A BAPTISM

In Preach My Gospel, a guide to missionary service, it states that our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  So, Elder Watts and I were excited yesterday to participate in the baptism of our friend Jim.  We met Jim several weeks ago when he attended Church and sat by Elder Watts.  He was seeking for a place to worship so we invited him to stay for other meetings and he did.

The next day we went to visit him with the sister missionaries who serve in our ward, Sister VanDenberghe, and Sister Valele.  Jim expressed a desire to learn more, so the two Sisters taught him, with our support, when we were able to have time away from the Sites. 

Last week we were also able to take Jim on tour of three of the sites where we serve.  We started at the Book of Mormon Historic Publication Site.

From there we went to the Smith Family Farm and the Sacred Grove.

After a picnic lunch, which we ate indoors because it was cold, we spent some time at the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center.  It was a wonderful day!

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It has been a blessing watching Jim grow in knowledge and testimony.  Yesterday was a real highlight for us when he was baptized.  Elder Watts baptized Jim and both Sisters spoke at the service.  Many members (about 40) of his new ward family and Jim's friends and family members attended to show support.

Baptism is an essential ordinance of salvation.  Christ set the example for us by being baptized.  We are excited to see our new friend, Jim, begin the process of being born again and becoming a spiritual son of Christ.