The Baptism of Jesus Christ

Matthew 3:13-17

The Baptism of Christ is a humbling story for me. If we think about it, why would Christ really need to be baptized? Wasn't he perfect? The fact is-he WAS perfect. We know that he suffered temptation, but he was sinless. Because of that, I can imagine how John the Baptist felt when Christ came to him and asked for John to baptize him! In Matthew 3:14 we read about John's reaction. "...(he)forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?"
But Christ answers, " Suffer it be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all" righteousness."

"Then he suffered him. 16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of god descending like a dove, and lighting upon him;17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Here is something interesting I learned from reading the student New Testament Manual:

What Is the Significance of the Holy Ghost Descending “like a Dove”?

‘The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 275–76. Italics added.) It thus appears that John witnessed the sign of the dove, that he saw the Holy Ghost descend in the ‘bodily shape’ of the personage that he is, and that the descent was ‘like a dove.’” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:123–24.)

How cool is that?! We are taught in our church that the Holy Ghost has a 'bodily shape', so this makes much more sense to me of what "descending like a dove" means.

"To Fulfill all righteousness"

So, to again answer the question as to Why was Christ baptized?
2 Nephi 31:9 "And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before him."

1. Baptism is one of the ordinances of our church. It is something we all must enter into in order to return to him.
2. It shows the humility of Christ.
3. Jesus Christ obeys all of Gods commandments

God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost- THREE separate beings
In this passage of scripture we also have evidence that the Godhead are three separate beings.

1. Jesus-being baptized
2. Holy Ghost- lighted upon Christ
3.God- a voice from heaven