Baby Has Come! 4 Jun 2014

Katie did call back, at 4:30 a.m. London time, to show us baby Ruby!  We are so excited she is here safe and her mother is doing well.  We spoke with Katie and saw Ruby again, around 6 p.m. London time.  She is a beautiful baby!  Babies are a blessing!

Eliza Thorson, born 3 Jun 2014, Yuma, AZ, 6 lbs 15 oz.  (Katie texted that Ruby did not stick and her name is Eliza after seeing Eliza Isaelle Fox Brown on the family pedigree chart.

We had another Single Adult group in for baptisms in the temple today.  They did not have as many names as yesterday, but we did stay busy.  The Christensen's shadowed us as we worked to remember all they taught us yesterday.  They hope we can run it on our own on Friday!

I had some thoughts today while working in the baptistry, our duties there, and this ordinance.  I thought of these saints taking time off from work, school, or what ever else they are involved in to come to the temple and do baptisms for their ancestors.  They get it - they understand the importance of family and being linked together for eternity.  They are willing to make the sacrifice to provide  ordinances for their ancestors to be able to progress in their path back to Heavenly Father.

The Apostle Paul asks this question:  "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?  why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Cor 15:29)

Why do we baptize for the dead?  We know that all men will be resurrected due to the gift of the atonement made by Jesus Christ.  Many have died and will die without a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  While they await their judgement, they will have the opportunity to hear the gospel and accept it or reject it, it is their choice.  Upon acceptance, it will be necessary for them to be baptized and participate in all the temple ordinances here on earth in order to return to the Father.  This is done by proxy.  Someone is baptized in their place and it is as binding as if they had been alive and participated in the ordinance themselves.

Thus, temples dot the earth for this very purpose:  The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith:  "For a baptismal font there is not upon the earth. . .for this ordinance belongeth to my house. . ."  (D&C 124:29-30)

Atlanta Georgia Temple (Couldn't find a picture of the London baptistry)

Part of our duties is to make sure each ordinance is ticked off (checked off) on the card and then we take the cards to the recorder.  We tell him how many cards we have and he in turn records them on the computer.  We watch the numbers add up on the screen to verify the number he records is the number we have brought.  We then stay to watch him date stamp each card.

I thought of this scripture:   "When any of you are baptized for your dead, let there be a recorder, and let him be eye-witness of your baptisms; let him hear with his ears, that he may testify of a truth. . . That in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven; whatsoever you bind on earth, may be bound in heaven. . ." (D&C 127-6-7)

When baptisms are being performed, there are two witnesses at the font to verify of its validity as stated in this scripture.

Heavenly Father's plan is perfect.  When we follow it, there is no question as to what has happened and what is expected.

We made another attempt to get bus passes this afternoon.  We met up with Brother Davis and the van, and drove to Oxted.  It was a different direction from where we have been, so it was nice to see the landscape when trees and shrubs allowed the view to peek through.  We arrived at the library and the Cooper's and us went in.

We got to the desk and Dad was first.  Everything went smoothly and the clerk said he would be getting it in the mail.  I was next and the computer crashed!  She tried everything to get it back up but it just would not cooperate.  She was very sorry and said we would have to come another day.  Well, what could we do?  We all decided we would try again on Friday after our shift at the temple.

Can you see houses nestled in the trees?

We followed through with our plans to have a meal out and drove to the Carvery in Redhill.  It was amazing how many different vegetables they offered.  We got our plates and the chef cut our choice of meat or some of each.  There was pork, turkey, and beef.  We dished up our own vegetables and poured gravy in our yorkshire pudding and had a feast for £6.29.

Green beans, carrots, peas, cabbage, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, yorkshire pudding with gravy, turkey & cranberry sauce, and the ham is hiding under the turkey.

Bob & Barbara.  See the spot of sun?  That is about all we got today.