We have had a crazy few weeks. JTP’s parents visited us, we went to Buenos Aires and AJP was baptized. While I want to write posts on all of them, the most important is AJP’s baptism. He was baptized on March 20th. It turns out that he was baptized on the 35th anniversary of his grandparent’s baptism. It was an incredible event. AJP’s one request was that it be in English. Since we attend church in Portuguese many of those that attended did not speak English so we arranged for a friend to do simultaneous interpretation. (That was a neat experience for the Portuguese speakers since normally it is the English speakers that have to listen with headphones.) We were so proud of AJP’s decision and were grateful to all who joined us. For those that may be interested after the pictures is the talk that I gave on Baptism.
Our Family
About 9 months ago Asher was having a little bit of trouble with reverence during Sacrament meeting. When I took him out to talk with him, I explained that he would be baptized soon and that he needed to listen in Sacrament meeting so that he could decide if the church were true. He looked up at me with a somewhat disgusted look and said, “Mom, I already know the church is true.” I don’t think I could have been happier for him than at that moment. I realized then that he had taken the first step in returning to our Heavenly Father. Asher believed in the truthfulness of the gospel. Today Asher is taking the next important step in this journey. He is being baptized. Baptism is the first covenant we make on our journey to return to our Heavenly Father. A covenant is a promise we make with Heavenly Father and Heavenly Father promises to us as well. When we are baptized we promise to take upon us the name of Christ, keep the commandments and serve Him until the end. Heavenly Father’s part of the covenant is that he will bless us and we will be able to live with Him again.
When we take Christ’s name upon us, we become known as true Christians. This means that as we live each day we think about how Christ would act and what he would do. Just as the missionaries wear tags to show that they are missionaries Asher will be known as a follower of Christ. While he will not have a physical tag to show he is a Christian, his actions will let everyone know that he has taken Christ’s name upon him.
The second part of the covenant is to keep the commandments. Keeping the commandments simply means that we do everything in our power to do what Heavenly Father asks of us. Some commandments will be harder to keep than others but I know that as Asher tries to keep all of Heavenly Father’s commandments He will be blessed.
The final part of the covenant is to serve Heavenly Father until the end. The Book of Mormon explains that serving others is how we serve Heavenly Father. The best way for us to serve others is to be nice to them and help them when they need our help. This will become easier today for Asher after he receives the gift of the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost helps us to know when others need our help.
Alma in the Book of Mormon described what I just spoke about very beautifully when he was speaking to a group of people that as Asher said, “already knew the church was true”. They had taken the first step to believe and Alma was talking to them about the next step. (Mosiah 18:8-11)
8 . . . and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.”
Asher, I know this is the desire of your heart and I could not be more excited for you or proud of you. This important step decides what direction your life will take. Always remember this day as the day you showed Heavenly Father and Jesus that you want to follow them and return to live with them. I know that you can keep the covenants you make today to help others, keep Heavenly Father’s commandments and represent Christ. I know that this church and this baptism are the way back to living with Heavenly Father. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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