, he never employs baptize as part of any invitation to others to be baptized.²⁹

At the same time there are similarities in Christ’s teachings about being baptized in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. In both books Christ commands his disciples to go forth and baptize others. In Matthew 28:18-19, Christ commands his 11 disciples, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Similarly in 3 Nephi 11:21–25, Christ tells his disciples, “I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven … saying: … I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Baptized Unto Repentance and the Name of Christ

An interesting phrase that ties together many aspects of this article is baptized unto repentance and its derivative phrases.³⁰ This phrase is utilized 12 times by four individuals³¹ in the Book of Mormon, but never appears in the Bible.³² The first person to employ the phrase is Jesus Christ, when [Page 78]speaking to Alma₁. Christ says, “this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance” (Mosiah 26:22). It would be interesting to know if Christ employed similar language in instructing Alma₂, who later said, “I, Alma, do command you in the language of him who hath commanded me…Come and be baptized unto repentance” (Alma 5:61–62). Alma₂ later utilizes this identical phrase (“come and be baptized unto repentance”) when teaching the people of Gideon (Alma 7:14).

Of special interest is how Mormon uses this terminology, particularly when he begins and ceases to employ it. The first time Mormon uses the phrase baptized unto repentance is in Alma 6:2 (after it was introduced by Christ in Mosiah 26:22). In this verse Mormon states, “whosoever did not belong to the church who repented of their sins were baptized unto repentance, and were received into the church” (Alma 6:2). Similarly, Mormon later writes phrases such as, “they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words” (Alma 48:19) and “there were thousands who did join themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance” (Helaman 3:24).

However a shift takes place after Christ’s extensive emphasis on being baptized in his name. As discussed previously, Christ clearly emphasized the connection between his name and baptism. Prior to 3 Nephi 26, Mormon never speaks of being baptized in the name of Christ. However, after Mormon provides an account of Christ’s ministry, we see several examples where he might previously have employed the phrase “baptized unto repentance” but now substitutes it with a reference to being baptized in the name of Christ. For example, we read, “as many as were baptized in the name of Jesus were filled with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 26:17), “And they who were baptized in the name of Jesus were called the church of Christ” (3 Nephi. 26:21), and “And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus” (4 Nephi 1:1).

[Page 79]Table 7 illustrates situations in which Mormon might have employed the phrase baptized unto repentance but instead speaks of being baptized in the name of Jesus.

Table 7. Mormon’s descriptions of baptism before and after Christ’s ministry to the Lehites.

Mormon does not only speak of being baptized in the name of Jesus in his narrative descriptions. In a sermon to his people, Mormon says, “repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus” (Mormon 7:8) a statement that mimics Christ’s statements in his personal ministry to the Nephites and is different from Alma₂‘s statement “Come and be baptized unto repentance” (Alma 5:62, Alma 7:14).

Why does Mormon employ the phrase baptize unto repentance eight times before 3 Nephi 9 and never thereafter? Why does he five times utilize the phrase baptized in the name of Jesus after Christ’s visits to the Lehites but never previously? One answer could be that Mormon took his textual cues from the Savior. Perhaps once he understood through his redaction of 3 Nephi the extent to which Christ emphasized being baptized in his name, he followed suit. If this is the case, it demonstrates an interesting textual way in which Mormon’s voice changes in order to better harmonize with the voice of the Lord. Another possibility is that Mormon wanted to stay true to the text of those who went before them. Perhaps those who wrote on the plates prior to Christ spoke of being baptized unto repentance and Mormon simply followed their lead.

Conclusion

The unique ways speakers in the Book of Mormon use baptize support the notion that various speakers within its pages are individuals with [Page 80]different points of emphasis and different ways of expression. This depth of the characters in the Book of Mormon adds to the overall complexity of the Book of Mormon text. We can see the desires of individual speakers coming to light through their use of certain words and their focus on particular concepts. While the general topic of being baptized is discussed in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, baptize appears differently in each book, and within the Book of Mormon, speakers do not evenly say baptize; rather, different individuals focus on different aspects of the word.

Perhaps the most valuable insight that comes from analyzing the different voices that employ baptize in the Book of Mormon is that it highlights the importance that Christ places on this ordinance. We see that he focuses on baptism more than any other individual and that he does so in a way that encourages a personal relationship with him. Christ frequently associates baptism with himself and with his name, as evidenced in this verse: “[C]ome unto me, and be baptized in my name” (3 Nephi 30:2). When we understand how Christ views baptism, it may change how we perceive it as well.