Glo's Baptism Day

Words can't even begin to describe the beautiful day of Gloria's baptism, but let me try. Our family, including my non-member grandparents from New Mexico, and another family of close friends, drove about 3 1/2 hours northeast to the border of Pennsylvania and New York State to Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. It was in this spot that Joseph brought his new wife, Emma, to settle down on 13 acres of land, adjacent to the Susquehanna River, to escape the distractions and persecutions that were preventing him from translating the golden plates. After meeting Oliver Cowdery who became full-time scribe to Joseph, they were translating 3 Nephi which spoke of baptism. Knowing that baptism was an integral part to the plan of salvation, Joseph prayed to know the proper way of baptizing. In response to his prayer, John the Baptist appeared to him and Oliver and bestowed on them the Aaronic Priesthood. After this important event, Joseph and Oliver were baptized next to the part of land that Joseph and Emma owned.
This is where we went for Gloria. After eating lunch with family and some "host" missionaries at the memorial site of the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood, we walked down to the river. What a beautiful, peaceful place. The colors of the leaves on the trees, the gently flowing water, the sun shining down on the water. We opened with prayer and song, Brother Done, our institute director, told us the history and significance of the site while bearing testimony of the gospel. Ethan gave a talk on baptism. Then, in one of the most beautiful moments ever, John took Glo by the hand into the beautiful water. She wasn't worried, or cold, or fearful, or anything. The Spirit was so strong, and the feeling of peace was overwhelming. Just as they entered the water, all the clouds disappeared and the sun shone down. There was no denying, at that moment, that God was there. There was no denying that the gospel IS true.
Although we know that it doesn't matter where anyone is baptized, there really was something so beautiful in knowing the the prophet of God and John the Baptist had been there at one time, and here was sweet, little Gloria, following in the prophet's footsteps. If you all could have seen her face as she came up out of the water, and throughout the rest of the day. It was obvious that her little testimony had begun--that she had felt the Spirit so clearly, and that certainly, she will be able to think back on that experience with joy for the rest of her life.
We ended the day by attending a five-acre corn maze, and dinner at Wendy's. Although Glo may forget the mundane details through the years, I know that she will NEVER forget the feeling of that day.