Elder Johns' Missionary Musings: The Plunger Prophet

The Plunger Prophet

The Story of the Elder Who Broke the Baptisimal Font

Daniel got permission to be baptized from his mother. He asked me to baptize him, and Elder Clark to confirm him. So we got everything ready for the baptism. Chairs, programs, got dressed, filled the font, etc. The font in the Highland building is old, and the rubber gasket around the plug is missing. So Elder Clark stuck a plastic bag around the metal plug to plug the font (as we have done previously) and filled the font. We had a great program. The first councilor bro. Young gave a good talk on Baptism and Brother smart gave an amazing talk on the Holy Ghost. Then it was time for the baptism. So Daniel and I got into the font, and performed the ordinance. That was really awesome. Their was a great spirit there. As we were walking out of the font, i reached down to pull the plug. (the plug had a flip-up D ring for you to hold onto). It didn't budge... I pulled harder. Nothing. I twisted and pulled and much to my consternation nothing was happening. Everyone had been watching this. But elder Clark (while laughing) closed the curtain. I continued to pull, and pull. I even grabbed a string to get my weight behind it. The plug didn't budge. I continued to try for what seemed like forever. Finially I gave up and got dressed. I sat down next to E. Clark who said.

"you didn't get it, did you."...

The rest of the program went well. After the service, I got back into my wet whites, and went back for round two (much to the amusement of my companion, brother smart, and the bishop). But it still wouldn't budge. I couldn't even get a pocket knife or a screwdriver head in between the plug and the hole. We also tried to get a siphon going but no dice. So Brother Smart went and grabbed the toilet plunger. He handed it to me and said

"here, run this through the ring and try to pry it up"

It didn't fit. But He and Elder Clark took the opportunity to take pictures of me with the plunger in the font. Brother Smart finally said.

"Stay there plunger prophet, I'll go get a prybar from my truck"

So I did. That was probably the closest I'll get to swimming on my mission. He came back with the prybar and some rubber so as not to scratch the tile.

I ran the prybar through the D-ring and levered the plug out. The plug came out. However, the D-ring snapped. So I, Elder Johns, broke the baptisimal font. How many people can say that?

I love the mission and I love working with the investigators and members of our wards. Go out and find the Elect. Every member a missionary.

Awaiting your letters,

Elder Bryce Johns.