Sunday, February 1, 2015

We had the opportunity to attend a baptism tonight.  Creswell is a Ward about the same distance south of our Stake House as Veneta is west and we have become close to the Sister Missionaries working there.  They are in our district and so we've spent a bit of time with them.  Tonight Ryan Knight, who they have been teaching was baptized. One of the interesting things about Ryan is that he is seven feet tall. 

One of the other interesting things about him is that he was searching for the truth and found the Church on his own.  He became very interested in the Church and went to Salt Lake a year ago to find out more.  A few weeks back he contacted some old high school friends (I would guess that he is probably mid-thirties) that all live in the same area still who are members of the Church.  He told them that he was ready to know more and wondered about becoming a member.  They arranged for the Sisters to teach him in their home and it was one of those fairy-tale stories of missionary work.  He was ready, he asked for membership, he knew active, strong members and had the lessons in their home and the whole ward has adopted him.  The Bishop of the Ward performed the baptism.  The Spirit was so strong there.

Two of the elders who work out of the Institute at University of Oregon had a girl there to experience a baptismal service.  Some members had dropped her off since Elders cannot give a ride to a single girl.  They asked us if we could drive her back to the Institute after where they were having a dinner.  We did and got to visit with her on the way there.  They simply approached her as she was walking out of one of her classes and talked with her about the Church and asked if she would like to know more.  She said that she would and met with them the next day.  She has been totally immersed with friends, lessons and activities with the Church since.  She went up to the Temple in Portland with about 50 of them yesterday and just spent her time in the visitors center and atrium of the Temple.  She really felt the Spirit at the baptism tonight.  It is such a joy to feel a part of this work as people's lives chance as they understand the atonement of our Savior and become part of His church.