Born of water

This is our view every Saturday. We arrive about 8am and meet with wonderful Ordinance Workers and prepare to receive patrons. I wish you could meet the people we serve with. There are currently 4 couples. Alveys, the Shurtz, Straits and Mackays. I doubt Brother Strait and his wife Marcia will every see this, so I will tell you that Jim Strait is 85 years old! Long ago he played professional fast-pitch softball. He is a walking smile. We have been blessed to have an almost instant rapport. I can truly say that I love him. He has so much energy he is inspiring. I could say something about each one that is wonderful, but won't here.

What I do want to tell you is some of the experience that we have had here. I think most of us that have faith in this ordinance will say that we go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. In many instances, I have been able to witness individuals that this description would't do justice to. To these, they came to bind their family. They came to open the door to someone beloved. They came to help someone grow in their testimony. I know when those moments happen because of the emotion that I have witnessed. Again, the average response is a broad smile. The exceptional responses are these:

Sister Mackay came up to me near the font with a brother I did not know. She had 2 name cards in her hand. She asked me to take them up to do immediately, for the brother was going to do the endowment for 1. A moment later, I was given another name for this brother by Sister Mackay. She said to do this one as well. It was the gentleman's mother. The baptisms were performed and I took them down the stairs. Just beyond the font sat the brother. He was in a gray sport coat, sitting on a bench. He was in tears just this side of sobbing. He was there for more than a minute - overcome with a sense of his family being sealed together.

Another time, a bishop from a distant ward (sometimes they travel 3 and a half hours to get here) was present with some Ward members. A mature gentleman accompanied this Bishop into the font. He explained that Brother Pickerel was a new member and this was his first time doing baptisms. Brother Pickerel entered the water and the Bishop raised his arm to the square. An obvious pause ensued and it became clear that the Bishop was unable to speak. As happens, he was overcome with the spirit - or in other words, the reality of the truth of what was taking place. He was standing in the water with someone that was showing their faith - making progress toward something better.

Another sister had brought the name of a close, beloved family member and those in the font were performing the baptism. As the words began, her eyes welled with tears as she imagined I'm sure, the future with this loved one.

Many times as the Baptistry Recorder, I have a front row seat to these touching moments in time. The experiences are so sweet to me. There are no trumpets or cheers. Just almost silent moments of the spirit touching these lives deeply.

There is a beautiful stained glass window at one end of the baptistry by Tom Holdman. Here is a link to the story:

https://www.holdmanstudios.com/blog/2020/3/24/nauvoo-temple-stained-glass-by-tom-holdman-the-baptism-part-1-of-2