Walker’s Baptism
Our son has turned 8 and is so excited to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We took some photos at the Payson Temple to display for his Baptism and include in his invitation to family and friends.
Preparing
When anyone asked him about why he wanted to be baptized, he confidently told them that he wanted to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It’s what he told our Bishop a week ago when we got to spend some time reflecting on the promises we’re making, and our own baptisms. I thought we’d need to have a family home evening lesson to review some things before the interview, but W is so smart and has been quietly paying attention over the years that even without any preparation he made it clear he understood the commitment and took it seriously and wanted to be baptized. I was surprised and also very proud of him.
I’m so thankful Fletcher who’s only 10 years old was willing to be brave and give a talk for his brother’s baptism, and that my husband is an amazing teacher. He helped F get his thoughts on paper and guided him during the process of writing his talk. The first day of preparing for the talk, all they did was briefly brainstorm on a piece of paper and Jer didn’t even look at it. Next day they had a conversation, then Jer read to him some accounts in the scriptures on baptism (when Christ was baptized, when Alma was baptizing in the wilderness, etc.) asking him to write down whatever his thoughts were. F had Jer pause his reading whenever he wanted to take notes. The following day F wrote down a first draft all by himself using his notes. Then Jer helped him find scriptures that fit his ideas, and revised slightly using the notes and conversations they had, correcting for proper spelling. F rewrote it with those revisions, and practiced it in front of Jer several times to help him not be nervous and so that his words and his thoughts could be prepared. We were all so proud of him working hard to write this message for his brother on a special day and helping us feel God’s love so strongly. He also learned some valuable skills on preparing a talk and speaking in front of people.
Baptism Day
What a beautiful day! Walker was the most excited, and the spirit was so strong.
We had a lovely program with family and friends helping with the music, talks, and prayers and I was so thankful for the participation. Fletcher gave a short, heartfelt talk on Baptism using scripture and simple doctrine. It was a big highlight for me to hear him speak and share his heart with us.
W smiled when he actually got in the water with his Dad, and stayed that way all through being baptized. He has such a strong bond with his Dad already being his little buddy, but I think this experience was very special for them both. W’s asked his siblings to be witnesses (which is SO neat to me!) to make sure he went all the way under the water, and then we wrote notes for W while he and Jer got dressed. My sister Lee Ann gave a lovely talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost before W actually went and received it surrounded by the many good men in his life. Brother Spencer from our bishopric talked about Sanctification and how the Holy Ghost is what cleanses us and continues to do so when we repent.
A couple of my sisters and their spouses were able to come support, and that meant a lot to us as my kids have all been very close with them. Our family in Springville came as well even though it was Savannah’s birthday and they had already had a big morning. Some drove all the way from Idaho, some during baby’s nap time, and some after staying up very late for fireworks yesterday, so I was very grateful for all who made time and effort to be here and missing all who were here in spirit.
We all convened at our house for some pulled pork sandwiches, salads, watermelon, and delicious chips! W received scriptures engraved with his name on the cover, a scripture case from Guatemala in his new favorite color green, and scripture marking crayons from us that he was very excited to use for church on Sunday. He was very grateful for all he received from family and the Primary, especially the notes that everyone wrote for him. We keep them in his Keepsake binder so he can read them all the time. Baptism is the first step on a covenant path, and even the Savior who was perfect and had no need for it got baptized so we would be able to follow Him.
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins”
2 Nephi 25:26
Love, Kat
