By Michelle Phillips
Scripture Text: Doctrine and Covenants 164:3
All church members are urged to examine the depth of your baptismal commitment. Having been baptized and confirmed, become fully immersed in the servant life of Christ. Live the meaning of your baptism daily as you grow in the skills and qualities of discipleship. Actively and generously support the ministries of the church, which was divinely established to restore Christ’s covenant of peace, even the Zion of your hopes. The Eternal Christ invites those who have yet to experience the blessings of baptism to “Follow me in the way of righteousness and peace.” Be baptized of water and the Spirit and discover your spiritual home as a fully functioning member of the body.
Good morning! Today is a special day as we gather to celebrate Miranda’s baptism and her choice to step into a deeper relationship with God and with this community. Miranda, we’re honored to witness this sacred moment and excited to welcome you more fully into this community. Our scripture text today comes from Doctrine and Covenants 164:3. I chose this scripture when Miranda told me that she wanted to talk about Zion. I love how this scripture relates the commitment of baptism and confirmation to “the Zion of our hopes,” that community that is not quite fully realized yet, but that we are striving for.
Baptism Is the Start of Something New
The sacrament of baptism is the beginning of something new, a fresh start. Doctrine and Covenants 164:3 urges us to “become fully immersed in the servant life of Christ.” It invites us to take this step of baptism not as a one-time act, but as a journey. Baptism is about joining a community of people who are committed to the “Zion of our hopes”—to building a world that reflects God’s vision of peace, justice, and love. These are all qualities that I see in Miranda.
In Community of Christ, we understand Zion not as a far-off place, but as a community of people united in diversity and committed to living out mission. Jesus’ mission, proclaimed in Luke 4:18–19, is one of compassionate ministry and justice-making. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim good news to those who need hope, and set free those trapped in unjust systems. This is how we build Zion.
“Zion expresses our commitment to herald God’s peaceable kingdom on Earth by forming Christ-centered communities in families, congregations, neighborhoods, cities, and throughout the world. (Our Beliefs)” Our role is to continue this work—to invite others into fellowship, to value the worth of each person, and to pursue justice and peace for all.
Cycle of Growth and Renewal
Miranda, today, on this autumn equinox, you are stepping into this mission. The equinox is a beautiful time to be baptized, symbolizing the balance between light and dark. Just as day and night are of equal length today, so too have you learned to balance both the joys and the challenges of life. The autumn equinox also marks a season of harvest, a time to gather the fruits of our labor and reflect on the growth that has occurred.
This season reminds us that life is a cycle of growth, harvest, and renewal. In many cultures, the equinox is a time to give thanks for what we have, to recognize the abundance of our lives, and to prepare for the new things that are yet to come. Miranda, today is your harvest—this moment reflects the spiritual growth and commitment you’ve been cultivating.
It’s also the beginning of a new season in your life, one that invites you to continue growing and expanding in your discipleship.
Building the Zion of Our Hopes – Together
As you take this step, you are not just committing to live out your baptismal covenant on your own; you are joining a community, a spiritual home, a people who strive to live in peace, in service, and in justice together. The confirmation you will soon receive is an additional affirmation that you belong here, that you are a vital part of this community. Through confirmation, you are further blessed with the Divine Spirit.
And as a community, we, too, make a commitment to you. We promise to support you in this journey, to walk alongside you as we strive to build the Zion of our hopes together. We are a people bound not by our sameness, but by our shared mission, by our diversity, and by our desire to live in love.
So, as we celebrate your baptism today, let’s also recommit ourselves to this sacred work. Let us continue to build Zion here, in this place, with these people. Let us live out the vision of a community where all are welcomed, all are valued, and all are invited.
