by Sister Hunt
Jessica Hendley has a good friend, Mark Webb, who was recently baptized. After his baptism, he started sharing the gospel with her and asked the missionaries to come by her home to meet her. But when the missionaries would knock on her door, Jess wouldn’t answer.
A few weeks later, Jess got a new job working for the Bishop of the Cookeville 2nd Ward. Bishop Riches started sharing things about the restored gospel with Jess. She recognized many of the things he shared because they had been shared with her by Brother Webb. After a few conversations with Bishop Riches, she finally agreed to meet with missionaries.
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When Jess began meeting with the missionaries, it was clear that her heart had been prepared by Heavenly Father to receive restored truths. Initially, she was really quiet and timid and didn’t want to go to church. But as the Spirit testified to her, her desire grew, and she agreed to attend sacrament meeting.
Once Jess attended church, everything just clicked for her. The ward members were so welcoming and kind, and she felt a connection with many of them.
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Soon after attending church for the first time, Jess expressed that she wanted to be baptized. We even moved her baptism up a week from the original date because she was so excited to be baptized.
It was a beautiful day. Jess’ sister Jennifer came to support her at the baptism. After the baptism, she told us that she had seen such an amazing change in Jess, and that she wanted what Jess now had. We began teaching her and she is now on date to be baptized on April 20, 2024. It is amazing how Mark’s baptism led him to share the gospel with Jess, and her baptism led her to share the gospel with Jennifer. This again shows us the power that members have in sharing the gospel.
Jess loves all the things we teach her. She will send us verses and quotes from general conference. Her testimony continues to grow and she knows that she was being prepared. Because of her faith and decision to be baptized, she is now bringing others to the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings from making covenants with Him.
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