Damen's Talk on the Holy Ghost

Here's the talk Damen gave at Seth's Baptism. He had some help from his Dad but a lot was his own thoughts.

Seth and Rachel you have just been baptized. You are clean. You have, in a way, been born again. when you were born as new babies you took upon you the last name of your Dads. Rachel you took the name of Pittard. Seth you took the name of James. Your parents made sure you had food to eat, clothes to wear and a house to live in. And most important made sure you felt safe, and loved.

By being baptized you now join a new family, you take upon yourselves the name of Christ. I can tell you he is one amazing parent. In the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross he took responsibility for all the mistakes and bad things you will do. He made a way for you to come to this earth to learn from the good and bad things that we do every day. He made it possible so that we can go back to heaven again. He has given us lots of gifts hasn't he?

In a few minutes your Dad's are going to lay their hands on your head and through the Priesthood, confirm you members of His Family. And they will say unto you receive the Holy Ghost. You will then be able to use on of the greatest Gifts that He gives us in this life.

Seth do you remember when we hiked up to the Y on the mountain. You went through a narrow gate at the start of the trail. Baptism is sometimes called a gate. When you went through that gate were you at the Y? No, you still had a long way to go. The Holy Ghost is your hiking partner. He helps you stay on the right trail. He tells you "you can make it." He warns you of danger. And when yo need water he gives it to you. Jesus is sometimes called the living water. When you think you can't make it, he can even push you up the trail. The Holy Ghost's job is to help us to the top of the trail or to bring you back to the presence of Jesus.

There was a time when I was reading a scripture in Matthew about Jesus being baptized and when he came up out of the water. The Holy Ghost came and gave me a warm feeling and helped me to know that it really happened to Jesus and that I had made the right choice by being baptized. I am proud that you guys made the same choice to be baptized. I hope you feel the spirit when you are given the Holy Ghost.

I know God loves me and I know He loves you. I hope that I can, and that Seth and Rachel can, and that everybody in this room can truly learn how to receive the Holy Ghost.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Seth's Baptism

Seth was baptized on Saturday. He was so excited. He's had to wait extra long since we were in Oregon when he was originally supposed to be baptized. But he was patient with us and did his best to be extra good and learn all he needed to in the month and a half prior to being baptized. Grandma and Grandpa Bailey came up and stayed with us and the night before and gave him a nice shirt and tie. He was so excited and so was I (I was going to go early the next morning and buy one). He looked so sharp and all gown up! On Saturday he was up early and wanting to get dressed in his clothes. He bugged me from about 9:00 on (he wasn't baptized until 2:30), but all I could do was just smile and say not yet.

He went into the office to talk to Steve about everything and they ended up having a really neat experience where they actually knelt down and prayed together. Both came away having felt the spirit and ready to go participate in the ordinance. Steve wrote a poem about it the next day.

Father and Son, Kneeling as one
On Seth's Baptism Day
Their hearts turning, Their souls yearning
Seeking forgiveness and love.

Father and Son, Looking down as one
On Seth's Baptism Day
Their hearts turning, Their souls yearning
Waiting to give forgiveness and love

Father's and Son's, United as one
On Seth's Baptism Day
All hearts turning, All souls burning
Basking in Forgiveness and Love

When all were ready and the cookies put out, but covered we walked out back to take a few pictures of this beautiful, momentous day.

Seth was baptized and confirmed by Steve. It was a special day, one that we shared with another little girl in the ward. Also one that Seth has had a crush on for the past 2 years, but that made it only a little funner watching those two. Because there were two we only got to plan half the baptism. I said a prayer, all the kids sang "I know my father Lives" and then Damen gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. He did such a good job. So many people have commented on his talk. I will post it tomorrow just so we can remember it.

We all came back to the house after and had tons and tons of treats. I didn't take pictures of any of that cause I was too busy talking to people. But we are grateful for all those who came and supported Seth. He truly is such a great kid, who tries so hard to do what is right.

It was kind of funny. When he went in for his baptismal interview, the bishop asked him why he wanted to be baptized. Seth said so he could go back and live with Heavenly Father again. Then the bishop said well what is it you are promising when you get baptized and Seth just said, "I'm promising that I will go back and live with him someday" How can you get more simple and straight forward than that. Granted that wasn't the answer that the bishop wanted so he proceeded to tell him that we are promising to keep the commandments, take his name upon us etc, etc, etc. When Steve told me this I really just had to laugh. Did he not listen to what Seth said, because if he had all those things are summed up with I'm promising that I will go back and live with him someday."

That night I was explaining to Seth that we now expected him to fast and how many meals that entails, but then realized that Grandma and Grandpa would need dinner before they headed north to Ogden so I had planned to have dinner before church. So I told Seth that this time he would only have to fast for breakfast because then we would eat. He said "NO mom, I can do all of it. I will fast 24/7." Well saith, you don't have to fast for 24/7 only 24 but he sure was willing and even told me that he would start fasting again after lunch until the next breakfast to make sure he got 2 meals in. Oh he so badly wants to do what is right and I love that about him. Seth we are so proud of you and your choice to be baptized and even more proud that we can call you our SON.