Sweet Home Ellabama : Week 70: Washed Clean

We all make mistakes in life, and boy can those get us down! After years of living all those little things we regret build up and weigh us down. The fact that we can be forgiven and those awful feelings of guilt, shame and embarrassment can be relieved is one of my favorite things about the gospel!!

And how do these mistakes go away?? Baptism!!!! Because of Jesus Christs beautiful sacrifice, we can each become clean. When we are immersed in the water our sins are washed away. We can start anew. We can learn from the past and move forward with a determination to be better.

As missionaries we get to help people do this!! And on Saturday a 19 yo boy we've been working with got baptized!!!! He is from Montgomery Alabama studying biology at UA. He grew up Catholic but not practicing. Because of sad examples around him in the ghetto of Montgomery, he personally decided to live a morally good life. So when we met him a few weeks ago he was ready for truth. He had the desire to learn and follow God.

However, his family wasn't too happy about it. His mom called him Saturday asking what he had done the previous night and he said he was out with friends (he went to a trampoline place with our congregation). She inquired if it was the "mormons" and he said yes. She continued, "are you a mormon??" and stone said "not quite..." knowing he was going to be in a few hours. hahah. His mom tried to tell him that was a bad idea. After the call he began to pray, asking for help and direction. He is always shivering because of coldness, but as he began to pray he was literally filled with a warmth and enveloping feeling of love and peace. He knew he needed to precede with the baptism despite opposition from friends and family.

From this experience I learned that truth from God impresses your soul so deeply that nothing can stop you from following it. Even though Satan put Stone to the test when his mom called, which she NEVER does, he was able to stand up for himself. I am so grateful God gave us the ability to make our own choices and that we have religious freedom in America! We are soooo blessed and I love everyone and everything!!!! The church is so true! I know it and love it!!!!

Sister Ella Rae Madsen