=25.= During the last century preceding the birth of Christ, the work of God among the Lamanites was begun, by the preaching of faith, repentance, and baptism; Ammon declared this doctrine to King Lamoni and his people.[389] Helaman preached baptism;[390] and in the time of his ministry, less than half a century before Christ's advent on earth, we read that tens of thousands united themselves with the Church, by baptism. So also preached Helaman's sons,[391] and his grandson Nephi.[392] These baptisms were performed in the name of the Messiah who was to come; but when He came to His western flock, He directed that they should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and bestowed upon twelve chosen servants the authority to officiate in the ordinance,[393] promising the riches of Heaven unto all who would comply with His law, and unto such only. [389] Alma xix, 35. [390] Alma lxii, 45. [391] Hel. v, 14-19. [392] III Nephi i, 23. [393] III Nephi xi, 22-25; xii, 1-2. =26.= Evidence is abundant that the Savior regarded the baptized state as an essential condition of membership in His Church; thus, when instituting the sacrament among the Nephites, He instructed His disciples to administer it unto those only who had been properly baptized.[394] Further, we are informed that those who were baptized as Jesus had directed, were called the Church of Christ.[395] True to the Savior's promise, the Holy Ghost came to those who were baptized by His ordained authority, thus adding to water-baptism the higher baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost;[396] and many of them received wonderful manifestations of the Divine approval, seeing and hearing unspeakable things, not lawful to be written. The faith of the people showed itself in good works,[397] in prayers and fasting,[398] in acknowledgment of which Christ reappeared, this time manifesting Himself to the Disciples whom He had called to the ministry; and unto them he reiterated the former promises regarding all who were baptized of Him; and to this He added, that, provided they endured to the end, they should be held guiltless in the day of judgment.[399] On that occasion, He repeated the commandment through obedience to which salvation is promised:--"Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day."[400] [394] III Nephi xviii, 5, 11, 23-30. [395] III Nephi xxvi, 21. [396] III Nephi xxvi, 17-18; xxviii, 18; IV Nephi i, 1. [397] III Nephi xxvi, 19-20. [398] III Nephi xxvii, 1-2. [399] III Nephi xxvii, 16. [400] III Nephi xxvii, 20.