A Prayer for a Font of Water by: Grant H. Taylor

Brother Schmidt had met with many of the best elders ever to serve in the Danish Mission and had received the discussions several times over a three-year period. His wife was a member but not a strong influence either for or against the Church.  He had read all of the standard works and more Church-related books than most of the missionaries even knew existed. He loved his wife and infant son and wanted something eternal for his family.  But at the last minute, something always seemed to keep him from the baptismal commitment.

We had met with Brother Schmidt several times when he admitted to us and to himself that he had known for over a year that the restored gospel was true.  We were elated when he told us that he knew it was time to act on that knowledge and set a baptismal date.  We made arrangements for the following Saturday afternoon.

Saturday morning we rode our bikes to the Aalborg chapel and met our district leader and his companion.  The baptism wouldn't take place until 3:00p.m., but since it took several hours to fill the font, they would turn the water on at 10:00 a.m. to have it ready in time. Not needed there, my companion and I decided to take an early train to the Schmidt  home in Hjorring (thirty miles north of Aalborg) to help Sister Schmidt with any final preparation as she waited for her husband to return from work.

When we arrived Sister Schmidt was very cool towards us.  She said that Brother Schmidt wasn't ready for baptism and that we had pressured him into making a commitment.  She further announced that he would be working late and could not meet the baptismal appointment.

Heartsick, we left the home but decided to wait across the street for Brother Schmidt to return so that we could talk with him about his decision.  As we waited, we prayed with all our might for a solution to his problem.

When Brother Schmidt returned, nearly two hours after the time of his scheduled baptism, we crossed the street and knocked on the door.  He let us in, but the Spirit had left him.  He began apologizing but made it clear that his wife had convinced him that he was not yet ready to be baptized.

With a prayer in our hearts, we reviewed the simple truths of the gospel that we had taught him.  We spoke of the importance of temple blessings for  his family, which could come only after baptism.  After bearing our testimonies, we persuaded him to kneel and pray with us.  I prayed first and then asked him to pray.  He was reluctant, but he bowed his head and said nothing for several minutes.  When he finally spoke, he asked the Lord to let him know if he was ready for baptism.  As he asked the Lord to let him know if he was ready for baptism.  As he prayed, we felt the warm tingle of the Spirit, and we knew he and his wife had felt it.

When he finished, we all stood and nobody spoke for several moments.  I told Brother Schmidt that there was no need to wait any longer.

He looked at me and smiled.  "Let's go," he said.

In minutes we were on the way to Aalborg, all packed tightly into the Schmidts' little car.  It was then the terrible realization hit me-he could not possibly be baptized that night.

To protect against the change of children's falling into the water, there was a strict policy in the Aalborg District that the water not be left in the font overnight after a Saturday baptism.  It was now 9:00p.m.. six hours after the scheduled time for the baptism.  In all our worries, we had not though to contact the district leader to let him know of the change in plans.  And because there was no phone in the chapel, there was no way to stop and call him.  Surely, the font was now empty, and Brother Schmidt would not be baptized that night.

I looked at my companion and saw that he was not aware of the problem.  I thought of telling him and the Schmidts, but I didn't want to damage the enthusiasm that Brother Schmidt was finally feeling for Baptism.  I silently prayed that a miracle would happen-that somehow this baptism might take place.

As we rounded the last corner before the driveway to the Aalborg chapel, I saw that the outside light was still on.  To my surprise, sitting on the cement steps in front of the chapel was the district leader and his companion.  We got out of the car and I raced to the district leader, not daring to ask about the water.

He simply said,  "I knew you were coming.  The font is still full."

Brother Schmidt's baptism was late, but it was a marvelous experience for all of us.  Though this experience I came to know the power of prayer, a power I cannot deny.

***The End***

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