I was talking with Ethan the other day when he started figuring out how old he’ll be for the next few presidential elections. It occurred to me that presidential elections correspond with several life milestones for him. He was born just a couple of weeks before Bill Clinton got a second term. If things continue as expected, election 2008 will see him ordained a deacon, in 2012 he’ll be getting his driver’s license, and then he’ll be around “hump-day” on his mission in 2016. That seems forever away, but oh how time flies. This election it was time to get baptized.
Ethan had been a little hesitant at times about being baptized, but as we resolved his concerns over time (no, there’s not a prayer said while you’re under the water), he was excited. We got to the stake center early to get fitted for baptismal clothes, and after changing and getting some logistical instructions from a member of the bishopric, I realized I didn’t know where Ethan was. Brother Haskell, seeing me looking around, said, “He’s, um, under the table in the back there.” So maybe we’ve got to work on the reverence a bit more.
Before the service
November 6, 2004
When the time for the actual ordinance came, Ethan’s only complaint was that it was too short. As we left the font, his first words were, “Can we do that again?” I think he was actually hoping that I would mess up in some way so we’d have to do it again.
One thing that struck me was how warm the water was. My experiences baptizing in Brazil were a little different. Let’s just say that hot running water is an underdeveloped technology down there, and immersion was an exhilarating experience.
It was great to have lots of family and friends come to the baptism to congratulate and support Ethan. We had many of them over for lunch afterwards. I let Ethan take the camera around to take pictures of those who were there. The results made me realize how tall everyone seems to an eight-year-old.
Ethan’s baptism lunch photos
November 6, 2004
Here is Ethan’s journal entry for the day (shared with his permission):
today was my babtisome
the watre was warm but not could it was warm. nothin thing feels difrint csens
it is a Satrday at frst I did not want to go but afre I wantied to do it agen
Well I still get to do babtisom for the dead. I can not thingck of anne thing elts to say