FAMILY STORY: David's Baptism and the Lumberjacks

When Skylar was baptized, Grandpa Ed had the chance to tell the story of David’s baptism.  After the service, Kaytee mentioned she had never heard that story so I decided I would write down some of our most memorable family stories to post to my blog.

David Scott Sappington’s 8^thbirthday coincided with our week at Tracy Lodge, a perk his father got each year he worked for Tracy Collins Bank in Salt Lake City.  David was anxious to be baptized ON his birthday, so we consulted with our bishop at the time, and were granted permission to perform this sacred ordinance in the Snake River alongside the beautiful lodge located in Island Park, ID.  

On August 18, 1977 – David’s 8^thbirthday – we gathered on the riverbank as a family along with some of the lodgers.  As soon as Ed began to speak, the sound of nearby chain saws interrupted the quiet.  When the noise stopped, he tried again, only to be interrupted again with the grating sound. We stopped again.  This time, he decided to explore the source of the racket and at least ask them to stop long enough for him to baptize and confirm his son.

He quickly found who he was looking for – a father and his two sons – who agreed they were making lots of noise but, couldn’t accommodate the “cease and desist” request because they had lots to get done that day.

Ed returned to the gathering, performed the baptism - through the noise - then escorted David to a tree stump on the river bank while preparing to perform the ordinance of confirmation.  As the circle of friends and family surrounded our little boy, three lumberjacks stepped up to join the circle of Priesthood holders.  The father noted, “we talked about it, and decided if we were too busy to acknowledge the importance of a baptism, we were too darned busy!”

It was a beautiful and memorable day.

PS: No idea who took these pictures.  Can't help but believe it might have been 6-year-old Kris or 2-year-old Michael behind the camera, based on the quality.