August 16th is a very special day for me.
August 16th is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life.
August 16th is a day that I will tell my children and grandchildren about.
August 16th is the day that my sins were washed away, that my life became about someone other than myself, the day that I joined Christ's true church here on Earth.
August 16th was the day I was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
(For more info about the church, please visit www.mormon.org)
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
-John 3:5
I KNOW that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of Christ on the Earth. I KNOW that through baptism into the church, I am worthy to one day stand in the presence of my Heavenly Father and my savior. I KNOW that through the power of the Priesthood and being sealed in the Temple that my family can be together forever. I KNOW that the Temple is the most sacred place on Earth, I can be no closer to my Father in Heaven than inside those walls. I KNOW that Joseph Smith was a living Prophet, who at the age of 14 was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, instructed how to organize the church, and died a martar. I KNOW that Thomas S. Monson is a living Prophet, I know that he can and does receive revelation for the well being of Heavenly Father's children.
-John 3:5
Christ explained several times that baptism by water was the only way to be absolved of all sins and given the chance to enter into Heaven.
(We as a church believe that EVERYONE will have a chance to be baptized, either in this life or the next)
Normally in our church, Children are baptized at the age of 8, the age of accountability (D&C 20:71). I unfortunately didn't get a chance to make that choice so young. I was 21 when I made the choice. I have chosen to count my blessings, I was ONLY 21...not 41...not 81...not on the other side already. I chose while my daughter was still young and I could teach her the things that I know. I chose before the birth of my son so he will never know or see any other life style.
I KNOW that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of Christ on the Earth. I KNOW that through baptism into the church, I am worthy to one day stand in the presence of my Heavenly Father and my savior. I KNOW that through the power of the Priesthood and being sealed in the Temple that my family can be together forever. I KNOW that the Temple is the most sacred place on Earth, I can be no closer to my Father in Heaven than inside those walls. I KNOW that Joseph Smith was a living Prophet, who at the age of 14 was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, instructed how to organize the church, and died a martar. I KNOW that Thomas S. Monson is a living Prophet, I know that he can and does receive revelation for the well being of Heavenly Father's children.
Although, I will face much adversity in my life, from family and friends, from strangers and the advisary, but through it all I am prepared to endure to the end. It won't be easy and at times I may be ready to give up but I know that through prayer and faith I can do anything, be anything and overcome anything.
This post has sat on here, while I waited for inspiration on how to conclude it, how to finish it so that people could feel the spirit while reading it. I know it may seem silly, since this post is so short, but hours were spent trying to get the perfect words to come out. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how long I stared at the screen or read and reread the post, I could think of what else to say or what to change. Then it dawned on me, there were no "perfect" words, only honest words.
This post has sat on here, while I waited for inspiration on how to conclude it, how to finish it so that people could feel the spirit while reading it. I know it may seem silly, since this post is so short, but hours were spent trying to get the perfect words to come out. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how long I stared at the screen or read and reread the post, I could think of what else to say or what to change. Then it dawned on me, there were no "perfect" words, only honest words.
