My homework assignment was to write another letter, this time the letter was to my 8 year old self, talking about Baptism.

Dear Mary,

I have been asked to write you a letter and talk to you about being 8.  What an exciting time in your life this must be.  To be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost is a precious gift and the first step in returning to our Heavenly Father.

I remember my Baptism day.  I was so scared.  I even told this to my Bishop.  Bishop Duncan, he was such a kind man that he took me to the baptism font and let me pick the temperature of the water.

I don't want to minimize my fear of Baptism.  I was young and was making the biggest decision of my life.  I was terrified.  I was afraid I would drown.  I didn't trust that my Dad would lift me out of the water.

I didn't understand what it meant to be baptized.  I was told I would be clean, but I didn't feel any differently.  What was it going to take for me to feel clean?  My Baptism didn't change anything except now I would have the Holy Ghost.  Like Jiminy Cricket in the movie Pinnochio.  When Pinnochio would tell a lie, his nose would grow.  If I told a lie, everyone would know.  I felt worse than before I had been baptized.  Why?  Because that made more pressure for me to be good.  I was supposed to feel better.

Things today are different.  My life has been blessed because I was Baptized.  The Holy Ghost has helped me in many ways.  It has protected me.  Sometimes I didn't listen

OK, so the letter above was what was originally written on 4/30.  I have read the letter over again and again, and to be honest, I don't think I would talk to an 8 year old like that.  It just came out.  I was told to not delete my first impressions so my 2nd letter is below 5/1.

Dear Mary,

Happy 8th Birthday.  This is an exciting time for you as you prepare for Baptism.  After you are baptized you will become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When you are baptized, you make promises with the Lord.  One of those promises is that you will always remember him, and that you will keep his commandments.  In return, because you will have the Holy Ghost, your Heavenly Father promises you that you can always have his Spirit to be with you.  This is done thru this precious gift. 

The Holy Ghost is a very quiet voice.  You will not hear it scream at you but you will feel it in your heart, or it will come to you as a thought.  The Holy Ghost will help you when you are scared, hurt, or lonely.  It will also help you to gain a testimony of the Gospel.  With that testimony and with the Holy Ghost's help, you will come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in a very personal way.

One of the first principles of the Gospel is Faith.  By being baptized you are showing your Heavenly Father that you have Faith in him.  You have Faith in his plan.  By using that Faith you will grow into an amazing young woman.

Remember, that you are a daughter of God.  That you were sent here for a purpose.  When times get hard you will need to turn to your Heavenly Father.  He wants to bless you, he loves you and will help you.

With Love,
Mary