Blessed

In the LDS Church, we don't baptize infants. We save that for the "age of accountability", which we believe to be 8. But we do perform a ritual for infants called, simply, the baby blessing, which is performed during Sunday services. It is performed by a priesthood-holder, usually the father or another relative of the baby. He takes the baby before the congregation and, with the aid of several other priesthood-holders who place their hands on the baby in the blesser's arms, pronounces a blessing on the baby. He gives the baby a name and blesses him or her with gifts and promises, following the spiritual promptings he receives.

Where we're from (the Mormon-heavy American West), the baby blessing is usually a pretty big affair. Relatives travel to be there and every priesthood-bearing uncle, cousin, brother, and friend in attendance stands in the circle to bless the baby. It's a nice metaphor, I guess, for the support system the child can expect going into life — being surrounded by all those strong arms and hands. But in our ward here in Dresden, which is the only LDS congregation in a city of about 500,000, baby blessings don't play out like that. The most men I've seen in a circle here is four or five, usually just the father, the grandfathers, and a member of the bishopric. I like this, as well. Compared with the spectacle American baby blessing can sometimes become, this version is very intimate and humble. I especially appreciate this tradition given our situation of being so far from our loved ones. I knew that the small blessing circle Jethro was bound to get here wouldn't look pitiable the way it would in the States.

Not a fan of the blessing tuxedo, apparently.

As it played out, though, the blessing wasn't as small as we'd anticipated. We managed to work it so that Jake could bless Jethro while my mom and our friends Ben and Missy were here, and Ben was able to stand in on the blessing, along with two members of our bishopric. Our guests also gave us a good excuse to have the blessing in English, which was probably sort of weird for most of the ward, but meant the world to me. Jake was more nervous than I'd ever seen him before the blessing, but it was beautiful. Among other things, Jake blessed Jethro with sharpened senses, heightened perception, discernment between good and evil, influence over others and a keen intellect balanced by a compassionate heart.

These things have been floating in the back of my mind ever since the blessing. I get so busy cleaning up after, soothing and playing with this little guy, I sometimes find myself thinking of him almost as a pet. I forget that he's an actual, distinct, brand new person. This baby (still making sense of his small body) will eventually grow into a man who will go into the world and do great things. It makes me feel like I'm holding a fantastic secret, that, for the time being, is all mine to enjoy.




JEM