Eli's First Talk

Back in May Eli was asked to give his first talk in primary at church about baptism and covenants. That week ended up being really busy, and we forgot to sit down and help him prepare his talk earlier in the week (oops), but luckily we remembered Sunday morning before we left for church. So I read Eli a scripture about baptismal covenants, and then asked him questions about what the scripture meant, and wrote down what he said (although since we were a little crunched for time, I did help him with the writing of the talk a little more than I usually would have). But we talked about all of this while we were writing it down, and the testimony part at the end is all in his own words. He did a good job. 

16 May 2010

“When I turn 8 years old, I am going to be baptized. When I am baptized I make a covenant with God. A covenant is when you make a promise to Heavenly Father. When am I am baptized, I will make three promises to God. I will take upon me the name of Jesus. I will always remember Him. And I will keep the commandments.

There are different ways that I can take the name of Jesus upon me. When I get baptized and confirmed, I become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesus’ name is in the name of our church. And I take His name upon me when I join His church. I can also be a good example and act like Jesus would want me to. And when I turn 19 years old, I get to go on a mission. Missionaries teach people about the gospel. Missionaries get to take on the name of Jesus while they are teaching people about Jesus – a missionary’s nametag even has the name of Jesus Christ on it to show that they are from the church of Christ.

The second thing that I will promise when I get baptized is to always remember Jesus Christ. We can remember Jesus in our hearts and in our prayers everyday. On Sundays we go to church and take the sacrament, and we think about Jesus at this time.

Another covenant that we make with Heavenly Father when we get baptized is to keep the commandments. I can choose the right by being kind to my brothers and share my toys.
I went and watched my friend, Wyatt, and his mom get baptized. It made me feel nice. I want to be baptized too when I get big.
I’d like to bear my testimony, that I know the church is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. I like to read the scriptures. And I love to sing church songs because it’s fun.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”