Hi, I’m an investigator who is happily looking forward to ba…

Hi, I’m an investigator who is happily looking forward to baptism. My parents are not quite as happy about it, but they support me and do want my baptism, but would like to wait a month or more to make sure the rest of the family is accepting and understands and will come to my baptism. This is my (and my bishop’s) desire also. I met with new missionaries this past Sunday just for a checkup (I’ve completed all the lessons), and they wanted me to meet a fellow missionary who was a convert at 18, like me. The missionary they wanted me to talk with told his story of his conversion, and his baptism. Throughout I felt the Spirit gently confirm all that he said line upon line. But then suddenly I felt the Spirit go quiet and cease to confirm whatever he was about to say, and he pronounced that God wanted me to be baptized this saturday. Still nothing from the Spirit. Then he told me that my Heavenly Father loves me, and then the Spirit came and confirmed that. Then the Spirit went quiet, and he told me I would lose my testimony if I waited beyond that. Only when he began talking about other things did the spirit return. I am well experienced in how the Comforter speaks to me, and I have asked my Heavenly Father since, with the answer that this Saturday is not the day. I have an unshakable testimony of Christ, the LDS Church, & Joseph Smith. So how do I politely but firmly tell the missionaries their prompting is flawed? They are the Lord’s servants, but they are missing something

Anonymous from Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 1/29/2012

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El Santo Gringo from La Jolla, California:

Jesus Christ was Himself baptized in the Jordan river to provide an example for each of us. (Reflections of Christ)
Hi friend. It thrills me to hear an investigator like you express such a beautiful testimony of Christ's restored gospel. I'm very happy that you have had the same kinds of powerful spiritual experiences that I and millions of others have had. These kinds of experiences add such a wonderful spiritual dimension to life.

It's natural to feel some reluctance when contemplating a major life change. Nine times out of ten when an investigator clearly has a firm testimony but nevertheless wishes to delay baptism, it's related to this cold-feet phenomenon. Your missionaries are probably just worried that you're struggling with these kinds of unproductive worries. That doesn't seem to be the case, though. If you wish to delay baptism because of a legitimate personal revelation rather than mere cold feet, just make your feelings clear to the missionaries in a kind and understanding way. Prayerfully set another concrete date (a goal) for your baptism so the missionaries know you're still serious about conversion.

I hope this answer helps! I'm excited for you. You really are about to begin a wonderful spiritual journey.
Jeff from Lafayette, Indiana, USA:

I actually had a similar situation to yours when meeting with the missionaries, although mine was quite the opposite: my best friend and I had an overwhelming confirmation that we were supposed to be baptized two weeks *earlier* than the missionaries wanted. To be frank, it ended up being extremely inconvenient for them—we had our baptismal interview with the district leader on the hood of a car! —but it turned out exactly as it should have, and our families (and we) were greatly blessed thereby.

Missionaries are imperfect human beings just like the rest of us. If the missionaries you're working with have any testimony at all, they'll understand when you tell them of your experience. You're not getting baptized to make them happy (although that will obviously be the case), so you don't need to do it on their timeline.

God has given you a great Revelation and perhaps an even greater piece of knowledge: the Lord's servants are only human; the testimony of the Holy Ghost is infallible.

Good luck and blessings, Anonymous. Please let us know when your baptism is complete, so we can all rejoice together. :-)