Baptism establishes a covenant between you and Jesus. But, why should you care about that?
Our lives last for only so many years before we die a mortal death. After that, we have a life after death. The quality of your life after death depends on how you live your life now.
Many people believe that there is no life after death. That when you die, that is it. There is nothing more. If that were true, then what would be the goal for anyone in this life? The only thing that makes sense would be for you to be as selfish as possible and get as much as you can so that you would have an easier time now. There would be no "right" or "wrong", only what you agree to be "right" for yourself.
Most people understand that there are certain things that are always "right" and certain things that are always "wrong." Not just in our lifetime, but those "rights" and "wrongs" were the same in the generations before us and there will be the same "rights" and "wrongs" in the generations after us. If you believe this, then you already understand there is a God - for only God can define what should be "right" and what should be "wrong" and ensure that those "rights" and "wrongs" are consistent across the generations.
Herein lies the essence of why there is a need for Baptism
There are things that are "right," and they will always be "right" across all generations
There are things that are "wrong," and they will always be "wrong" across all generations
First, you have to understand that your current perceptions of "right" and "wrong" are skewed and are not entirely correct - Why? If you believe that this life is not all about the pursuit of selfishness, you are on the right track. But you need to understand the perfection of God's Word about what is "right" and what is "wrong." To have any seed of doubt that your belief in what you think are "right" and "wrong" may be incorrect and that God's Word of "right" and "wrong" that has worked for generation after generation may be a better belief - that is the first step towards understanding the need for Baptism.
How do you know that your beliefs are skewed and not entirely correct?
Are you truly happy with your life, even when things don't always go your way?
Do you have a positive outlook for what the rest of your life will be?
Do you feel addicted to technology?
Do you feel discomfort being around people or have trouble with relationships?
Do you worry about your mental health?
God's Word says that selfishness is the root of all wrongs. If you are not truly happy, or have a negative outlook for your life, or spend too much time with technology, or have discomfort around people, or have trouble with relationships, or worry about your mental health - a portion of selfishness is holding you back.
Alma
19:66 And it is requisite with the justice of God, that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
19:67 And if their works are evil, they shall be restored unto him for evil: therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order; everything to its natural frame; mortality raised to immortality; corruption to incorruption; raised to endless happiness, to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery, to inherit the kingdom of the devil.
19:68 The one on the one hand, the other on the other; the one raised to happiness, according to his desires of happiness; or good, according to his desires of good; and the other to evil, according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long, even so shall he have his reward of evil, when the night cometh.
19:69 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so shall he be rewarded unto righteousness.
19:70 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.
19:71 Now the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore the way is prepared, that whosoever will, may walk therein and be saved.
19:72 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.
19:73 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness.
19:74 Behold, I say unto you, Wickedness never was happiness.
The Path to True Happiness
Second, Only unselfishness is the road to true happiness. God's Word provides instructions for living an unselfish life. If you are willing to believe that God's Word, which has helped millions of people, might be a better way for your life, you must realize that you are doing some things selfishly ("wrong") and you are willing to "get things right". To change your ways and pursue the things that God's Word says are right - this is repentance.
To recognize that God exists for each generation and that you need to change and are willing to repent of your wrongs and to follow what God's Word says is right - this is all you need to make a covenant with Jesus through Baptism.
Why it is a big deal! After your mortal death, you will feel all of your unrepented selfishness as tremendous shame. Following God's Word will enable you to partake of a much happier life now and also after your mortal death. Baptism is a door to God's Kingdom of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. [John 10:7, Romans 14:17]
As God has said, "There is no end to my works, neither to my words; for this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality, and eternal life of man" [Doctrine and Covenants Section 22: 23b]
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [1 Timothy 2:5]
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [John 3:5]
The Covenant
Only through a covenant with Jesus will you be able to partake of an eternal life of happiness that is free from guilt and shame. Baptism is the covenant that you make with Jesus that you are willing to follow God's Word and that you will keep repenting of any wrongs that you commit.
God knows that people are not perfect. We keep trying to do selfish things. That is why God's plan includes repentance - when we correct our mistakes, He forgives us as if those wrongs never happened.
God and Jesus taught what is "right" (unselfishness) and what is "wrong" (selfishness), and it has stood the test of many generations.
A Clean Life
Baptism is the prelude to a new, clean life with Jesus. When you accept the covenant with Jesus through baptism, your old, selfish self begins to die - to be replaced with a new, happier chapter in your life.
Romans
6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Repent of Your Selfish Ways and be Baptized
Acts
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Mosiah
1:83 Therefore, if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice doth awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt,
1:84 Which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flames ascendeth up for ever and ever.
1:85 And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore, his final doom is to endure a never ending torment.
1:86 O all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children, who can understand my words, (for I have spoken plain unto you, that ye might understand,)
1:87 I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression;
1:88 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.
1:89 For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual;
1:90 And if they hold out faithful to the end, they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness.
