Ezra's baptism

Dear Family,

I can't believe it has snowed in Vancouver but not Grand Island. I'm sure we'll get some soon, but so far it is just cold.

Our nine year old buddy, Ezra, was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! I wish you could have seen the huge grin on his face after each of these ordinances were performed. He is just the cutest kid. He has such a sincere desire to follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He wants to do what is right because he knows they love him. One of my favorite quotes from him is that "Heavenly Father created everything! Everything we want, need, and love." He says that all the time and I just adore his high-pitched little voice. He is also being a really good example to his family, who are finally starting to come back to church. His mom cried at his baptism and his dad even said the opening prayer. His twin brothers are only two and very rambunctious but they also behaved very well at the baptism. It was a great event.

We are still teaching the Kori family and struggling to help Brother Kori understand the need to be baptized again. On Saturday, he had to go to a meeting but told us to teach his family and then come back on Sunday to see him also. We watched the Restoration DVD and invited them to be baptized. The kids and their mother said they would like to be baptized but needed to talk with Brother Kori about it. When we came back on Sunday they hadn't discussed it yet so we brought it up. Still, Brother Kori doesn't understand the need for authority in performing a baptism. We explained with analogies and discussed Acts 19 where a whole group of people are re-baptized, but mostly we testified that the priesthood was restored through Joseph Smith. Finally, he said he would watch the Restoration DVD and pray to ask if the priesthood was restored through Joseph Smith. He also said he will think about being baptized again. We hope that Thomson, a member that works with him, can help him understand.

William, the guy who recognized us last week, came to church again. Also, we had a lesson about repentance and he said he wants to set a day, after the holidays, to be baptized! We were so excited! He has been researching about the church for years and he finally wants to take this step and become a member of it. He has even started cutting back on smoking. The fun part is that we didn't really do anything. He already knows all the principles of the gospel so anything that we teach is just a friendly reminder of what he already knows is true. In our lessons, we mostly just listen to him talk things out and bear his testimony. He came to the decision to be baptized all on his own. Heavenly Father really does prepare people, sometimes over the course of many years, to receive the gospel.

So, things are going wonderfully well in Grand Island. I'm hoping that the wards here have a Turkey Bowl. I love that Thanksgiving tradition and had a blast last year! Sister Warner doesn't want to play but said she doesn't mind watching. Then we have a couple meal appointments with members and an appointment with the Kori family. It should be a great day!

Well, thanks for being so supportive! I love each of you very much!
Love,
Sister Bailey Mortensen