Little Jameson Nash turned 8 and that is the age for baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We believe all little children under 8 are automatically saved. Age 8 is when we believe children can begin to be accountable for the choices they make.
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| Jameson and his dad |
I was told that there would be a lunch served after the baptism prior to the day and volunteered to make cookies.
On the way to church I got to wondering where the actual baptism would take place. We believe that baptism must be done by immersion - the person must go completely under the water - as was Jesus, symbolizing death and the grave and rising out new. Our church is held at a house that is rented and obviously a bathtub was not going to work.
The answer was a small pool in the side yard of the house.
I volunteered to help prepare the food - hawaiin haystacks. This seems to be a popular dish in the mormon culture - not as popular as jello though : ). Haha.
As we were cutting veggies, the men filling the pool came in and said there was no hot water. The baptism was going to be outside and while it wasn't freezing outside it definitely was not warm -probably about 55 degrees. We immediately got every pot we could find in the kitchen and began boiling water. We wanted Jameson's baptism to be memorable, but not because he froze to death. As the pots of water slowly boiled we would pour them into a water cooler to haul out to the pool. I have to say I loved the spirit of making things work whatever the circumstance. They told Jameson it would be very cold, but he said he wanted to be baptized so to proceed.
Before the actual baptism there are some talks and songs. One thing that was neat was that they set up technology such that Jameson's extended family in the USA could participate and see the ceremony. Very cool.
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| Four different feeds from the USA watching - Jameson's grandfather spoke to the group |
It was a neat day for all and a reminder that what's most important is following Christ's example.
