One very hot day in Las Vegas, my companion and I had tracked a whole community and we were feeling down and out that every door had slammed quickly in our faces. We came to one of the last doors, and right away Dawn received us. She continued to tell us that she had met wit the missionaries years previous and it had been a great experience. But then she ended by telling us that her husband would not allow her to be baptized. She continued by telling us that she did believe everything the sisters had taught her, but it was no avail to try to teach her again.
We started teaching her anyway. She accepted everything we taught her. She was very argumentive and at each appointment gave us questions that she needed answers for. We came back with solid truthful answers and she felt at peace. Satan did many a number on her while we were not with her. We did everything we could. We invited members to fellowships, invited her to church, baptisms, and continued to teach her. Finally when we felt she was ready we soft-set her for baptism. Before we could even say the word baptism...she stopped us before her husband would hear and understand. So in a spark of desperation, or maybe it was inspiration, I asked her if she would come to "Disneyland." Disneyland became the keyword for baptism. I didn't realize the importance of this keyword until later.
The day to enter Disneyland was getting closer and closer and we were no closer to getting her husband's approval. One of the great aspects of the gospel that I love is that they support families. Families should be in agreeance on such important issues. So we had to do something. We were praying, fasting, and receiving constant guidance from our leaders on how to proceed. Go forward with faith, our message that led the path.
Because her husband was Muslim we had to get special permission from the first presidency for her to get baptized. It seemed the last week before her baptism, obstacles kept arising and we still were waiting for his answer. By now he had figured out our little code word. It was told to him soon after because we are not about deceiving others and their spouses. He told us we were okay to teach his wife but baptism was out of the question.
Two days before Dawn's baptism she asked him once more if she could get baptized. He said no again. She bought him a plane ticket to Turkey and sent him away. I don't know how she got him to go, but she was sure if she could get him to go, she could get baptized while he was gone. She called us and left a message on our answer machine, telling us she was good to go. We called her back and said even when you ship your husband off to Turkey, you still need their permission to get baptized.
The day before her baptism, we continued with our plans for the baptism. We had the person turning on the water, we had our district leaders on call, and we planned her ceremony as if it were happening. We talked as if it were still happening. In our minds, it was happening. That night, Dawn and her husband were talking online. Here is a part of their conversation that followed:
Journal entry-Find paper
Dawn was baptized the next day. I have never seen a happier convert. Nothing went wrong that day. My companion and I made her a sign that said, Welcome to Disneyland. I'd like to share a little anology that I had prepared that day for her baptism talk.
Entering the gates of Disneyland is not enough. In fact it is just the beginning. Why would someone pay the price, walk in, take a glance, and then leave. No one would do that! That's how the gospel is.
2 Nephi 31:17 says, "Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and abaptism by water; and then cometh a bremission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost."
Enduring to the end
-General Conference- Revamp and prepare for the storm
-2 Nephi 31: 19-21: Baptism is not the end...it's the beginning. After entering the gate....
Some events after she was baptized....what did she sign up for? Mosiah 18: 8-10
I want to share some of the first few moments Dawn and her family had in Disneyland.
Few Moments in Disneyland (Punch card)
-Given a quad (ticket)
-Father and Irem baptized
-Patriarchal Blessing
-First calling: Bulletin board coordinator
-Sealed in the temple
-Husband received priesthood D and C 43:7: Receive from those who have been appointed.
When you make that covenant with the Lord, you want to get everything you can from that experience. Everything in the gospel is like a ride at a Disneyland. You have Seminary, the row boats that put you to sleep, Primary, all of the kiddy rides, YW/YM, well that could only being playing those rigged games we spend so much money on, and then there are rides that are memorable, life-lasting, and spiritual in nature: Confirmation of the Holy Ghost, receiving your patriarchal blessing, Receiving your endowments getting sealed, and watching your own children go on rides. Then there are the moments when you take turns running the rides, and that is an experience all in itself. Callings, serving in the temple, and missionary work are all amazing parts of a ride that you get to participate it.
Greatest fear of all missionaries is to have recent converts drop off the face of the earth. We work so hard to teach them the gospel and after they are baptized, if the ward congregates around them, inviting them, teaching them, they will last. But if they are not taken care of, nurtured by the good word of the gospel, and loved, they will eventually wither and die. Their testimonies are so weak and young. It is our job as members of the church to help them into the fold. Giving them a responsibility or a calling may seem like a bold move, but it is just what they need to keep coming.
