Sister Guo's Baptism

March 27, 2011

TODAY WAS AWESOME! BEST BAPTISM EVER!!! Sister Guo was finally baptized today. Oh man, it was such a solid baptismal service. The spirit was as strong as ever. Brother Ying performed the baptism and confirmed her a member of the church. I felt the spirit so strongly as I laid my hands on her hand to help confirm her a member of the Lord's church. She wanted brother Ying to baptize her because she said she wants the member who is closest to her age to bring her into the church. As much as she respects us, she thinks we are too young for something like this. She’s a funny woman. We had brother Kyle Evans conduct, 2 beautiful musical numbers (one from the Kunz family and the other from some relief society sisters), Mark Kam and Shu-chih spoke, President Byers and Sister Wong welcomed her to the branch. Sister Guo shared a very strong testimony about how she made her decision to be baptized. She has been preparing for this day for a long time. She thanked Elder Kim and I over and over again. Sister Guo said in her testimony that Elder Kim and I are basically her children. She kept saying she is so grateful for us missionaries never giving up on her and always helping her develop faith. She spoke how in the beginning, we missionaries used to be so annoying to her, always trying to convince her to join our church. However, as time went on she came to realize the spirit we brought with us each time we met with her. She came to love and respect us. We took some great pics with her and had some tasty refreshments. A lot of people attended the baptism. President and sister Watrous were both there as other missionaries. All of our branch members plus other members from the stake attended as well. We had a full house. It’s such an amazing thing to see someone get baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. Baptism is an amazing act of faith. I love that brightness in people's faces after they wash away all of their sins and receive one of the greatest gifts God can ever give us, the Holy Ghost. You can just see a complete change in people after they follow through with these sacred ordinances. Sister Guo was glowing today. She and her family were on cloud 9. Today is the beginning of their eternal family. In just one year that family can be sealed together forever. The temple is an amazing place. The temple is what got Sister Guo baptized. She told a story about how she made the decision to join the church. 4 weeks ago Sister Guo's daughter and son-in-law (she lives with them) were preparing to go to the temple for the first time together. That night she read the entire temple pamphlet (she finished reading it before her own daughter did) and told her daughter and son-in-law she wants to go there, too. Jessica and Mark (daughter and her husband) let her know she can only go there after she is baptized and becomes a worthy member. When sister Guo realized the only way to go to the temple is through becoming a member, then her decision to be baptized was easy. She said only this church can promise eternal families. Sister Guo made me promise her I will never forget her. She reminded me how I have to be there with her for the first time she goes the temple (one year from now). I told her I will never forget my promise and that I will be there no matter what. Nothing will prevent me from missing that day. I can’t wait for that, to see her dressed in all white, receiving her endowment. It took many months but as President Byers puts it, "payday has arrived." The work is going well here.