Dédé's Baptism

Last week we had a very sweet experience.  We went to the Institute for an opening of the semester meeting.  As we entered, the darling Sister missionaries asked us if we would bear our testimony of the temple.  We thought they meant during the institute meeting, but they meant for us to speak to a young man at the door.  After the meeting we saw them in the foyer speaking to a lady named Dédé.  We assumed that she was the one they wanted us to talk to.  During the discussion she started to back off because she said she had already been baptised once as a catholic many years earlier. She didnt' see the need to be baptized again.  We joined in the discussion and explained baptism by immersion and it being a prerequisite to entering the temple where families can be sealed together for eternity.  We then started talking about children and grandchildren and how our family is the most precious thing to us in the world and how the church is organized for the glorification of the family. She warmed up and could relate since she is a grandmother and her family is very important to her.  She liked the idea of being able to have a new oportunity to show her committment to Jesus Christ and to become a candidate for all the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for her and her family.  Elder Geddes told her that her questions were great and encouraged her to keep asking questions and seeking the truth.

Three days later we got word from the sister missionaries that Dédé had decided to get baptized! We got to go to her baptism and experience the light in her eyes and the joy in her face.  The spirit was strong, and we loved having been a part of her new beginning. The sister missionaries told us later that it was not at all what they had planned, but that it was, miraculously enough, exactly what the Lord wanted and what Dédé needed.   We will always cherish this day and the sacredness of the ordinance we were honored to take part in. We only knew Dédé for a few days, but the love we felt for her was amazing.   We love this gospel and know it is the Lord's plan for bringing about the greatest possible happiness  for his children.