We ended up going back to the Provo temple last night, hoping to finish out the remaining 83 family names. I don't know the specific details (Katrina took care of the bull-fighting :-)), but somehow she managed to get permission for us to do them all, despite the fact that we were told AGAIN that we could only do five names each.
Kailee, Rachel and Johannah were baptized for the 17 female names, and Mark, Mike and Ethan took care of the 66 male names. The girls went first, and then each man did TWENTY TWO names each. That's a lot of dunking! First, Ethan baptized Mark 22 times, then Mike baptized Ethan 22 times, then right there in the font, Mike and Ethan switched places and Ethan baptized Mike 22 times. The temple then asked Mike to stay and baptize some other kids, but the rest of us headed off to the confirmation rooms.
Again, the girls went first, standing in for Matchetts, Kennedys and Ayearsts. Then, Mike and family needed to leave for Mutual back in Alpine, but Mark, Ethan and I stayed. Ethan then proceeded to confirm Mark all 66 times for every man. Like Mark said, it was a confirmation marathon for Ethan!
Two beautiful things that happened during the experience. While Mark, Ethan and Mike were performing all those baptisms for our family, I pictured in my mind all 66 of those men, standing behind the font and watching the proceedings. I was overwhelmed with the thought of the power that those men would have and the force they would be as newly baptized members of the church. What a humbling thought, too, to think of the three men that enable them to be members of the church.
Second, when Ethan and Mark had finished the 66 confirmations, the officiator took the stacks of both female and male names in his hand and said, "What a beautiful thing to think that the gates of spirit prison have been thrown wide open for the Kennedy family tonight."
Indeed, and all because some beautiful teenagers were willing to give up a few hours of their lives in service to those who came before them.
What a beautiful experience! Thanks from the Kennedy family to Mommy and Ethan for doing this work and to all the participants in that great temple session.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking maybe they let us do all the names because I was threatening to just get in line again after the men did 5 names each until all the names were done. Glad it all worked out so well! What a blessing to be able to be at the temple together for the culmination of all of your hard work.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katrina, for believing/having faith/never giving up!
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