Baptisms and the Atonement

 Hello friends!

This week was a very special week. I felt the spirit in so many ways and I learned so much.

The thing that made this week special was the baptism of Marjorie. 

Marjorie was supposed to be baptized last week, but because of a family emergency, it was postponed until this week. Last, when she told us she could not make it, she cried. She wanted to be baptized so bad week and there was no way that it could happen the day it had originally been planned. 

When we were able to visit her after her emergency, we proposed a new date! We first invited her to be baptized on Saturday, but she had a commitment on Saturday, so of course—we moved it to Friday!

Well, Friday started smoothly. Marjorie was early, the font was filled, members were there, and the baptizer was there. I thought it was going to be the smoothest baptism of my mission!

However, as Marjorie was baptized, she was so tense and nervous that the baptizer had difficulties getting her completely immersed. After 3 “attempted” baptisms, I started to feel nervous too. After 5, I was panicking a bit. When we were at 9 times, it took everything in me to not tell the baptizer or Marjorie what to do. 

Sister Liper looked at me and suggested that we take a minute to pray. We found a quiet place in the church, and we pled with God to help Marjorie be able to be baptized, and to help us find a way for her to be completely immersed.

As we prayed, I felt a sense of peace. I knew that she would be baptized, and it would all work out. When we entered the room again, they were practicing different techniques to help her with her baptism. These new techniques, along with a few directions from us, did the trick. And finally, on the lucky number thirteen, Marjorie was completely immersed in the water. She came up glowing.

It was the most beautiful thing to listen to the members cheer her on. To watch the baptizer be willing to demonstrate, and patiently walk Sister Marjorie through the process. And to finally see her experience the joy of baptism.

One of the members said to Sister Marjorie after her baptism that they would have waited with her and helped her even if it had taken 100 times. I am so grateful for their kindness.

As my companion and I talked about the baptism and the experience that we had, we reflected on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Marjorie had a desire to come unto Christ. However, each time she tried, something went wrong. We too, are trying to come closer to Christ. And sometimes we need to repent once, twice, or even thirteen times from the same thing. We think we are ready to move on from our mistakes, but then we mess up again. God is the patient baptizer who walks with us every step of the way. He will never give up on us.

It is easy to get discouraged if we mess up. When I was a kid, I struggled with getting frustrated with my little brother. I would promise myself that I would not fight or get frustrated, but then I would get annoyed at hm again and feel like a failure! But God doesn’t want us to feel that way.

Elder Kearon said, “If you are prone to worry that you will never measure up, or that the loving reach of Christ’s infinite Atonement mercifully covers everyone else but not you, then you misunderstand. Infinite means infinite. Infinite covers you and those you love.”

After Sister Marjorie’s baptism, she was a little embarrassed about how many tries it had taken, but we reassured her that it was ok. The important thing is that she had been baptized. Sometimes when we make mistakes, we feel embarrassed, shy, or frustrated. But God wants us to keep trying. He wants us to repent and continue to strive to be better. The Atonement is truly infinite.

I learned so much from Sister Marjorie. I love the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that even when I make mistakes, I can improve and try again.

I testify that God loves each and every one of us. Even when we are not as patient as we should be, even when we make mistakes, even when we fall short of expectations that we place on ourselves, He still loves us. His patience is perfect, He understands our desires and our efforts. I am so grateful for my loving Heavenly Father and His Perfect Son, Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, Sister Marjorie bore her testimony at church. She testified that she knew the church was true. It was so pure and filled with faith. I add my testimony to hers. This is the true and living church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. 

I hope you all had a wonderful time watching General Conference, I cannot wait to watch it next week!

I love you all! Have a great week.
The Church is True, God loves you!
Be happy, Be brave, Be smart,

Love,
Sister Miller