Sons of Thunder

Cool guys:  Kyle, 16, performed 8-year-old James' baptism on March 3, 2012.
(Kyle wants me to tell you he thinks he looks goofy, lest you think he always looks like this!)

This is the story of James' baptism this month, but really it's the story of Kyle's baptism eight years ago, the anticipation of Samuel's baptism less than four years from now, and the hopes and dreams of many more spiritual stories for our family to come. 

James was born Feb. 9, 2004, nine days after Kyle's baptism. We believe the age of 8 marks the age of accountability, when one can choose to be baptized into Christ's church. Kyle made such a decision and was baptized by his father on Jan. 31, 2004. (I searched and searched for photos of that day but couldn't find any. I'm so sad!) The service was beautiful, the spirit was strong. I remember telling someone soon afterward what a "pay day" it was as a parent. 

It was on that baptism day that I first dreamed of another, years away. I realized that the baby I was carrying (we wanted a surprise at delivery so didn't yet know it was a boy), would turn 8 right after Kyle turned 16. Age 16 marks another milestone in our church, when a young man can be ordained in the Aaronic Priesthood to the office of a priest with the authority to baptize. Wouldn't it be wonderful, I mused, if Kyle could baptize that sibling?

Kyle, 8, meets his new brother, James. Feb. 10, 2004.

I pledged to help Kyle learn and grow in the gospel. What I wanted more than anything, though, was for  him to have a good relationship with this new sibling.

So the brother came, which is what Kyle wanted most. Over the years they've shared rooms and camping trips, and thrown more baseballs than punches. (I hope!) A third brother came, who looks up to James and Kyle equally.

We taught James about Kyle's office in the priesthood, but we left the decision entirely up to him whether to have Kyle perform the baptism. I am so, so grateful that James gave Kyle this opportunity. Kyle has had some struggles, and we really wanted this experience for him. James' easy-going nature often comes across as "eh, whatever," but I think there are depths of maturity and understanding in that kid, and I truly felt he knew the spiritual import to both him and Kyle. 

All of our family took part in the service: Jeff spoke about baptism, Emma gave a talk on the Holy Ghost, Elise played "I Am a Child of God" on violin. Even Samuel was memorable, joining me at the piano and noisily pulling the front panel of the instrument off! Oops.

Many of the teenagers in our ward attended in an awesome show of support for Kyle. We also appreciate all our family who came.

He had been nervous, but Kyle performed the baptism with poise. I was so happy.

Jeff performed the confirmation and blessed James that he would be able to strongly feel and act on the promptings of the Holy Ghost all his life.

 Brothers James and Kyle with their father Jeff. 

A bishopric member, Br. Conrad, was last on the program. Based on many other baptisms I've attended, I expected him to welcome James as the newest member of the ward, to have him look at all who attended, to encourage him to record his feelings about the day, etc.

Instead Br. Conrad spoke about the apostles James and his brother John, whom Christ gave the surname Boanerges, or "the sons of thunder." Br. Conrad encouraged our James to forge strong ties with his brothers. I sat there on the front row with my three boys: James, looking down at the program he was folding; Kyle, staring at the wall ahead; Samuel, fidgeting on my lap, and hoped they knew how much this message mirrored their mother's desires.

The next day I turned to the scriptures to learn more about these sons of thunder. The Bible Dictionary relates that Christ gave James and John this name "probably on account of the intensity of their character." In Luke 9 Christ corrected James and John when they proposed dealing with people harshly. Yet James and John, along with Peter, were in Christ's inner circle chosen to be with Him at raising of the daughter of Jairus, the Transfiguration, and Gethsemane. (Source: Bible Dictionary).

As a mother, this is what I take from this scripture story: Although Christ had need to correct James and John, he valued them immensely and saw their potential. Surely he channeled their energy for good. That is precisely what I need to do with my own sons, whom I love dearly.

Sons of thunder.

My parents flank James, Samuel and me. I'm surprised I didn't start a fire with my glasses! I wish we had pictures of everyone who came, but they fled into the parking lot. It's like herding kittens, I tell you.

Right after James' baptism Samuel started talking about how Kyle will baptize him, too. I almost hate to disappoint the little guy. But ... well, Kyle will be 19 by then and, we urgently hope, serving a mission and teaching other people about baptism and coming unto Christ. We feel the charge to help prepare him.

This baptism story goes on.