The Lord's children cannot be fully converted without being born again of the water and of the Spirit through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"The Savior taught us that all men and women must be born again," said President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency in the Sunday morning session.

President Faust recalled his own baptism more than seven decades ago in the baptismal font in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. He was only 8 years old, but the words of the baptismal prayer penetrated his soul.

"Since I was baptized over 11 million people have been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a similar manner and by the same authority," President Faust said. "They have been baptized in frozen lakes, the ocean, or ponds — some of which were dug for that purpose."

Christ taught all must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter into God's kingdom, he said.

"Our first birth takes place when we are born into mortality. Our second birth begins when we are baptized by water by one holding the priesthood of God and is completed when we are confirmed and 'then cometh a remission of [our] sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost,' " President Faust said.

President Faust told the story of a Samoan man named Atiati who had lost the use of his legs after contracting polio. Atiati was visited by the missionaries, listened to their message and accepted the gospel. When his baptismal date arrived he refused the missionaries' offer to carry him to the font. Instead, Atiati walked into the water and was baptized. His faith progressed and soon Atiati gained the ability to walk with a cane.

"I believe we can say that Atiati was truly born again," President Faust said.

Baptism by immersion in water is only the introductory ordinance of the gospel and must be followed by the baptism of the Spirit, President Faust said.

"The full benefit of forgiveness of sin through the Savior's atonement begins with repentance and baptism and then expands upon receiving the Holy Ghost," he said. "As Nephi said, baptism is the gate 'and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.' The baptismal gate opens the way for additional covenants and blessings through priesthood and temple blessings."

The "transcendent gift of the Holy Ghost," along with membership in the Church, is bestowed by confirmation by the laying on of hands by those having priesthood authority, President Faust said. If worthy, those who possess the Gift of the Holy Ghost can enjoy greater understanding, enrichment and guidance in all life's activities, both spiritual and temporal.

"The Holy Ghost bears witness to us of the truth and impresses upon our souls the reality of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, so surely that no earthly power or authority can separate us from that knowledge," President Faust said. "Indeed, not having the gift of the Holy Ghost is somewhat like having a body without an immune system."

The Spirit of Christ comes to all men and women — it is distinct from the gift of the Holy Ghost, he said. Many outside the Church have received revelation by the power of the Holy Ghost, convincing them of the truth of the gospel.

"Through this power sincere investigators acquire a testimony of the Book of Mormon and the principles of the gospel before baptism. However, administrations of the Holy Ghost are limited without receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost," President Faust said.

Possessors of the gift of the Holy Ghost can receive more light and testimony because the gift is a "permanent witness and higher endowment than ordinary manifestations of the Holy Spirit," he said.

President Faust added that baptism by water and the Spirit is essential for full salvation and that all of God's children should have an access to these ordinances — including those long dead.

"The doctrine of baptism of the living for the dead in the temple was understood and practiced in the early Christian church," he said. "Paul, in his great discussion about the resurrection, reasoned: 'Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?' " (1 Corinthians 15:29)

No other organization on earth is doing more than the Church in fulfilling the prophet Malachi's promise of the coming of the prophet Elijah, who would "turn the heart of the fathers to the children," (Malachi 4:6) President Faust declared.

"At great expense and effort the Church is now custodian of the greatest treasure of family records in the world," President Faust said. "The Church now has 660 million names on the FamilySearch Internet web site. These records are freely shared with anyone who wishes to research them."