The most exciting baptism I remember took place June 13, 1993 when 9 people were baptized. It was a night that involved several missionaries in the Scarborough area. I remember the experience vividly.....Before long it was time to have everyone get baptized. One by one we all lined up and walked down to the baptismal font room in the McCowan chapel. First Brother Suitor baptized a few. Then Elder Campbell baptized James Leon. After that, the Bishop suddenly became inspired that James should receive the priesthood and baptize his wife. So, to our amazement, the baptism stopped while we confirmed James and then gave him the priesthood, which was a really special experience. Following that, James got back in the water and baptized his wife, Debbie. Brother Suitor told him word by word how to say it. James was a little nervous of course, but he did an awesome job!

Next I baptized Vitali, the father of our Russian couple, then Elder Campbell baptized his wife, Olga. I believe that Brother Suitor baptized Rose, our cool Nigerian lady. While the remaining baptisms were taking place, I went into the washroom with James and talked to him. He was so excited, and so was I. We both really felt the Spirit as he spoke of his baptism. He said that he was glad to now have the authority to baptize his friends and family. I'm so glad it was a good experience for him. It's one that he'll definitely never forget. --Elder Draughon--

I was in my first area, Kitchener (I served before the split), and we were teaching a girl who would turn out to be my first baptism in the field. Her name was Sara Obed. During the discussions we found out she was orphaned because her brother had killed her parents and himself. She felt very unhappy about life, she was only about 16. She always wore black and never smiled except when we talked about baptism. When we found about her parents these things it made sense. On the day of her baptism I noticed she was wearing black and white. This intrigued me but I didn't say anything to anyone. The next week at church she was wearing white and pink. I asked the girl who referred her, Cindy Yang, about this and she said that all her friends had noticed how happy she was all of a sudden. Clothing can be a trivial thing but to this girl it was an expression of how she felt inside and it was nice to see how the Gospel "colored" her life. --Elder Robb Aleman