Just about every baptism I've had so far on the mission has had some last-minute stress case. The baptismal clothes are missing, the font's drain plug doesn't work, the water heater is broken, etc. However this Saturday threw us a problem every missionary hopes they never see...when the investigator doesn't show up!
19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness if manifest. (D&C 84:19-20)
Darlene Hallman's baptism was scheduled for Saturday at 2:00. The baptismal font here in Woodstock takes about three hours to fill to the right depth at a good, warm temperature, so we were there at 11:00 to set everything up and print out the programs. 1:30 rolls around and the early attendees begin to stream in. Apparently there was a massive car accident on the freeway on the way down the valley to Woodstock, making the traffic atrocious for anyone southward bound.
Sign #1.
The font is filled, the prelude music playing, the speakers ready, everything is on way to a good solid baptismal experience. 1:50 and no Darlene.
Sign #2.
Perhaps the old couple that was going to pick her up are running late on the road. We call Darlene on her cell phone, she answers and tells us that she's still at home waiting for her ride to pick her up. We assure her the couple is on their way, hang up, and figure they'll be about 20 minutes late now. As soon as we hang up the phone, we look over to the glass door on our left and in come the completely unaware 80 year old couple who were supposed to pick her up.
Sign #3.
Driving fast from the church building to where Darlene lives is normally about a 20 minute drive one-way. Throw in the bumper to bumper traffic and a now two-way drive...we were looking at an hour+ before the program began. Our Bishop and another Brother immediately got in his car to go pick her up, Elder Gorman began a baptismal interview for another investigator from Luray ward, and I was left to carry on an hour pre-service for twenty old timers and a couple families with rambunctious toddlers. Keep in mind that Darlene is 72, has many health problems, and is legally blind, so she wouldn't have anyone else baptize her other than me, so this whole time I'm in a bright white jump suit with no shoes on.
We sang a few songs, shared some testimonies of baptism, had a little white jump suit sermon from yours truly, the Relief Society President pulled through with pre-service refreshments, and finally Darlene arrives. The actual service commences and the baptismal ordinance begins.
Now, I knew that Darlene's eye sight is horrible and she can't drive, but that's with glasses on. I hadn't given any thought to what she would be like without any glasses on at all. Turns out all she can see without glasses are blurs of color and mix-matched dots of focus that fly in and out of view. Take away her cane and there she is, totally scared and uncertain where to step down, where she'll be led, who will help her; the whole bit.
The incredible part about this all was how fluid and successful the situation became. There have been times where I have spoken according to the Holy Spirit and I had no idea what was being said. There have been times when I've given priesthood blessings that the promised blessings streamed out of my lips without any effort of my own in power. But this was the first time where the Holy Ghost literally moved through my body and my words to comfort and direct Darlene step by step into the water. I didn't have to think of a single action, of what to say to comfort her, nothing. I led her to the middle of the font, offered the baptismal prayer, and fully immersed her into the waters of baptism. As she came up she had a wide-spread smile of relief and happiness that reassured me of how much of a saint she already was before making the covenant, and how she will be lifted in the days to come.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness if manifest. (D&C 84:19-20)
xoxo
Elder Burgess
Unfortunately the computer won't load the baptismal pictures of Darlene, so here's a picture Bishop Wright took as I was helping Darlene use a giant magnifying computer to read the Book of Mormon:
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