My Friend Braden

This weekend my friend Braden was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jillian wrote a little about it below, and I try not to get all sappy, but this event is one of the most important events of my life. It wasn't important from an accomplishment perspective, but from a quiet, introspective perspective that reaffirmed my faith.

Braden and I became friends 14 years ago, and he has ALWAYS been my example. Braden has a huge heart and an even bigger spirit of adventure. He is loyal, and respectful, and encouraging, and non-judgmental. He is determined and goal-oriented, but is still a dreamer and a doer. He is a true friend who I have always been able to be completely open with and it has led to a LOT of intense one-on-one discussions about life, relationships, politics, education, plays I write, trips he takes, careers we have, and even food and movies. The subject we rarely touched on between all of our philosophical wanderings was religion. In my mind was always the thought that I live my religion and don't skirt it, and Braden knows that, and he is the deepest person I know, so when he wants to have that discussion we will have it just like we have openly, honestly, and candidly had so many other discussions.

Amidst all of our discussions, I have secretly devoured everything he has said. His opinion is of the utmost importance to me because he has always understood life from an embracing, open vantage point. Even Jillian has told me "you need to call Braden" when I have been searching for the right path in life. So imagine the overwhelming emotion I felt when Braden told me that the religious path I was struggling along was the right and true path in this life that would take us back to an eternity of friends, family, and with our Heavenly Father. I am grateful for my friend and the example he has been to me my entire life, and I am so excited that he has found the Spirit of this gospel and taken it.
At his baptism on Saturday a lot of people had a lot of things to say, and the Spirit was so strong, and there were very few dry eyes, but the only thing that was said that day that resonated with me and rocked me and brought me to tears was one of my very best friends bearing his simple, short, honest, and heart-felt testimony "I know this church is true." Thank you, Braden, for being my friend, and for the testimony that is your life.