I attended a
baptism this weekend where the question was asked, If we remembered our baptismal
day.
As I
pondered I thought, I don’t remember much from that day, but I do have a lot of
memories surrounding baptisms and I was impressed to share those memories with
you.
- My baptism day, the only real memory of that day is after the baptism was over, we loaded up in our family’s station wagon at the Wilson UT church house, and as we were leaving mom started to talk to me with a big smile brimming with excitement. She said something like, “How does it feel to be washed clean from all your sins?”Well it felt great! kuz I had a load of sins to get rid of. Then she went on to question me about something that had happened the previous day when Cory Huckabay and I were out playing. The two of us were always in trouble and that day was no exception. I don’t remember the particulars about what had gone on but I do remember that I had already told a lie to keep from getting in trouble. So when mom asked me about the events of that day, I knew I had a choice. I remember thinking about that choice as mom waited for my answer. Weighing it out in my mind, my new status of being clean verses the whippin I would surly get for, 1. Misbehaving and 2. Lying about it the first time I was asked. I looked down at the floorboard of our car, and chose to lie again to cover-up my misadventures from the previous day and conceal the lie I had already told. Just as the last word of that horrible lie fell from my lips, the car hit the curb as we left the parking lot of the church. I was completely defeated. I couldn’t even make it out of the church parking lot without messing things up. I was beaten by life before I could even get started it seemed to my 8yr old mind. What’s the point in even trying? Over the next couple of days this weighed heavy on my mind…
- My next baptismal memory was of my little brother Darrin’s baptismal day. It was during the summer and I was 17 years old and working at Downata Hot Springs in Downey Idaho as a life guard. (BEST job for a young man ever) Mom asked Darrin if he would let one of his older brothers baptize him, she thought it would be neat, “big brother baptizing little brother.” When she would leave I would tease him relentlessly because he was deathly afraid of going under the water for very long and of sharks. I would tell him that if I did it I would hold him under as I said the prayer, and I assured him that I would talk very slowly thus holding him under for as long as possible. For some strange reason, he opted to have Bryan, our older brother, do the honors.
I loved my job and my friends and I didn’t want to give up
either to take time out of my schedule to go to Darrin’s baptism. I love my
little brother and everything but, Saturday nights were the busiest nights of
the week. There were sure to be lots of new girls to meet, friends and
coworkers to hangout with. I begged mom to let me skip the baptism as I was
scheduled to work. I did have great
bosses, and there would be no problem with them letting me off at that time,
but I just wanted to be there “in the mix” not at a church. I begged, then
whined, then threw a “2 year old like fit” but I couldn’t get out of it. So
under protest I went vowing to myself that if I had to be miserable so did
everyone else. I pouted the whole time, squirming in my seat because it was
uncomfortable as I felt the spirit trying to testify and bring peace to me. It
seemed as though I did everything I could do to push the sprit away ensuring
that I maintained my agony. I was miserable and wanted to be miserable and no one or nothing could change that. Finally after
it was over mom told me I could just leave. She was disappointed with my
behavior but I got to go be with my friends and I was happy about that. Mom
confided to me later that I brought with me that night a darkness to the
baptism…
- My next baptismal memory was of my little sister Jennifer’s baptism in Cheyenne WY. By now I was 22 and married. I think I was enrolled in the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy going through to become a Jailer for Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department in Kemmerer WY and my little family was staying with Mom and Dad, as their house was close to the training center I was attending.What I remember most was as I prepared to perform the ordinance in the dressing room. I was moved upon by the spirit like I had never been before in my life. It filled me to the brim and overflowing. It overwhelmed me to the point I couldn’t stand. I just sat there weeping, or rather wailing uncontrollably. I hadn’t been doing anything necessarily bad but hadn’t been doing any good either, just sitting on the fence watching life go by. I felt so deeply, so fully, that I needed to be actively engaged in good work. I felt both love and condemnation at the same time it seemed. There was good work I needed to be doing, and there wasn’t any time for “time wasting.” When the time came to go to the fount I cleaned up the best I could and baptized her choking back the tears the whole time…
As I reflect
on these three stories, I at first just see only my failures as a boy, teenager,
father and husband. I wondered why I was prompted during that baptism to write
these stories down. Was it just to catalog my failures? To prove to the world
that I fall short oh-so often? So today as I was driving I asked “Father why is
it, that I should tell these stories?” I felt as though I need to look a little
deeper. As I drove and pondered, I came to this conclusion. These stories aren't about my failure- they are
about my Father in Heaven’s love for me. In the first story as a boy, I
learned very quickly, even before I left the parking lot, that I need Christ
and his redeeming Atonement, multiple times daily and that it was there and ready
for me to use and take full advantage of. I learned quickly of the importance
of renewing my covenants with the Lord on the Sabbath as I partake of the
sacrament. This has been a comfort and a saving grace to me throughout my life.
