Tender Mercies in the TKM: Jose and Martin

by Elder Fisher

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I’m grateful to share the story of my friend José, and his miracle-filled journey to finding and gaining a testimony of Christ’s restored church. 

José’s brother Martin was being taught by missionaries in Loudon, Tennessee for a few months and was beginning to really accept the message of the Restoration. However, one night after meeting with the missionaries, he tragically passed away. His passing brought much grief and sadness to their family. 

About a month after his passing, José had found the missionaries number and knew that because of his brother’s experiences with the missionaries, Martin would have wanted him to meet with the missionaries.

José called the missionaries and set up time to meet with them. For months and months, the missionaries met with José frequently as they taught him truths of the gospel.

After 11 months of meeting with the missionaries, José was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A restored principle in the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the blessing of baptism can be made available to those who did not receive it in this life. Jesus Christ taught that baptism is essential to the salvation of all who have lived on earth (see John 3:5). Many people, however, have died without being baptized. Others were baptized without proper authority.

Because God is merciful, He has prepared a way for all people to receive the blessings of baptism. By performing proxy baptisms in behalf of those who have died, Church members offer these blessings to deceased ancestors. Individuals can then choose to accept or reject what has been done in their behalf. A living person, often a descendant who has become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is baptized in behalf of a deceased person. This work is done by Church members in temples throughout the world and is referred to as “baptisms for the dead“. One of those temples will soon be built in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Two weeks after his baptism, José traveled to the Atlanta Georgia temple, where he was baptized for his brother Martin. Because of José’s faithfulness and desire to find truth, his brother Martin was able to receive ordinances and covenants he had begun to accept in this life. 

Martin’s decision blessed José, and José’s decision blessed Martin. A tender mercy between two brothers.