Special Day for Leah

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, children choose if they would like to be baptised when they are 8 years old.  At the age of eight, they are old enough to know right from wrong and make good choices.  They are at an age where they can be held accountable for their choices, good or ill, and repent of their wrong-doings.
If a child chooses to be baptised, they are interviewed by their Bishop to see if they have faith in Jesus Christ.  They must believe in His Everlasting Atonement and have a desire to keep the Ten Commandments.  The child must be willing to enter into a covenant with God to obey His commandments, repent of mistakes, serve, love and comfort others, and stand as a witness of Jesus Christ in their life. 
If this is their desire, they are baptised by immersion (meaning all the way under the water) and then are given the Gift of the Holy Ghost by a man holding proper Priesthood Authority. 

Leah turned eight.  She wanted to be baptised.  She has a special faith in the Lord and, of all our children, loves the scriptures more than any.  She makes many connections in her mind with the world around her and the stories and principles she learns from reading the Bible and Book of Mormon.  She is a precious girl who likes to make others happy.



Here she is all in white with her dad who will baptise her. 

She is excited, and proud.

And she really, really loves her Daddy. 

Here  we all are right before the baptism. 

And again!

Grandparents and Christy arrive. 

Elias couldn't stop hugging Leah. 

What a nice picture of all the Andrews!

Proud girl with her hugs from Gramma and Grampa.

Leah asked Gramma to give one of the talks

at her baptism service.

Posing by herself--a moment of shyness.

Now she's more confident!

Angel.

They love each other so much.

There is a lot of emotion in this picture.

Elias looks up to Leah and thinks she is a princess.

He was so excited for her to get baptised.

More hugs.

Of course, Elias begged to have his own picture.

Ham.

Mimi and Jordan arrive and give Leah hugs.

Poppa is giving the other talk. 

Leah was completely set on who she wanted giving talks.

Leah's three best friends take a picture with her

after the baptism:

Rebecca, Emma, and Mia.

If there were ever four friends I would

keep together forever, this is them. 

Elias and Jordan know why they really came to the baptism!

Dessert!

Elias with his friend Wanda at the baptism. 

Congratulations Leah! I am proud of your choices!

You are a wonderful young lady and I love you!