A Good Sunday.

Sunday was really interesting.

Not only was it break the fast (which was amazing because people finally brought real food) but today, the Bishop gave me my baptism and confirmation certificate! Bwahaha! Awesome.

Since Sunday was the first Sunday of the month, we all had to bear our testimonies and stuff so a lot of people went up and did their thing and after the Sacrament meeting, we all head to Priesthood/Sunday School classes and in the middle of the class, Brother Jensen came in (he's this man in his 50's) and he called me out of class and in my head, I'm instinctively thinking, "Ohmygod, what did I do?!" and he took me into this empty room and sat across from me and this is how it went:

Brother Jensen: So, I would like to ask you if you'd like to come to the temple in Redlands with us.
Otter: (stares, blinks, stares, blinks... Thinks...) Oh wow. Of course I'd like to come!
Brother Jensen: Alright, well, I'll be right back. I need to get the folder first.
Otter: (sits in an empty room thinking) I can't believe I'm going to the temple!
Brother Jensen: (comes back) Alright, so, also... I'd like to ask you if you like to participate in the Baptism for the Dead*.
Otter: (stunned) No way! I'd... I'd love to!
Brother Jensen: Good, good. I'm going to go through a few questions and you have to answer them honestly. (runs through a series of questions to see if I am prepared) Now, last question: Is there anything that you've done that will hinder your worthiness to enter into the temple? Or do you think you're worthy enough to go?
Otter: ... Um. Well... I haven't done anything that's bad enough that I can't enter into the temple however, I do feel like I'm not ready to enter just yet...
Brother Jensen: Why is that?
Otter: Since I was just recently baptized, I feel like I still lack a lot of things. I don't feel like I'm prepared enough or good enough to visit the temple yet. I have the desire to and I have a stronger desire to do the baptism for the dead but I feel like I'm still not "worthy" enough to enter.
Brother Jensen: (stunned at my answer) Well. Seeing how you are, I truly believe that you are ready to go to the temple and participate in the baptism for the dead. Indeed there are some things the temple has to offer that you aren't ready for just yet but I believe that you do have the desire to go and you are ready and worthy enough to visit. Thus why I am allowing you to come with us.
Otter: Thank you so much, Brother Jensen.
Brother Jensen: You are too great to sell yourself short, Otter.

Ever since he said that, it has struck me the whole day and I guess you can say that it's true... I always fall short and tend to give myself the short of the stick thus why I always question my worth in a lot of things. "Am I good enough?" "Am I smart enough?" "Am I determined enough for this?" "Am I presentable?" and I always give myself a harder time than it really is. I guess it's just how I grew up. My father would always tell me how I'm not good enough for a lot of things and how I still lack in many things in the world so I was rarely praised for anything that I have done so far. It was always, "You can do better than that." growing up and now, it's "How can you make it better?"

So during the whole day at church, I kept thinking about how I don't give myself enough credit and when we all met up for a conference via internet conference with the people in Brigham Young University-Idaho, an Elder was doing a speech and it struck me on how I should be giving myself some kudos for the things that I have done and the things that I am currently doing. Since I do live my life as best as I can and I haven't done any wrongdoings, I should give myself something, you know?

So that was something I was reflecting on the whole day.

*"Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?" (1 Corinthians 15:29)

"Baptism of the dead" commonly refers to the religious practice of baptizing a living person on the behalf of one who is dead; with the living person receiving the ordinance of baptism, on behalf of the deceased person. After giving a short prayer that includes the name of the deceased individual, the person who is immersed briefly in the water is then brought up again. Baptism for the dead is a distinctive ordinance of the church and is based on the belief that baptism is a required ordinance for entry into the Kingdom of God. And it states in the Bible that everyone needs to be baptized to be accepted in the Kingdom of God.

Now, let's give an example: Let's say poor little Timothy grew up in a country where no one knows of God, no one teaches of God and they just live life like normal people and no nothing of anything religious... And they grow up and die naturally or somehow pass away. Do they deserve to go to Hell? Just because they didn't know about God? Of course not. They lived decent lives but not know of God. However, The LDS (Latter-Day Saints/Mormons) church do this baptism for the dead to help and give that choice to those who have passed on and didn't get the chance to be baptized. So we as Mormons will fulfill that duty for them and give them that choice in the Spirit world. They can still deny it and they can also accept it... We are just giving them that choice.