In the
second story I found out that like it or not, we bring with us a spirit in all
that we do. Which spirit we bring, depends on our attitude. We have the power
to choose which side will be traveling with us, based on our attitude. Whatever
we decide it affects those around us for good or bad. I also realized that
Heavenly Father is always reaching out for me calling me back to the presence
of the spirit and the peace that comes with that. As a young man I had a
testimony that life was always better when I had His spirit with me. I always
felt that was a little odd because I found myself evaluating my level of
happiness, and if I wasn’t as happy as I wanted, I knew I better shape up and fly
right and get straight with the Lord.
In the third
story as I thought back on this time I can still feel his loving arm around me (and it still bring tears as I remember) when I was given a spiritual tongue
lashing about being a fence sitter or being content to do little or nothing in
the service of the Lord. He needs followers that are actively engaged in good
works!
My Happiest Memories of
Baptisms
The opportunity
to participate and witness your children’s baptisms is without a doubt some of
my happiest memories.
Shawn was my
first and I was so nervous and proud. I guess mostly with him I remember
confirming him and feeling the power and inspiration that cut through the nerves
of this young father and how I love to administer priesthood blessings to my
children.
I didn’t
baptize Shane because my father in law (I loved him) had just became a member of the
church and had never had the chance to baptize any of his own children. So we
talked with Shane and we all thought it would be great if grandpa baptized him.
It was so touching to see Grandpa Bowers and Shane there in the water dressed
in white. Some said John would never join the church. Heaven knows he had had a
lot of chances to join, and when the subject came up he would just laugh or
make a joke about them crazy Mormons with a twinkle in his eye. All that made
it even sweeter to see him moved by the spirit as he preformed this ordinance
for the first time. I then had the privilege to confirm Shane.
Cody loved Uncle
Bryan and his family so he asked Bryan to baptize him. Man, when all those Case
boys get together you just knew there were going to be stories to tell, wounds
to heal and quite possibly explosions. I remember most Cody smiling big all day
long it was like he was GLOWING. He just was so happy, beaming all day, and nobody
has a smile like My Cody! NOBODY! It was also my privilege to confirm him a
member of the church.
Kyli wanted
to be baptized in the river in Star Valley Wyoming just like so many of her
cousins and ancestors had ben before her. Grandma and grandpa Case were in the Provo
UT MTC preparing to go to Ethiopia on a mission but received special permission
to leave long enough to come to her baptism. It was the beginning of October and
the water was soooo cold her dress came up on the first try and I had to perform
the baptism a second time. She started to cry as we began the ordinance again,
so I went as quickly as I could to get it done and get her out. This time I
went down in with her almost all the way just to make sure it was done right
and it wouldn’t have to be repeated. Then I immediately lifted her out of the
water and onto the bridge where her mom wrapped her in a warm quilt. I
confirmed her right there on that bridge.
I bear my
testimony that God loves me and you.
In the name
of Jesus Christ Amen
