Elena Ruiz, youngest of three children of Enrique and Lindsay Ruiz, was baptized by immersion and confirmed a member of the Church by her father on Saturday, September 17 … which was, by happy coincidence, also her 8th birthday.
On her very special day, Elena was surrounded by family from northern Utah as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins from the St. George area for her birthday party and for this introductory ordinance to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to her mother, “Elena is a peacemaker who wants everyone to be happy. She is sensitive, caring, thoughtful and being around her is pure joy!”
This bilingual 2nd grader at Bloomington Elementary School is still adjusting to her new house, her new town and her new school where the dual immersion program is Chinese … rather than Spanish (to keep her Spanish language skills sharp, the Ruiz family speaks only Spanish at home). But, she is happy about being able to jump on her bicycle to play with nearby friends … something she couldn’t do in Salt Lake City. Her favorite part of school – which she describes as “mostly good” – is science.
Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as to the Bloomington 7th Ward, Elena.