Kanyon was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday, February 21, 2015. His baptism began at 11am. We'd been working for a few weeks on arranging the program, and organizing the meal afterwards. We thought we had everything all lined out, but the morning of his baptism, things didn't go according to plan.
It was yucky weather and snowing that morning, and my parents and sister Trina, who were planning on coming, called and said they couldn't make it due to weather. My sister Trina was going to sing a song with me, my mom was going to say a prayer, and my dad was going to be a witness, so I worked on filling in all the program gaps that morning. The Bishop was supposed to drop off the church keys to Josh that morning so that we could go in and turn on the font (which takes a few hours to fill), and set up chairs. He forgot, and ended up turning on the font himself but we didn't know it. Josh got a hold of another member of the bishopric and spent about an hour in town tracking him down, unlocking the church, checking on the font, and going to the grocery store to get the items that my mom was going to be bringing, but no longer could. Josh and I had both planned on working on food details that morning so the meal would be ready immediately following the baptism, and we were both running behind with the changes that occurred, and were both stressed that it wouldn't all work out. But amazingly enough, it did! And it all exceeded our expectations and hopes. It was an absolutely wonderful baptism!
Barb, the primary president, had come to visit Kanyon earlier in the week and brought him a baptism towel and a new tie tack as baptism gifts. Kanyon was so excited to use both on his special day! The towel was even embroidered with his name in it!
Josh practiced with Kanyon that morning so he'd know what to expect when they were in the baptismal font. They both looked so handsome and happy before the baptism began!
This was the program outline: Myron Baldwin conducted, Camille Williams played the piano, and Aunt Janet was the chorister. The opening song was "I can't wait until I'm 8", and Tiffany Entrikin gave the opening prayer. Malachi gave the talk on baptism, and did an awesome job! He gave Kanyon a Kit-KAT bar, and talked about the covenants we make at baptism that include "Keeping the commandments, Always remember him, and Take his name upon you" (each of those things starts with a letter that makes the acronym KAT). Then Kanyon, Amanda, and I sang the song "Baptism" as a special musical number. Kanyon was willing to take my sister Katrina's place in singing with me, and I surprised and delighted. He couldn't remember all the words to the song, so we worked on it a lot that morning in preparation, and Amanda agreed to sing with me last minute so there would be harmony in the song. I was so proud of Kanyon: he did an outstanding job!!
After the song, Josh baptized Kanyon, and Uncle Tim and Grandpa Edward were the witnesses. Here they are fresh out of the water, and Kanyon is clean inside and out!!
While we waited for Kanyon and Josh to put on dry clothes, everyone who came wrote their thoughts to Kanyon on cards that the primary presidency laminated and gave to Kanyon the next day at church (which he just loved reading!). Then Gideon gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, and talked about all the gifts and powers that the Holy Ghost brings. Following the talk, Josh confirmed Kanyon. Then Jan Phillips gave Kanyon some more gifts from the primary presidency: another tie tack, a multi-colored pen, a bookmark, and a journal. Myron gave closing comments, we sang the closing song "I am a Child of God" (per Kanyon's request) and Grandma Kathy gave the closing prayer.
It was such a nice baptism, and we felt the spirit so strongly! The talks and the special musical number helped bring the spirit to the meeting, and we were so glad to be supported by family and friends on Kanyon's special day! Everything had worked out, and Josh and I no longer felt stressed: rather we felt so much love and support!
Kanyon wore his new tie tack at his baptism that the primary gave him, too:
And since that day, he has proudly worn this same tie with ALL 3 tie tacks on it that he got at the baptism: the scriptures one from the primary presidency, a soccer ball one that was given to him by the Hobbs family, and a Shield of Faith one that the primary presidency gave him after he was baptized!
After the baptism, we headed home and made sure everything was ready for the family meal. We had a baked potato bar, drinks, and desserts. The meal was delicious and filling, and the company was pleasant and relaxing!
Kanyon was so happy that his cousins Joel and Isaac came to the baptism, because he got to play with them the night before and that morning. Unfortunately, they couldn't stay very long after the meal. After we ate, Kanyon opened up his Baptism gifts from Josh and I. We gave him a new set of quad scriptures, a new canvas scripture bag, and a baptism activity book.
Kanyon has been a different boy since he got baptized, and we are so grateful and blessed for the choices he has made and for the young man he is becoming!
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