I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday, August 6, 1994. I had turned eight (the age of accountability in Mormonism) on July 3rd a month before and had the requisite visit from the ward missionary and 1:1 interview with the bishop.

My parents and I arrived at the stake center (slightly larger church building for regional meetings) Saturday morning and sat in the chapel pews until all the children being baptized were asked to change into the white zip-up jumpsuits that are customarily worn. According to the photo, my jumpsuit was adorned with lace, but most are not. We all were then sat on the front pew in front of the pulpit where a devotional of prayer, song, scripture, and words of wisdom were given. Each child was told when it was their turn and their family and friends would follow them to the baptismal font in a separate room.

My dad baptized me. Mormons practice baptism by immersion, so he dunked my little body deep in the stake center (slightly larger church building) font that isn’t too different from a large bathtub. Two male witnesses ensured that no part of my being or clothing escaped the surface of the water. My dad had lots of practice, having baptized all four of my older siblings, dozens of the dead in the temple font, and before that, a few new members on his mission in Sweden as a young man. Members of the ward, family, and friends all watched with the aid of tilted demo mirror above the font.

Following the baptism, my mom helped me dry off and change. I was led to a room to be confirmed a member of the church and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. All the men in my family—that were worthy on that day—gathered around me as I sat in a folding chair with wet hair and a pretty dress. They each put one hand on my head and the other on the man to their left. I remember the heaviness of their palms pushing down on my skull. I tried to focus on what my dad was blessing me with, but I found it difficult to remember even moments after the blessing. I had to ask my mom what he blessed me with, according to my journal it included “good health, married in the temple, you will hate sin, you will help others to know the Gospel, you will be obedient, And i cant remember anything else.”

Family and friends were invited to my home afterward for a celebration. My mother made my favorite at the time - a watermelon shaped ice cream cake with chocolate chips for the seeds. I was delirious with excitement. I also remember jumping on the neighbors’ trampoline during the party and thinking “This is the cleanest of sin I will ever be, I can’t make a mistake now.”