Baptismal Program

In about 2 months our only daughter will turn 8 and have the opportunity to be baptized.  This is a big day for her and she is getting very excited for the whole process.

It is amazing to see how much more now she questions things and is wanting to learn and understand how things work.

She had a great question the other night when we had the full time missionaries over for dinner.  She asked: "Why do ladies not have the priesthood?".  Boy that is not your typical question, and is rather deep on some levels.  This was a first for the missionaries so my wife specified that females have a different calling to be mothers and such.  That solved the problem and gave her the answer she needed.  We could have gone into scripture and the like but, it would not have helped all that much more.

Now we have been planning the baptismal ceremony.  We confirmed with the bishop of the local unit the basic parts.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints there are 2 parts to a baptismal ceremony.  The first is the actual baptism performed by a Aaronic priesthood holder of the office of Priest or by a holder of the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood.  The second portion is the confirmation as a member of the church and the receiving of the Holy Ghost.   If it is a convert baptism that part is now taken care of in the next Sacramental meeting on a Sunday.  In my daughter's case it is handled the same day shortly after the baptismal ordinance has been handled since she is a child of record and not yet 9 years old.
Along with the ordinances you usually have someone give a short talk on the importance of the ordinances.  This helps the people present to understand the significance of what is occurring.  They maybe combined or separate as we will do.

So the only major thing we are trying to resolve is what to do while the people that were involved in the baptism are changing their cloths.  We originally though about having a slide show involving pictures from the life of our daughter. Then we came to the conclusion this would be a bit pushy and not very appropriate.  Then we turned to things we have seen at other baptismal services.  There have been missionary invites, bearing of testimonies, singing of music and short video presentations.   We are opting for a short video presentation as this makes sure there is not an awkward time of silence where people are wondering what is going to happen.  This also helps if we take a bit long in changing our cloths.   There have been short missionary invites that leave a strange amount of dead time when done if the people are not back yet.  We also witnessed a pianist and chorister that were not prepared with the needed additional music and it became again awkward.


So we have been thinking hard of a video presentation that would be appropriate while at the same time not too long.  It needs to be around 10-15 minutes time so some films like "Prodigal Son" would not work.  "Together Forever" is great and has several shorter pieces but, again it is hard to cut it off in the middle of something.  So we have turned towards the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We are thinking that a video presentation of them singing along with some inspiring vistas or scenes would be the best.  Now we just have to come up with one that fits the best.  We want to avoid one of the many wonderful Christmas DVDs that will not fit very well with a June baptism.

Likely it will be their "Historic Nauvoo" or "Songs of America" presentations.  But, who can beat their music right?  It will just be a great uplift to the service.  And in reality they are so famous that several current artists have recorded with them for their Christmas albums - Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli

Want to find out what it takes to make an album with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?  Check out here a great article!



       

     

     

       





I'm going to include links to the two songs we will be using as the opening and closing. Also we are lucky to the a very excellent singer in our unit that happens to be a birthday buddy with my daughter who will sing "I'm trying to be like Jesus". I'm including a like to that as well.

When I Am Baptized - #103 
I Feel My Savior's Love - #74 
I'm Trying to Be like Jesus - #78 

If you'd like to be able to review some of the other wonderful songs in the Children's Songbook and even download digital copies you can do so here 

If you'd like to know a little bit more on why we do not baptize our children until they have reached at least 8 years of age - check out these verses in Moroni 8.
If you'd like to get the straight scoop on what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really believe you can request to have a missionary visit you - Missionaries Request for Visit


Buaidh - NO - Bas

NOT so Musical Tour of New York with Josh Groban

Well my wife thought the idea a bit out there and lame.   I would not say it is so but, it sure can use a change.

Forcing a musician to perform predefined songs in a public place for someone that is paying (with donations going to a special charity) is just well plain a pain.
Think about it.  It would be wonderful to have Josh just break out and sing Starry Starry Night  on the step in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  However, how do  you control the crowd that would form would be another thing.  For a noted musician like Josh would not cause an instant stir though the  Grobanites would sure twit the things to death once they found out what was going on.
Then it would become a mad dash to get to places ahead of the crowd.... at least the charity would still get donation and you' d better hope you already had lunch or dinner before being found out.

In reality it would be more interesting to actually go to the site and hang with the person then just have them perform in front of the venue. Another logistical nightmare.  Imagine the number of autographs that would be asked for.  So when would you ever get his opinion on say a piece of art, or what the Statue of Liberty means to them?

It still would be cool to have the meet up be some type of mystery serenade at say Central Park near a predetermined location.    You'd also have to have the late night serenade to end things.
Being sung Lullaby as you get in the elevator at the hotel to go your room well..... it would make  my daughter she'd simply swoon.

So do you stick to the singing at each location and causing a frenzy or make it more like a celebrity date for Charity?

Now a good twist would be to get the Horse and Carriage ride around Central Park after lunch at the plaza and then a chance to have a personal and private concert or time for a musical exploration in some more intimate location. That could eventually lead to a live album with proceeds going to the selected Charity.

So if your in need of a charity to support take the time to consider the Children's Tumor Foundation http://www.ctf.org
It's Money well spent and indirectly research sponsored by the foundation is helping over 5 million people dealing with Pain, Cancer, and Learning Disabilities on top of all the other complications associated with Neurofibromatosis.

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Musical Tour of New York City with Josh Groban

Well, I'm finding it a bit harder to do this idea then previously thought.
Part of the problem is the number of sights, attractions and things to do in NYC.

The lists I've found on the top ten landmarks in New York vary.  Most if not all have the Empire State Building, Central Park, Statue of Liberty etc.

Some have the Wax Museum, Staten Island Ferry, United Nations Building, various museums and the like.  How to par this down to 10 -places and pair a good song or two with each.

For example a Starry Starry Night works well with the Metropolitan museum of Art.
Galileo from the new album Illuminations works well with the Hayden Planetarium or Rose Center for Earth and science.

Then you enter into a new category of issues with the Holidays. If you do this at Christmas time you could have him sing an array of songs from Noel in front of the Rockefeller Center Tree.


So with all of that how about helping me to become more Illuminated and giving a few of the top places you'd have to say everyone must visit in New York City?  Leave your top 5 in the comments section.  I'll give more details on the whole things as the idea firms up more on paper and in my head.

Boy does this make for a good dilemma if your a Grobanite.  Also put down how much you'd pay for such an adventure.  I'd say it's worth $10,000 if it included all the transportation in NY and lunch at say the Plaza.   You'd have to use the Subway etc to make the experience more authentic......

Buaidh - NO - Bas.