Mary Ruth's Baptism

Grandma had attended the Seventh Day Adventist church with her daughters for years. When she moved in with us, she continued to go with the Riegers to the Seventh Day Adventist church. We completely supported her in her desire to attend church with Nic and Craige and her family. I would even get up early on Saturday mornings to get her ready to attend church with them.

Sunday morning would come along, and we would get ready to go to our church. On a couple of occasions, I noticed her giving me a "longing look" that she gives me when she wants something. I inquired if she would like to attend church with us. She jumped at the opportunity. So, we began to bring her along to church with us as well. Her weekends attending church on both days, exhausted her...but she really looked forward to them and seemed to enjoy it.

After the first week of bringing her to church, and seeing "things" through a new person's eyes...I realized that there was a lot about our religion that could be quite confusing. Therefore, I thought it might be nice to have the Sister Missionaries come over and teach Grandma the basic principles of the church...this way she might understand what was being taught to her at church. Sister Hunt and Sister Zirker came over weekly teaching Grandma different principles. After a couple of months, Sister Zirker was transferred to Bowling Green and Sister Hunt joined Sister Hansen.

The teaching continued and the more Grandma learned. The more she seemed to accept what she was being taught. She didn't even seem to question it. She and I attempted to read from the scriptures daily. She continued to come to church with us. She continued to have the Sisters and eventually the Elders over to teach her. One week in early December, Sister Hansen and Sister Hunt were over to have supper with us and to teach Grandma regarding the principle of "Baptism". When the lesson finished, Sister Hunt looked at Grandma and asked "Would you like to be baptized?" Grandma looked at her and surprisingly said "Yes."

I was completely shocked! It hadn't ever been my intention to have Grandma be baptized as a member of our church. Not that I didn't want her too, but I didn't think first of all that she would want to and secondly, I didn't want any of her children to feel like we were "pushing" our religion on her. I told Jonathan what Grandma had said, and he was concerned that with all of her confusion "she might not understand what she was agreeing to."

We decided to just let it go and see what happened. A couple of weeks later when the sisters were over, Grandma asked "So, when am I going to be baptized?" I was astonished! I inquired "You really want to be baptized?" Grandma affirmed once again. We set a date for baptism and continued teaching her.

Grandma never wavered in her decision to be baptized. We asked her on numerous occasions if this was indeed something she wished to do and whether she understood the commitment she would be making, and each and every time she confirmed that "Yes, she wanted to be baptized."

Mary Ruth Knicely's Baptism

January 31st, 2009 at 10 am

located at the Eastgate Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

in Toledo Ohio.

Grandma ready to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Jonathan and Grandma together

We believe in baptism by immersion. Jonathan was concerned with being able to immerse Grandma safely with the herniation in his back. Therefore, we had Elder Ralphs in the water as well to assist in the baptism.

Before coming to church this morning, we presented Grandma with her own set of scriptures in large print for her to use. (The same gift we presented to each of our children when they were baptized.) She was tickled pink!

Elder Marshal Ralphs, Jonathan, Grandma and Elder Carlos Puerto

(There were several missionaries who participated in teaching Grandma. It started out with Sister Hansen and Sister Zurker, then there was Sister Hansen and Sister Hunt, then Elder Jones and Elder Ralphs, and then finally Elder Ralphs and Elder Puerto.

Grandma and Jonathan

After Grandma was immersed in the water, and she was pulled back up...she immediately said her famous line "Now what?" That seemed like an appropriate statement at the time. "Now what?" We follow the Savior and His teachings!

Maria and Jonathan with Grandma

(she was having a difficult time keeping her balance)

After Grandma was baptized she was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is the people who stood in her Confirmation circle...

(back) Elder Ralphs, Bishop Mike Benner, Jonathan Simons, and Jeffrey Lake

(front) Elder Puerto, Mary Ruth Knicely and Elder Fernandez

We followed the baptism with a light luncheon. There were many friends there who showed their support to Grandma on this blessed day! It was a great day for her and meant a great deal to her to have those of you there with her.