Saturday, September 15, 2012

My Baptism

Hyrum Third Ward from "Home in the Hills of Bridgerland"
I attended a baptism of a girl today with my wife who is the Primary President.  It took me back to memories of my own baptism.  I was baptized in the old Hyrum stake center, third ward building.  My calculation says it would have been September 4, 1965.  As is customary in our church, I would have just turned eight.

Back in those days there were three wards in Hyrum.  The only one of the church buildings still standing is Hyrum First Ward.  I lived in Hyrum Second Ward.  All of the South part of Cache Valley was one stake, including Wellsville, Millville, Paradise, Nibley, Providence, River Heights, Mendon and Young and College Wards.
Hyrum Second Ward from "Home in the Hills of Bridgerland"
Hyrum First Ward

We started with a meeting in the chapel.  It was the only way to include everyone.  The font was in the basement.  I remember there was a big line.  So many children that I couldn't count them all.  My dad baptized me.  Most children were baptized by their fathers.  I remember one girl who was not, I think her name was Paula Christensen.  I remember she cried and cried, but they dunked her just the same.

But to be honest, I don't remember much about this day.

7 comments:

  1. I was in the Hyrum First. But I did Baptize my little sister in the Stake Center. That was a long time ago.

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  2. Jennifer Nielsen: Johnson Yep I grew up in the third ward. I miss that building. So sad when they tore it down!

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  3. Eileen Flaherty James: It's still just an empty lot. The grand piano is in the civic center and they sold all the pews before it was torn down.
    Niel- we were baptized the same day and my dad also baptized Leslee Clawson that day too.
    September 9 at 11:54pm via mobile · Like · 1
    Elizabeth Cram Christensen I wonder why they tore down this amazing building. I grew up in this ward and stake and I have many fond memories of beautiful people who who doing the Lords work. Hyrum doesn't look the same without it.
    September 10 at 9:37am · Like
    Niel Frank The building was over 100 years old and they said it was not financially practical to bring it up to current code. There is an article about it here. http://m.news.hjnews.com/...
    Saying Goodbye to A Religious Icon
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    Elizabeth Cram Christensen That is to bad I loved that building and I know they did some remodeling on it when I was younger. I was baptized aug 66
    September 10 at 11:15am · Like
    Ruth Palmer Roberts I was baptized there. Such special memories.

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  4. Niel Frank I was baptized there on July 3, 1965. Last time I went by there it was an empty lot.
    September 1 at 6:15pm via mobile · Like
    Monte Stephens December1964
    September 1 at 7:42pm via mobile · Like
    Daryl Lundberg October 31, 1970

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Monte Stephens: December1964
    Daryl Lundberg: October 31, 1970
    Eileen Flaherty James: It's still just an empty lot. The grand piano is in the civic center and they sold all the pews before it was torn down. Niel- we were baptized the same day and my dad also baptized Leslee Clawson that day too.

    Elizabeth Cram-Hysell: I wonder why they tore down this amazing building. I grew up in this ward and stake and I have many fond memories of beautiful people who who doing the Lords work. Hyrum doesn't look the same without it.
    Niel Frank: The building was over 100 years old and they said it was not financially practical to bring it up to current code. There is an article about it here. (I couldn't get to article)
    Elizabeth Cram-Hysell That is to bad I loved that building and I know they did some remodeling on it when I was younger. I was baptized aug 66
    Ruth Palmer Roberts: I was baptized there. Such special memories.
    V Dawn Cram Porter: I remember it well. Baptized there in 1969:)
    Chris Cram: September 1970
    Marianne Pricilla Miller: I was baptized there - seeing that empty lot fills me with great sadness - such a beautiful building.
    Suzette Peterson: I was also Baptized there. Do you remember the green tile? It was just like yesterday. I do miss the building. I attended church there right before it was demolished. I have many fond memories of the church. I will carry them with forever!
    Jennifer Nielsen Johnson Baptised there in 1978. Loved that building. I remember loving to sneak upstairs :)
    Cory Yeates: Do you remember the old 2nd Ward Chapel and Social Hall? It stood at the site of the later chapel that replaced it. The Chapel had a really cool choir area ( darned if I can remember the right name for it).
    Beverly Pehrson: I was baptized there and attended all of the meetings there. Church on Sunday morning, Sacrament meeting on Sunday night, Primary on Monday after school and Mutual on Tuesday night.
    Barry Nielsen: I was baptized in the 1st ward. My brother Vaughn was supposed to baptize me but he was late as he usually was so Floyd Bradford baptized me. I loved my brother so much so it made me sad he was not able to baptize me.
    Barry Nielsen: I attended all three wards. We new most everyone in town.
    Chris Cram: I remember the green tile and the handrails around it. Boys bathroom to the north and girls to the south. Relief Society room was to the west. I used to help Bro. and Sister Darley mow the lawn. I remember going to the road shows in the cultural hall. The red velvet choir seats. I remember playing in the balcony. I was sad when I drove by and it was just an empty lot. What I would have done for a piece of memorabilia before they tore it down. I also remember all the bushes in front of the building. I used to hide in them when we played hide and seek. This picture is without those bushes.
    Beverly Pehrson: Scout room to the north of the rest rooms. .....wood paneling.

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  7. This church building was amazing although I'm sure it wasn't practical to keep it up. If I remember correctly, the bishop's office had a fireplace as did the scout room. Of course the balcony and the two rooms upstairs from the balcony. One of overflow wings had a steep staircase that went up to a single room or down to the primary room and the primary room had classrooms off to the side. The downside to this building was that the cultural hall didn't have a basketball court. Since, it was over the primary room, it couldn't take the pounding is what they would tell us. To a kid, the stairs at the entrance were huge - although in reality they probably weren't that big. Bruce Savage

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