I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on June 17, 1978. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day and I was happier than I’d ever been in a long time. When I arrived at the Glendale Stake Center that evening, I was surprised at how many people were there to attend my baptism … there must have been at least 20–30 people, many who I hadn’t even met yet!
I was taken to the locker room where I changed into a white one-piece garment that was kind of like a jumpsuit. One of the missionaries, a young man, Elder Gedrick, would be performing the baptism. If I had known then that I could choose who I wanted to baptize me, I would have asked Ron to do it, but someone had suggested this missionary so not knowing I had a choice, I agreed.
But the most important thing was the fact that I was indeed getting baptized into the Lord’s church. As I walked into the baptismal font and stood in front of Elder Gedrick, that same feeling of such overwhelming peace and love swept over my entire being. He performed the ordinance and at 6:30 pm I went down into the water just as Jesus did when he was baptized by John. When I came up out of the water I felt like I was in heaven! That’s the best I can do because words just cannot describe the incredible feelings I felt at that moment! To know that all of my past sins were forgiven and to be able to start life brand new and clean again … it was like having a second chance!
Afterwards, I changed back into the dress I arrived in and went back into the room where everyone was waiting. The service continued as Ron and the sister missionaries each gave a little talk or speech and congratulated me and offered some little nuggets of wisdom. After the meeting concluded with a hymn and a prayer, everyone gathered around to congratulate the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Then on Sunday, I received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, just like Christ’s apostles had performed this ordinance for those who were baptized into his church back then. I have never felt so wonderfully clean and pure in my life as I did at that time!
It’s amazing at the phenomenal change that took place in my life after that point in time. I would never have guessed then, what a life-changing experience it would be! I instantly changed overnight, from being a foul mouthed, people-hating pessimist, to someone who never said a swear word again and who now saw people in a different light. It was like I was viewing the world through a new set of eyes! Now, every time I’d see someone, I’d think, “He’s my brother” or “She’s my sister.” And it became a lot easier to forgive people for the things they did. Everything and everyone was beautiful! I became more outgoing and friendly and was excited to meet and talk with everyone I met. I was so happy I could just burst with joy!
I remember when I told my friend/adopted brother, Blake (a co-worker from Taco Bell) that I had joined this church, he said, “Oh, Dee, you don’t want to join THAT church!” I laughed and asked, “Why not?” “Because,” he replied, “you can’t smoke or drink or party or have any kind of fun! And I think you can’t even drink coke or coffee or anything like that!” I laughed and said, “But Blake, that’s how it SHOULD be! And I don’t do those things anyway!” He sounded a bit disappointed when he answered, “Oh yeah, I forgot. So I guess this means you won’t be going partying at the nightclubs with me anymore. Where will I get someone else who doesn’t drink to drive me home?” I had occasionally gone to some of the nightclubs with Blake, mainly to drive him home afterwards, but I never participated in anything because of what had happened to my friends in San Diego.
I tried to talk Blake into leaving all that behind and come join with me, but he wasn’t ready to do that then, nor would he be in all the years I have known him. He just couldn’t give up his good times and his partying lifestyle. We still saw each other though, since he lived close by. We visited and still kept in touch for years by phone, as well as through letters until we finally lost contact with one another. I do hope that he is still alive and well today, as several of my old friends from the past have already gone from this life.
About a week after I was baptized I was down in San Diego talking about the church and how wonderful it was. My mom noticed the big change in me and couldn’t believe it. I invited my sisters to come up and take the missionary lessons as well, but Keri wasn’t interested and Shari was going to a Baptist church at the time with her best friend and didn’t want to leave her friend going by herself. However, when she came up to Glendale to spend a week with me, she came to church and also took the missionary lessons from Sister Sperry and Sister Bailey. A few weeks later she was baptized too. “I guess now I can’t be a nun,” she said, which was something she had always wanted to be despite the fact that nuns were Catholic. But, we would both later go on missions ourselves—she to France, and I ended up going to Japan. For now, though, my sister attended church in the Spring Valley Ninth Ward while I was in the Glendale Fourth Ward.
Each night I thanked my Father in Heaven for answering my prayers and for guiding me to His church. How grateful I am that I had heeded that voice several years ago and instead of pulling the trigger, I returned that gun back to it’s hiding place. My life was about to change for the better in so many different ways that I would have indeed regretted it had I followed through with the plan I had back then!