Baptism Day

We totally failed to put this on earlier, so here goes. Despite the cold and drizzly weather, May Day (May 1) was a warm and wonderful day for our family. Spencer was visibly excited all week for this day to come. He played it down pretty well at times though. That morning, I think he wanted to get his mind off the anxiety of the baptism which would take place at 12:30. He convinced daddy to take him to get a small basketball so that he could hit more of his shots on our hoop.


We were blessed to have much of our family attend, even Grandma Kimber (from Grouse Creek), Miriam (from Oregon) and Sharon Allen (from Florida). Tina gave a wonderful talk on the Holy Ghost and Sydney mesmerized us with her violin solo. It was a really special experience, and we are proud of Spencer's example to his brothers and sister. Spence was funny... as he came out of the water he loudly proclaimed, "that was cold". He really was glowing with joy that entire day.




Spence has a strong testimony and is not afraid to share it. He bore a nice testimony on Sunday, explaining that he was fasting for the first time. He recounted the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan after fasting for 40 days.




Spence, we know the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of His gospel, and God's authority to perform sacred ordinances is on the earth for us to commit ourselves to Him.

general conference

I am so excited for General Conference, even though it's still a couple of weeks away. I guess part of it was being in the Tabernacle again on Sunday. It probably sounds strange... but I get a little giddy inside to think that I will have the chance to feel the Spirit for so long for a few days. It's interesting though. It comes with a challenge. The challenge to strive more, to be better, to serve more and serve better than I have in the past: to be more kind, more patient, more tolerant, and more devoted.

The two words that come to mind when I hear the brethren and sisters at conference speak is "quiet dignity". I was listening to Elder Hales from April 2009 on the drive to work today. His talk is entitled Christian Courage. His voice and message epitomize quiet dignity. That is how we worship (even though it may not always seem that way in our sacrament meeting on Sunday). But kids learn to respect Divinity through reverence. And that is how we learn. The Spirit seems loudest when we make the effort to listen: the Spirit shakes our soul with His whisper.

Conference is not a series of dynamic motivational speakers whose inflections sometimes cause small children to hold their ears... no... it is apostles, prophets, and other leaders, called of God, teaching doctrine and allowing us to learn by the promptings of the Spirit.

Now the key is to be able to hear that Spirit above the rushings of our children. But really, there have been times when the youngest are sleeping and the older ones are listening for keywords for conference bingo game. Maybe this year we will have to go to the stake center to listen to conference on Sunday.

a big deal

Last night we attended a meeting at the Tabernacle on Temple Square that was a worship service for the Baptist church. The music was very well done and the speaker was enthralling.

Nick Vujicic spoke. He has no arms and no legs. His attitude is wonderful and he had a way of making his worship of Christ a big deal. I think that is inherent in the Baptist faith.

The baptists are very passionate about their worship. They make it a big deal. They make prayer a big deal. Coming unto Christ is important to them.

So what can I learn about my religious devotion from them. Well, I can rely on the Lord more. I can pay more attention to what God wants me to do and when and where He would like me to be.

Secondly, I can pray with more devotion. I often need a reminder to make my prayers more sincere and with real intent.

Thirdly, I can make my religion a big deal in my life. Living in Utah where so many people are LDS, I find myself giving more attention to my social religious experience and less to my personal religion. I am probably not alone in that one. I also know that Christ loves us personally as well as collectively. And my personal worship needs to be a bigger deal to me. My scripture study, temple attendance, personal service I give to others are all ways I can make my personal conviction a bigger deal. My lesson on Sunday to the 12-13 year old boys was on tithing. And it occurred to me during that lesson that we are in a partnership with the Lord (idea by Elder Robert D. Hales) when we pay our tithing. Well, also we are his stewards in service. So, as a partner and as a steward, it is a big deal... NOT I am a big deal... but the work I am involved with is a big deal... this much is true.

I am grateful I was invited to attend this worship service. It was a nice reminder of some of the promises I have made to my Father in Heaven in my life.

And one more thing... I liked what Nick said about what will happen when he meets the Lord after he dies... The Lord might say something to the effect of “Well done thou good and faithful... now who did you bring with you?” Because certainly we are to proclaim the saving power of Christ to all. We all need it. And we all need to enter into a covenant through the priesthood authority given to His servants in order to enjoy the fulness of His plan for us.

I want to take just a minute and bear my solemn witness that the Bible is the word of God and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. The Lord has given us a living prophet on the earth, even Thomas S. Monson, who holds the keys of the kingdom. Therein, he holds the keys of the sealing power, whereby we can be sealed by the priesthood (power) of God to those we love and to God himself. There is no other way than through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we can live with God and like God with those we love (our families) for eternity.

And as the Baptists say, Praise Jesus.

a word on kids and teaching doctrine

Does everyone have a "favorite apostle"?... one that seems to talk directly to our heart and mind?... one that, more often than not, seems to say exactly what we need to hear? In the days of my youth (which sometimes I think I am still in), Neal A. Maxwell was my fav. President Eyring now fills that seat at my table. In searching for New Testament doctrine re: the Resurrection today, I stumbled upon this powerful talk entitled The Power of Teaching Doctrine
Some of my favorite exerpts were as follows:

…Simply hearing the words of doctrine can plant the seed of faith in the heart. And even a tiny seed of faith in Jesus Christ invites the Spirit

…Your descendants will teach doctrine to each other because you taught it.

…A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child’s life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths.
The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it wouldn’t be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child isn’t beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, “With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?” The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone.

...In my own family there is a story of a young woman who had the courage to start to teach doctrine when she was only a new convert with little education. And the fact that the effects of her teaching haven’t ended gives me patience to wait for the fruits of my own efforts.
[followed by the story of Mary Bommeli]

May we all seize the moment to teach the simple truths that bring us so much joy when lived.

I know that the true Church was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. God's authority to seal us His exists in His Church - even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. May all come unto Christ through the principles and ordinances of His gospel, that we may prepare the earth for His coming.


photo found at byustephen's flickr page