Jen's Baptism: The Most Wonderful Day

Friday, December 23, 2012

The Most Wonderful Day. 

To give you a little background - I told Jen all I wanted for my wedding was for her to get baptized. I was kidding, except not really at all. Jen and I have been close friends since senior year of high school when we played volleyball together. I think I gave her a copy of The Book of Mormon for graduation with my faith written in the front cover. She came out to visit me last year at school. We always joke on how she's going to be Mormon, and how she is definitely marrying a mormon boy. 

I didn't even know she was meeting with the missionaries regularly. I knew that when she was down she would read from The Book of Mormon and find comfort but I never wanted to be pushy. And so, you can imagine my reaction when I got the text that she had set her baptism date for December. Ben thought I had cut my arm off I screamed so loud.

Some people have questioned this step that Jen has made in her life, questioned her motives, questioned her heart. But the truth of it is, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not just a life style change. It is not just another congregation. It is not just getting married young to handsome young men. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church with the fullness of His gospel restored to the earth. And Jen figured that out. She learned that God has a plan for her, as He does for all of us. She learned that she is a child of a Heavenly Father who loves her and who wants to bless her.  She has learned that commandments and rules are not restrictive, but instead the best way of life given by the One who knows everything on how to be happy.  It has been so beautiful to see the change in her, in her happiness, in her faith, and in her goodness. 

I was honored to speak at her baptism two weeks ago, to talk about her spiritual journey past, and the path that she is now on. She followed the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in entering the waters of baptism and that vision of her coming out of the water, pure and clean, will remain as one of my most cherished memories. There is a bond that forms when you can share the most important part of you, the greatest joy you have, and the most true thing you know with someone. To know that I had even the smallest role in Jen's discovery and commitment to Christ fills me with a joy second to none. 

" And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!"

PS. She flies into Utah today. Get excited for one fabulous week. Wonderful isn't it?