Last month my oldest son, Timote, turned 8. Eight is such a special age for us because it is a time in life when you choose for yourself to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Normally I only write about church related things in my personal blog, but I feel impressed to share this special experience from our family. Before I had kids I remember thinking about baptism and how it occurred at the age of 8. I thought 8 was way too young for a child to make a personal decision about religion. I wondered why 8? Why not wait until your older and wiser and have a better grasp on decision making? Why 8? When Mote turned 7 I told my husband that I didn't want Mote to get baptized unless he understood the meaning of it. I didn't want him to get baptized just because you're "supposed to" when you're 8. This summer, as his birthday drew nearer, we talked more and more about the gospel and I could tell he was so excited to get baptized . We scheduled an interview with our bishop and I didn't really know what to expect. When we got to the church I waited out in the hall as Mote went in to the office. I sat outside for longer than I had anticipated. When the door finally opened, the Bishop invited me in to sit next to Mote. He recapped on what he and Mote discussed. They talked about the actual baptism and how it would be conducted. I listened to the Bishop talk and glanced at Mote from time to time. He was so handsome sitting there. I couldn't believe how much he had grown. I sat there and smiled. Together, Mote and the Bishop reviewed with me the covenants Mote would enter. The Bishop explained that Heavenly Father promises that if Mote keeps the commandments and is obedient that he can return to Heavenly Father and live with Him in heaven. When I heard this my eyes filled with tears. I immediately thought of Lauren. I thought of her in heaven, waiting for us to make it back to her. I leaned over and hugged Mote and whispered in his ear "Mote, did you hear that? We'll get to go to heaven and see Rennie." He smiled at me and nodded his head. What a beautiful promise. The realization that I too made this promise at 8 filled my heart with joy. The Bishop said he asked Mote personally if he wanted to be baptized and Mote said yes. I walked out of that office and said a silent prayer of gratitude, thanking Heavenly Father for such a wonderful son who is an example to me, for his character that has helped strengthen my testimony, and for the beautiful covenants that we have and the opportunity to live in heaven with our Father and our family.
Mote got baptized on July 2, 2011. He was baptized by his grandpa Kina (Ti Tonga's Dad) and confirmed by his Grandpa Ti (my Dad). It was so special to see these ordinances take place by these men that mean so much to Mote. It was neat to reflect back on my baptism day as well. I thought a lot about it during Mote's. As I watched Mote and listened to the words that were said that day, I remembered the details of my baptism day and silently renewed those covenants in my heart with my Heavenly Father.
I'm so proud of Mote and the righteous decision he made. I have a testimony that this gospel is inspired and run by a divine Father who knows all. I now know how special the 8th year is. I believe it is a time when we are old enough to understand the ordinances of baptism, and still pure enough at heart to make a worthy decision. It is a special age when Heavenly Father thinks that his children are ready to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I thank my son for teaching me this.
Today in church our speakers talked about the influence of music. Ti Tonga had talked to me after the Priesthood session this past conference about my music choice and letting that type of material in our home. I decided that yes I need to choose a better selection of music to listen to. It's definitely not something that I should be playing in the car while the kids are in there. I've always known that music is my weakness. I usually do pretty good in other areas of my religion, but I admit that I have never been able to give up my music. I thought that as long as I purchased the edited versions that I was dodging sin. I have been in denial and it took Ti Tonga to remind me that edited or not, the music I was listening to was not uplifting. Our speakers today did not send anybody on a guilt trip. They didn't focus on degrading music, but instead highlighted how the right kind of music can allow the Spirit to testify to us. They spoke on how music most often times can invite the Spirit to bear witness to us more so than any other avenue. I sat in the back thinking "yeah I guess they're right." Then all the sudden we did something that I've never seen happen in sacrament. The other ward members didn't seemed surprised at all. I guess they've all experienced this before, but this was the first time me and Ti Tonga have been included in something like this. It was sort of like a musical testimony meeting. The bishopric turned the time over to the congregation to share their favorite hymns followed by a verse that we would all sing of that particular selection. One by one ward members approached the pulpit with their green hymn books in hand, telling of special experiences they've had with these sacred hymns and how their testimonies have been strengthened as a result of them. Some of their stories were funny, but all of them wonderfully uplifting. One sister told of a time when she was in high school and her mother was undergoing surgery. They were not sure if she had cancer and it was a very scary time for them. The day the surgery was to take place, she attended her early morning seminary and the opening hymn they sang that day was "I Need Thee Every Hour" It gave her courage and hope and she still looks to that hymn today in times of need. Another brethren shared his favorite, "Israel, Israel, God is Calling", and immediately I thought of our Tongan ward back in Kearns. This is one of my favorite hymns to hear in Tongan. I started to get teary eyed as we sang the lyrics. The memory of our old ward members came to mind and it was comforting to know that no matter where I was, no matter what language was being spoken, the same Spirit was there. As the next sister got up and announced her favorite hymn and the piano started to play, I just lost it. Love at Home. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. We sing this song at every Fangupo family event. No matter where we gather, this song is always sung. We sing it in Tongan and even the family that are not members sing along too. I actually am lucky to have a tiny clip of us singing this song at Tea's birthday celebration. I know that when we sing praises and listen to enlightening music we give the Spirit the opportunity to touch our hearts. Of this I have a testimony.
