How Great Shall Be Your Joy: My 4 Year Baptism Anniversary

Four Year Baptism Anniversary at the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

When that scripture is usually quoted it’s typically in reference to helping bring others to Christ.  But today, I thought of it in a different context.  Because today was truly a joyous occasion for me.  Today, Friday, March 7th, 2014, marks the 4 year anniversary of the day I entered the waters of baptism and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  To this day I know with every fiber of my being that decision to get baptized was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself.  That day, March 7th, 2010, I brought my own soul unto Christ, and I have never been more joyful!

My Baptism – March 7th 2010
With the Elders before entering the waters of baptism.

It began with a quest like many good stories do.  My quest was to find a close connection with Heavenly Father.  My problem was I wasn’t really sure He existed.  But I wanted to believe so badly.  My quest, which originated in the Reform Jewish Synagogue of my youth, took me to lots of different places and to many congregations.  Never feeling complete or satisfied.  Always searching for something more.  I was interested in college in how my Christian friend cultivated a close and personal relationship with Christ and would occasionally attend her college group prayer meetings at her church to see if I could glean how they went about it and apply it to my own quest.  I told them straight up that Christ wasn’t for me.  I remember that kind Youth Pastor prayed with me that I would find my own truth in my own time.  Whatever it was.  I appreciated that a lot.

All Dressed Up For My Four Year Baptism Anniversary

Years later I was going to a Universalist Unitarian Church, but I still hadn’t found what I was seeking.  At the same time, I needed to hire a caregiver.  I had been in a wheelchair for over a year due to multiple autoimmune diseases causing extreme pain that made it impossible to walk.   The new caregiver I hired was Mormon.  We would talk about religion all the time.  Sharing about our different background.  Her being raised in the Church.  Me being raised Jewish, Bat Mitzvah’d, Confirmed and having taught Temple Religious School, but still searching.  I admired how close she was to God.  How personal it was for her.  How it was such a source of strength, peace and hope in times of stress and darkness.  I wanted that for myself on some level but I didn’t believe.  And I couldn’t just suddenly believe in something I didn’t believe in just because I wanted to.

However, she convinced me to start praying on a regular basis.  I’d never said a personal prayer before.  I didn’t even know how to go about it until she explained it to me.  It felt super awkward at first but slowly more comfortable.

The House of the Lord – The Los Angeles Temple

It wasn’t until I decided to try an experiment that things started to shift for me.  I decided to try adding “In the name of Jesus Christ” to the end of all my prayers, just as an experiment to see if it felt any different.  I was amazing to realize there was in fact a subtle but significant difference.  It brought a sense of calm and peace, love and comfort into my heart.

I remember telling my caregiver, “I wonder what kind of miracle it would take to get me from not believing in Christ as the Redeemer of the World to accepting Him as the Savior of all Mankind.  What would it take to change my whole belief system?”

So when my caregiver asked me yet again to attend Church with her and to get a blessing for healing I finally agreed.

My caregiver and I change into all white for my baptism so that she can help me into the baptismal waters. This is not a usual baptism!

I loved Church.  I remember feeling such a sense of peace and warmth come over me the entire time.  Then it was time for the blessing of healing.  From the moment the two missionaries giving the blessing put their hands on head, I felt Heavenly Father’s love for me so intensely I thought I might pass out.  The way I experienced His love for me was so all encompassing and so complete, it was just sooo awe inspiring to know that I am that loved and that known by God.  And that He is real.  And that He lives.

In that instant I knew that I wouldn’t have had this experience if I wee not the in the right place to have it.  I knew it was a signal from God to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I started taking the missionary discussions and was baptized 6 weeks later.  And I walked into the baptismal font (with the help of my caregiver) having started walking the same week of the blessing.  My baptism was held during the 3rd hour of Church, so my whole Young Single Adult Ward attended it.  My Dad and his girl friend were also able to attend.  My baptism was so special.  I’ll never forget those tender and elated feelings I had coming out of the waters of baptism, feeling more pure than I’d ever felt before.  I will treasure those memories always.

Good Friends at the Los Angeles Temple

The last four years, haven’t been the easiest, but they’ve been richer and more joyful with the gospel in my life.  Through the hard times and all the hospitalizations especially, it’s given me so much strength to endure.  In the happy times, it gives me so much more context in which to enjoy each moment.  The gospel truly is the greatest gift in my life.  I’ve learned so much, gained so much, my life has been so blessed in every way!

I’ve received my my Patriarchal Blessing, a piece a personal scripture and revelation that is individual to each person who receives it, given by men ordained of God to give such blessings.  I’ve held multiple callings (or volunteer positions) in my Ward at Church.  And I’ve gone to the Temple, the House of the Lord.

To celebrate, today I went to the Los Angeles Temple with a dear friend and spent some quality time there.  There was no place I felt that would be more appropriate to send commemorating my baptism, than in the House of the Lord where I can reflect, seek peace, calm, protection, and revelation from on high.

I am so grateful for this gospel and this Church.  I’m grateful for my baptism.  I am so thankful for the chance we all have to repent of our sins, enter the waters of baptism, be cleansed, and start fresh.  I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  And I’m grateful for my Heavenly Father and the chance I have to return to Him through this work.

Read about my Three Year Baptism Anniversary.

Read about my One Year Baptism Anniversary.