What Jesus taught part 2

Jesus identifies who He is and allows the people to see and feel; "and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets that should come." Then He calls on Nephi and gives him priesthood authority to baptize.

2

The second point I pulled out was this: "Once we have a knowledge of who Jesus is, we've seen and felt in a spiritual manner, we then take on His name by being baptized by authority"  In 3 Nephi 11:18-21 in reads:

 18 And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth.
19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet.
20 And the Lord commanded him that he should arise. And he arose and stood before him.
21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

Proper authority is important.  Without the priesthood, we lack the power to act in God's name.  Jesus went on to give others there besides Nephi the power and authority to baptize.  Then He taught the proper way to baptize.

23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them.

 24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:

 25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Notice in the baptismal prayer it starts out as "Having authority given me of Jesus Christ."  In the LDS faith when we baptize we start out with "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ."  How do we get this authority?  It is passed down by the laying of hands by those in authority.  The Aaronic Priesthood that has the authority to baptize was restored in the latter-days by John the Baptist to Joseph Smith. We learn of this in the 13th section in the Doctrine and Covenants.

An extract from Joseph Smith’s history recounting the ordination of the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood near Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1829. The ordination was done by the hands of an angel who announced himself as John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament. The angel explained that he was acting under the direction of Peter, James, and John, the ancient Apostles, who held the keys of the higher priesthood, which was called the Priesthood of Melchizedek. The promise was given to Joseph and Oliver that in due time this higher priesthood would be conferred upon them. (See section 27:7–8, 12.)
The keys and powers of the Aaronic Priesthood are set forth.

 1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

Now with the proper authority restored on the earth, it has been passed down by the laying on of hands.  For example I can trace back the priesthood authority that I've been blessed to hold this way:

I was ordained with the Melchizedek Priesthood in 1993 by my father David William Austad who was a high priest.  He was ordained by June Duffy Palmer who was ordained by George Quayle Morris who was ordained by Rudger Clawson who was ordained by Lorenzo Snow who was ordained by Heber Chase Kimball who was ordained by Oliver Cowdery David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, who was ordained by Joseph Smith Jr. who was ordained by Peter, James and John, who was ordained by Jesus Christ.

So having authority to act in Jesus name is a big deal and I do not take it lightly.  There is a difference between power of the priesthood and authority of the priesthood.  One who holds the authority needs to be worthy to use the priesthood.  We learn in Doctrine and Covenants 121:

36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

 37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.