After waiting 10 years, my oldest daughter was able to get baptized! I can’t express my excitement and gratitude for my Heavenly Father who has held her gently in his arms all these years, as she waits for the blessing of making the covenant with her Savior, Jesus Christ, and is able to have the doors of understanding opened as well as the most wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost!
I still remember when, she was almost 8, and she came to me wondering why she felt like crying when the topic of baptism was discussed! I was able to teach her about the spirit and that it can speak to us in different way. She was most likely like her momma, and felt it through tears. She got so excited, and from that day on, has sought diligently after baptism. It was crushing the first time she asked her dad, and got the firm answer of “NO”! I held her as she cried in my arms, and taught her what I had learned from other “pioneers” who were unable to receive the blessing of the gospels ordinances. (I remember hearing how in Africa, they weren’t able to go to the temple for sometime, but were told to live as if you had a temple recommend!) I taught Brooke the same thing, to live as if she has made the covenant with her Heavenly Father, and that he knows her heart, and her day would come for her to be baptized! There were many more attempts over the years, all which were turned down with the promise that she could make her own decision when she turned 18!
Brooke’s respect for her fathers decision, also blessed her, as it helped her heart to stay pure and humble. She learned patience, long suffering, endurance, and persistence. She is the oldest of 7 and is on constant display to her ever admiring siblings. When the time came for her to make her own decision, and to tell her dad. His reaction was beautiful! He was happy and excited for her to make this step in life, and she had his full support.
I would love for Brooke to write her testimony of how she felt, but I did not expect to feel the difference from the outside. That is an understanding of baptism and repentance that I will never forget. That is the point of my whole message here. Brooke, got baptized at 18, giving her 10 years of being on the battle field of life. Let me tell you, these kids are definitely on a battlefield! When she came out of the waters of baptism, her JOY unmistakably filled the audience. As I went back to help her change, and to give my love and support. There was a feeling of weightlessness that I had never experienced. Of course she weighed the same. But I could feel that she was able to leave her “stones” at the Saviors feet as she came out of the water. I could feel the purifying effects of baptism. She was glowing, as if for that moment she was wrapped in the love of the Savior. I believe for a moment she was able to take a timeout from the raging war, and just know that she is loved and watched over. What a glorious understanding. I hope she will never forget as she heads back to war. I hope she can feel the Saviors love and the guidance of the Holy Ghost forever, and with that, I hope she will give no power to the Adversary!
I am thankful for the Power of Baptism! I am equally thankful for the gift of repentance and that we can literally have that purifying, cleansing effect daily if we will but turn to the Savior with an open heart and leave our stones at his feet…and WALK WITH HIM!!
Sherri
Wonderful news! I've loved watching her grow and I'm so happy for you both!