Too often converts hit that rough patch in their life, and instead of desperately clinging to the gospel, they cling to the world. One of my favorite LDS speakers is Troy Dunn. He has a talk tape called Roller Coaster of Life where he talks about the ups and downs that we will certainly have. These are just a few highlights from that talk.
-The higher you go, the faster you fall
-Life has ups and downs
-We know it was going to have ups and downs. Stop feeling upset when we have a down. Every up and down links somewhere -You'll look back at your life and realize the blessings. Bloom where you stand. Do what you can with what you have. Understand the pattern.
Testimony, faith, and endurance gets you through the ride.
Other resources:
Man Sandwich- Getting everything out of the gospel
Living the gospel wholly is hard thing for members to do, especially newly baptized members. They have, for the most part made covenants that they have just begun to learn about or may not even be aware of.
It reminds me of when I was dating Fred and I went to visit him in Texas. he was doing the Apx alarm deal for the summer. One of the first afternoons i was there i wanted to make his lunch so he could sleep a little longer and have one less thing to worry about. So i put some meat on the bread with a thin layer of Mayo and mustard and wrapped it all up. that night when he got home from installing he sat me aside and said...,we need to talk about something. Oh boy i thought. Here it comes. i'm about tp get the boot. he cleared his throat and said,"i know that you were trying to be helpful this morning by packing my lunch and i do appreciate it, but i like man sandwiches.". Wow, not what i was expecting at all. He then proceeded to tell me that he liked his sandwiches to have a generous amount of meat, a thick layer of mayo and mustard, luttuce, tomatoes, and cheese spilling out on all sides. Who'd he think i was....subway?
There are so many opportunities in the gospel for all ages
Primary
-activity days
-cubscouts
-achieving duty to god award
Youth
-camps and conferences, dances, firesides
-seminary
-eagle scout/yw recognition
Relief Society
-adult activities
-opportunities to serve
-super saturdays, womens conference
Elders quorum/high priests
-missionary opportunities
-taking family through the temple
-activities
The activities and spiritual uplifts are there to strengthen those who are holding fast to the rod of iron.
Series of spiritual events in my life
-baby blessing
-baptized and confirmed
-faith in action award
-merry misses/activity girls
-yw/camp/conference, firesides, youth commitees, dances, youth conference
-seminary
-yw recognition
-patriarchal blessing
-seminary graduation
-church school
-institute/religion classes
-receiving endownment
-mission
-temple marriage
-serving in presidencies, other callings throughout life at different times
-baby blessing
Waking up and realizing i had missed out on them...the awakening in Vegas and feeling a loss for the progress i could have made.
2 Nephi 9:41: No other way save it be by the gate
2 Nephi 31:9: Keeper of the Gate is the Lord
2 Nephi 31: 5-13
Mosiah 18: 8-10: Baptismal Covenant
3 Nephi 14:14: Few there be that find that
D and C 22: Joseph Smith revelation for the need of re-baptism to those who have not been baptized with the correct authority.
D and C 131: 1-4 New and Everlasting Covenant
D and C 137: Chapter of Joseph Smith seeing Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom
Introduce Dawn
-Meeting her (Last house on the street)
-Teaching her (Setting baptismal date was an act of faith)
-Served her, brought her to church, introduced them to members
-Disneyland was code for baptism (2 Nep 31:17) Definition of gate
-Sending husband to Turkey
-Day before (Email conversations where he gave permission)
-Made Disneyland poster
-Baptismal outfit was so long
-Happy all day
Thoughts by Troy Dunn
-The higher you go, the faster you fall
-Life has ups and downs
-We know it was going to have ups and downs. Stop feeling upset when we have a down. Every up and down links somewhere -You'll look back at your life and realize the blessings. Bloom where you stand. Do what you can with what you have. Understand the pattern.
Testimony, faith, and endurance gets you through the ride.
Greatest fear of all missionaries is to have recent converts drop off the face of the earth
Few Moments in Disneyland (Punch card)
-Given a quad (ticket)
-Father and Irem baptized
-Patriarchal Blessing
-First calling: Bulletin board coordinator
-Sealed in the temple
-Husband received priesthood D and C 43:7: Receive from those who have been appointed.
Resources:
-Missionary Journals
-Email Conversation
-Roller Coaster of Life
Thoughts by Troy Dunn
-The higher you go, the faster you fall
-Life has ups and downs
-We know it was going to have ups and downs. Stop feeling upset when we have a down. Every up and down links somewhere -You'll look back at your life and realize the blessings. Bloom where you stand. Do what you can with what you have. Understand the pattern.
Testimony, faith, and endurance gets you through the ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment