Baptism is the gateway to God’s kingdom on earth, where individuals and families are nourished spiritually upon the pathway of salvation. The Church is the divine institution for nurture. Following baptism, we are cleansed and then blessed with the reception of the Holy Ghost. The names of the new converts are recorded so that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God. The undershepherds are to help keep them in the right way, helping them remain watchful unto prayer. Full-time missionaries, ward missionaries, home teachers, and visiting teachers are to be special fellowshippers who show concern for the well-being of converts—both spiritually and temporally. We strengthen them in our conversation, our prayers, our exhortations, and in all our doings (see D&C 108:7). We are their friends. We, through the ward leadership, make sure they have a responsibility and continually nurture them with the word of God, making sure they are searching the scriptures and attending their meetings (for the blessings of meetings see D&C 43:8–10). Those who are responsible are to ensure that we follow the counsel for serving new members and encouraging them to follow through with their duty as found in the scriptures:
The duty of the members after they are received by baptism.—The elders or priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning the church of Christ to their understanding, previous to their partaking of the sacrament and being confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the elders, so that all things may be done in order.
And the members shall manifest before the church, and also before the elders, by a godly walk and conversation, that they are worthy of it, that there may be works and faith agreeable to the holy scriptures—walking in holiness before the Lord. (D&C 20:68–69)
There are great blessings that follow when we help new converts or struggling Saints, nourishing them with the word of God, helping them stay on the straight and narrow path (see 2 Nephi 9:41), and remaining watchful unto prayer. President Gordon B. Hinckley reminds us that we must attend to the needs of the one:
It was the Savior who left the ninety and nine to go out and find the one. Now we are obsessed with the ninety and nine, and we are not very much concerned with the one. But the ninety and nine will go along pretty well. They don’t need a lot of attention. I don’t mean to suggest that you not do your duty toward them, but it is the one that we need to help. Let’s work at it. Let us do something about these people and those who are cold in their faith. They are worth saving and bringing back. Do you know who they are? Have you identified them? Start with that step. And then put them to work. No man or woman will grow in this Church unless he or she is busy and has something to do. (Jordan Utah South Regional Conference, priesthood leadership session, March 1, 1997.)
With the ever-increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the “good word of God” (Moro. 6:4). It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 539)
Spiritual nourishment is as indispensable for well-being and vitality as physical nourishment. Spiritual nourishment flows only from spiritual sources, as President Harold B. Lee has stated:
Your spiritual body needs nourishment at frequent intervals in order to assure its health and vigor. Earthly food does not satisfy this need. Food to satisfy your spiritual needs must come from spiritual sources. Principles of eternal truth, as contained in the gospel, and the proper exercise by engaging in spiritual activities are essential to the satisfying of your spiritual selves. Vital processes of the spirit are likewise maintained only by intelligent connection with spiritual fountains of truth. Spiritual sickness and death, which mean separation from the fountain of spiritual light, are sure to follow the severance of your connection with the spiritual nerve center, the Church of Jesus Christ. (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], 121)