With the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not sure what was going to happen. It was not until a week or two before she was baptized that we even found out that we would be able to still do it. They decided we could do it as long as there were fewer than 10 total people there and no one in a high risk category. We let Lydia choose if she wanted to try and wait until more people could attend or be baptized on May 9th. Shantel and I really felt like the right thing to do is to be baptized now. Not because waiting would hurt anything, but as a symbol to God about the importance of the baptism ordinance, and not just the family events that might surround it, important as those are. We were proud that Lydia chose the same. A few days before the baptism Utah moved from Red to Orange and that allowed us to invite a few more people for which we were grateful. As an added blessing, that meant that we were able to invite everyone else to watch via Zoom. That meant Matt & Julie, Matt & Brooklyn and the Haderlies would all be able to watch even though they could not have attended in person because they live so far away.
Lydia was able to go get baptism pictures a few days before.
We were able to have Scott and Lori, Melissa, Wendy & Sam with Aubrey at the baptism. In addition, Lydia was able to invite Lilly Wardell, her best friend.
Here are a few pictures from the baptism:
This is from the week before. Lydia made a goal to read the entire Book of Mormon before her baptism, she worked on it all year, but had a long way to go two weeks before her baptism. Shantel and she read all the way from Alma to the end in two weeks to finish.
I love this picture because you can see Lydia leaning into my arm.
Trying to get the kids ready for a picture.
The baptism itself was so special. Shantel and Aubrey were both able to serve as the Witnesses. I wanted to make sure that we did the ordinance correctly so that it could be a good experience for Lydia. My overwhelming feeling was this, "this is for Lydia, not for you." The baptism and opportunity to feel God's love was for Lydia, just as I felt that during my baptism. I felt that during the baptism, that Heavenly Father was aware of Lydia and giving her the experience that she needs.
Lydia wrote the following about her baptism:
"I liked to be baptized. It felt good. I liked to get the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I liked the party afterward, but most of all I loved to be baptized. The water was warm. I liked the warm water. My Daddy baptized me. It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo special."
I know that the step Lydia took today is important for her to return to live with Heavenly Father. I know that having the Gift of the Holy Ghost will be an incredible blessing to her in her life. It will guide and direct her.
After we had a small party at our house. Lydia requested 8 shaped cookies and lots of fruit.
Lydia with a papaya that Shantel bought so she would have some special fruit after.
I asked Lydia to add anything she wanted to this blog post and she added this:
MY BAPTISM
WHEN I WAS BAPTIZED IT FELT GREAT. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I LOVED IT A LOT. I TOOK BAPTISM PICTURES.
We are grateful for the blessing of the gospel in our lives. Congratulations Lydia on taking this step in your life. I have watched your testimony grow and as you have shared your testimony over the last few months, I have seen that you are ready to take this step and I know that as you keep the commandments, you will be blessed by Heaven.
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