Since school got out the beginning of June, we have had a very busy summer. There have been non-stop visitors, as well as the barrage of birthdays that happen between the end of May and the beginning of July in our family. All birthdays are special, but this year was especially special for Izabel, because on June 10th, she turned 8! Now turning 8 may not seem like much to most people, but for an LDS child, it is an age that comes with a BIG decision, and a right of passage.
That BIG decision, of course, is whether or not to be baptized as a member of the LDS church, and begin taking responsibility for ones own actions.
About a year ago, we began discussing this upcoming decision with Izzy. We knew it was an important one, and we wanted her to make it because it was something she wanted, not us. At first, Izzy expressed great fear of being baptized, and her answer was an obvious NO! After many weeks of coaxing the reasons as to why she was so afraid, it finally came down to the fact that someone had said something about changing when you get baptized, and Izzy didn't want to become a different person, or have her heart changed.
So one night, while the missionaries were over for dinner, one of them addressed her fear, and began talking about the life cycle of the butterfly. Izzy was excited, because she knew all about the butterfly's life cycle from school.
When the missionary and Izzy finished discussing the butterfly's life cycle, he concluded by telling her that before we are baptized, we are just like a caterpillar, eating, growing, and learning. However, when we turn 8, we have the chance to decide if we have eaten, grown, and learned enough to go through our metamorphosis, and receive a gift from our Heavenly Father that while help us continue to grow and learn. The waters of baptism is our chrysalis, and the ordinance represents our metamorphosis. Like the butterfly when it is completely immersed by its cocoon, we must be completely immersed in the water. When a butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, it has been transformed, and given the beautiful gift of it's wings, and like the butterfly, when we emerge for the waters of baptism, we are then able to receive our wings as well, which is the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Those weren't the young missionaries words, exactly, but you get the idea)
Izzy seemed to be following his comparison with vigor interest, and when he was done, he asked her, "Is the caterpillar's change during metamorphosis a bad change?" "No." "So if baptism is the same as a butterfly's metamorphosis, do you think the change to you is going to be a bad one, or that on the inside, you will be a completely different person?" "No."
And that was that, despite some reservations she had about actually being "dunked" in the water, Izabel was baptized on July 2, 2011. Her dad and I were very proud of the BIG girl decision she made, and she is still extremely excited about it too.
These are pictures of Izabel in her baptism day dress, that Grandma Tonie bought for her. She looks so grown up, I could almost cry.
That BIG decision, of course, is whether or not to be baptized as a member of the LDS church, and begin taking responsibility for ones own actions.
About a year ago, we began discussing this upcoming decision with Izzy. We knew it was an important one, and we wanted her to make it because it was something she wanted, not us. At first, Izzy expressed great fear of being baptized, and her answer was an obvious NO! After many weeks of coaxing the reasons as to why she was so afraid, it finally came down to the fact that someone had said something about changing when you get baptized, and Izzy didn't want to become a different person, or have her heart changed.
So one night, while the missionaries were over for dinner, one of them addressed her fear, and began talking about the life cycle of the butterfly. Izzy was excited, because she knew all about the butterfly's life cycle from school.
When the missionary and Izzy finished discussing the butterfly's life cycle, he concluded by telling her that before we are baptized, we are just like a caterpillar, eating, growing, and learning. However, when we turn 8, we have the chance to decide if we have eaten, grown, and learned enough to go through our metamorphosis, and receive a gift from our Heavenly Father that while help us continue to grow and learn. The waters of baptism is our chrysalis, and the ordinance represents our metamorphosis. Like the butterfly when it is completely immersed by its cocoon, we must be completely immersed in the water. When a butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, it has been transformed, and given the beautiful gift of it's wings, and like the butterfly, when we emerge for the waters of baptism, we are then able to receive our wings as well, which is the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Those weren't the young missionaries words, exactly, but you get the idea)
Izzy seemed to be following his comparison with vigor interest, and when he was done, he asked her, "Is the caterpillar's change during metamorphosis a bad change?" "No." "So if baptism is the same as a butterfly's metamorphosis, do you think the change to you is going to be a bad one, or that on the inside, you will be a completely different person?" "No."
And that was that, despite some reservations she had about actually being "dunked" in the water, Izabel was baptized on July 2, 2011. Her dad and I were very proud of the BIG girl decision she made, and she is still extremely excited about it too.
These are pictures of Izabel in her baptism day dress, that Grandma Tonie bought for her. She looks so grown up, I could almost cry.
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