A Unique Experience

Two weeks ago from today, my family had the opportunity to participate in an amazing and unique experience. It was late morning, the house had been cleaned, the furniture re-arranged, the warm sun penetrated the windows, the gentle and calming strokes of the piano broke the silence, and family and friends poured in and sat down, prepared to feast upon the spirit.

It was a special day for one terrific family. Family and friends had gathered at our home to witness a sacred ordinance. Family had driven from hundreds of miles to be here to support one brave little boy, who had recently turned eight years of age, and had righteously made the choice to be baptized into the Lord's church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). We were all just spectators, witnessing this great effort, and being reminded of our baptismal day, and how much it differed from this one.

Our church was under construction all summer. They have been adding rooms and offices onto it, which proves to be an exciting thing, meaning that there has been significant growth to support such a change, and also hopes for continued growth in this area. We met most of the summer at our Bishop's 340-acre Ranch, in a 4000 square-foot,two-story barn that was mostly built from the bottom up in one week, due to the efforts of dedicated saints. This proved to be a marvelous experience - both for those who were members of the ward and for the visitors who came every week - who endured the cool breeze, the smell of manure, the sound of birds chirping, the feeling of cats brushing against your legs during the sacrament and stepping on squished, dead mice, the sight of frogs jumping down the aisles, and the beautiful wilderness as the backdrop to the speakers. You can only imagine the aura of it all. It truly was magnificent. It was a unique, historical event for all of us.

This day proved to be another unique, historical event. Because the church is still under construction, they have allowed us to meet as a congregation on Sundays ONLY. We do not have access to the building in any way during the week. This provided a hiccup for the Montague family, as their son had turned eight years old, and they couldn't use the church's font to baptize him. They had several options at that point. They could do it in Payette Lake, at the next closest church (a little over 30 miles away), in a stranger's indoor swimming pool, or in our pond. Well, after much deliberation, they chose to come to our house and do it in our pond.

It was amazing. I can't say it enough. As I sat back while Lisa's sister was singing, the spirit penetrated me so strongly. My mother-in-law gave us her piano, which was a beautiful and necessary touch to the atmosphere of the whole day. Beautiful music invites the spirit and it was more than amazing to feel it as Jared's sister-in-law played, and Lisa's sister sang. The spirit was undeniable. Which proved to me, again, that it doesn't matter where you are, but if the proper priesthood authority is present, the spirit can dwell.

My husband got the opportunity, as the only member of the bishopric in attendance, to conduct and preside over his first baptism. The Montague's were our neighbors at our last home and have become great friends to us, so this was even more of a special experience for us.

When it was time to baptize Benjamin, the family all headed out to the pond in the backyard. What a blessing, and a rarity, it was to have such warm weather where we live in the end of September (about 75 degrees that day). Nights in the mountains get rather cold, so there was no doubt that the pond would be cold. But, we all hoped that Benjamin would have the courage to bare it.

Jared was the first one into the water and he tried to display calmness, but the look on his face told the story of the temperature of the water. When Benjamin plunged in, he came right back out about as fast as he had gone in. Immediately tears swelled up. He begged and pleaded for about five minutes to NOT get baptized that day. "I don't want to do it, Dad. It's freezing. Can't we do it another day? I don't want to do it today. I just want to wait." There were many replies, all tear-filled, and with great reluctance to get back in.

For a brief moment I felt Satan's role in this. Here was a young boy who had understood that at eight years of age he had the great privelege of chosing to become a member of the Lord's church. He had seen many people, in the past, be traditionally baptized in a church font - in WARM water. Likewise, I am sure that when he envisioned his baptism day, he imagined the same scenario. But, Satan was now discouraging him, allowing him to only focus on the cold, and not the sacred privelege of the ordinance he was about to particpate in.

Family members tried to encourage and comfort him. Jason offered to have Bryson, Benjamin's best friend, stand in the water next to him for moral support. Benjamin consented to that. Jason stripped off Bryson's socks and shoes, rolled up his pants, and had Bryson slowly step into the water, only to discover that he, too, didn't want to do it either. Benjamin then refused to get in, again.

We all had a prayer in our heart for little Benjamin, that he could have the faith to get in and be baptized. It wasn't until his father, Jared, calmly reached out his hand, again, and asked him to take his hand. He told him that it would be quick and that his mother would be waiting with a warm towel for him to wrap himself up in, when he came up out of the water. With great trust and faith, Benjamin took his father's hand and entered the cold pond water. Jared spoke clearly and calmly, the sacred ordinance prayer, that concluded with our "amens" and Benjamin was quickly lowered and submersed under the freezing cold water. That's it. It was done. Benjamin was now the newest member of our ward, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What an amazing, unique, and spiritual experience it was. Two weekends in a row I got to be a part of great spiritual experiences. First, the baptism of Bryson's best friend - and though he had great fear and opposition, became a great example for all of us of the power of faith and obedience. The second, General Conference, where we heard messages from our prophet and apostles that will help lead and guide us to becoming more like our Savior. No doubt this gospel is true. I am so grateful and blessed to be a part of it.

Congratulations, Benjamin. We are admire your faith and courage!