The Baptism of Jesus Christ

1. Why was John hesitant to baptize Jesus?

• John knew that Jesus was the perfect man and that He was teaching what the correct principles should be. John forgot that it was his mission was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ and this was one of the way that he did so. John told Jesus that it was him that needed to be baptize by Christ. Christ needed to be our example in all things, so being baptized was something He needed to do. (Matthew 3:13-14)
  

2. What is taught here about the Holy Ghost?

• In Matthew 3: 16 is says that "lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him." If we read within the LDS New Testament Student Manual, it clarifies what "like a dove" means. It refers to it as "the sign of the dove...the sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, as a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove...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."
  
• "Like a dove" is a symbol of truth and doesn't mean literally a dove flew out of heaven.
  

3. Jesus Christ said He must be baptized to "fulfill all righteousness." List three reasons why Jesus Christ was baptized.

• To set the example. "he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments." (2 Nephi 31:7)
• The ordinance of baptism is essential to return to Heavenly Father and to show that you are willing to keep His commandments.
  
• To show that the path to Heavenly Father requires us to take certain actions within our lives. (2 Nephi 31: 9)

4. What evidence is found in Matthew 3: 16-17 that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate personages in the Godhead?

• "Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 3: 16) He had a physical body which was baptize by John.
• "lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him." (Matthew 3:16) The Holy Ghost appeared as a sign of truth and to signify that it wasn't Satan.
• "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3: 17) God speaking to all about Jesus Christ.
  

References: Matthew 3: 13-17 and LDS New Testament Student Manual.