In the Baptistery

Three short instances in the baptistery this week. 
     We had a dark skinned family of four come into the baptistery to do some family work.  The father asked if we had the bapt ordinance card in Portuguese?  We obtained one from the Temple Recorders Office.  The family had six names to do the baptism ordinance for.   He baptised his wife and performed the ordinance in Portuguese, then proceeded to do the other five names in English.  Then we let him perform font-side confirmations.  We allow this when there is only a few names and the confirmation rooms are busy with others.  So the dad comes out of the water, and confirms the first female name in Portuguese, then proceeds to finish the others in English.  After he was finished I asked him why he did only one in Portuguese.  He said it was his grandmother and she didn't speak English.  I thought it was a nice sentiment for thinking of her.  He said he was sure she was watching and listening to this ordinance.

Next was a small family that came into the baptistery last night.  One boy was totally deaf.  The father said he was given permission to speak one sentence at a time, then 'sign' the same sentence for the young son.  He proceeded to do this for the baptism and the confirmation.  This also was a tender moment for all watching.  I very much appreciate that there is always a way to satisfy all the needs of those who want to do the Lord's work.  There is always a way.

The third incident is one of me passing judgement.  While I was sitting in the recorders chair at the font, I noticed a man coming down the stairs to the foyer waiting area.  I can see the stairs from where I was sitting in this chair, which if I, [or anyone is not careful], can allow one to become distracted.  The man that came down the stairs very obviously was not dressed to be in the temple.  With him were two women who were not dressed the way we would like to see either, and they appeared to be a little messy.  The man was tattooed heavily on both arms, neck, and part of his top chest as this was easy to spot or notice - he was wearing a black 'wife beater' tee-shirt.  I think we all know the type of shirt I am speaking of.  Anyway, there he was dressed like this, looking very confused and out of place.  I actually did wonder how he got into the temple, past the recommend desk.  Well it turns out they were new converts, recent converts from Davenport Iowa, who were at the temple for the first time on a limited use recommend.  They didn't know what to expect.  They had brought one of the women's mothers name to be baptized.  So - if there is any fault in their appearance, it might be that the Bishop didn't prepare them or maybe he did and they chose not to accept.  When one of the sisters working in the clothing offered him the white jump suit for the baptism, he took it and smiled.  When he was coming out of the dressing room, Patty said, 'well how does it fit?'    To which he replied,  "Well, at least it isn't orange!"  Okay then.  When he was baptized and was coming out of the font, he asked where the names are from that he was baptized for.  I told him to look, and I showed him N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Texas, England and Ireland".  To which he replied to me, "I hate the Irish!".   But in spite of it all, isn't it grand that the gospel can touch the lives of any who will listen.  As they were dressed and leaving, Patty said,  'how long have you been members?'  One of the women replied something like three months.  Patty said it will change your lives.  The one sister said, 'It already has, this is my daughter and she wants to come back every month".    So, once again I learn, or try to learn, don't judge a book by its cover.