Tristan has been living with some members in our ward and has been taught by missionaries for many years. He has had friends help bring him to church every week. From there he started learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of prayer. His older siblings were baptized recently and so Tristan became interested in working towards baptism as well.
Tristan’s life has been pretty difficult, as he’s had to move frequently from his parents in Florida to North Carolina. Through these trials he began to be reliant on God. At first Tristan was shy and hesitant to meet with the missionaries, but as time went on he started to trust them more and loved having them come by to share the gospel lessons. It was amazing to see how he and his brother Philly progressed. They grew spiritually as they read scriptures, prayed, and went to church.
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Tristan was only 9 years old at the time of his baptism but we were able to see how smart he was. As we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, we used some hand signals to remember the 5 principles and many times he taught them back to us. As we studied the stories in the Book of Mormon he was always excited to learn more. As we taught about the Holy Ghost, Tristan began to be excited for the influence it could have in his life. With his unique situation he felt the need for the guidance and comfort it could give him.
Within the stories in the scriptures and in their personal lives, Tristan and Philly especially saw the power of prayer.
Throughout the time of meeting with the missionaries, Tristan’s grandma became very ill and had to go to the hospital. As they prayed for support from the Lord, she was able to recover from her illness and return home safely.
Tristan was hesitant at first to accept a baptismal date, but as we set a goal for him, he prayed and took a step of faith, deciding to be baptized. Every day before his baptism, he committed to praying and checking off his baptismal calendar.
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Right before his baptism, Tristan said he felt nervous. But, as soon as he got in the water, the nervousness went away. After his baptism, Tristan was seen smiling for the rest of the day. He now has such a shining countenance and cheerful spirit. Tristan’s decision to be Baptized and to receive the Holy Ghost has blessed both his life and the life of his family. Tristan has set a strong example for his younger brother Philly, and we know they will grow to become even greater disciples of Jesus Christ together.
It was so fun gathering together with you at zone conferences this week! You were taught well by President Barlow and your zone leadership teams. The principles they discussed (acting in greater faith, having a proactive mindset, controlling the controllables, becoming a more consecrated missionary) are all things that will bless your mission and your life well after your mission. We loved the goals and accountability you set in zone councils and look forward to seeing what you can do together.
We are also excited to spend the next three weeks celebrating President Nelson’s 100th birthday!
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The other day while on a run, I was listening to the Restoration Proclamation on repeat to help me memorize it and I had an impression of the Spirit. I felt that if our missionaries will really take the time to invest in studying and memorizing this sacred document, they will be be able to teach their future families these truths with greater clarity and power. These truths are the foundation of everything we do in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please give your best effort to memorizing every last word. There is no downside!
Claim every promised blessing from our prophet when he says, “We live in this unique and exciting time when the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ continues to unfold. I would encourage each of you to study, ponder, and teach from the bicentennial proclamation of the Restoration, introduced at the April 2020 general conference. Teach it often to your missionaries. There is power in its declarations. It proclaims truths concerning the Godhead, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the First Vision, the organization of the Lord’s Church, the restoration of priesthood authority, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and modern-day prophets. The more your missionaries understand about these fundamental gospel truths, the more their own testimonies will grow —which of course will help them teach and testify with greater power.”
Have a great week! We love you, Sister Barlow
Message from President Barlow
212 Degrees
One of my favorite things to do as a dad was drop our kids off at school. The drive to school became an important time to connect, learn about things they were worried about, and talk about what was going on in their life.
As they would get out of the car and head into school, I would always leave them with a one-line thought from dad to encourage them that day. Things like, “Do what is right, let the consequence follow!” “Be the change you want to see in the world today!” “You are always prettier when you smile!”
My favorite one-liner was, “Have a 212 day!”
212 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature where water turns from a liquid state to a gas state. At 211 degrees, it is really just hot water. But at 212 degrees, everything changes, the water begins to boil, and the water changes to steam. Steam is one of the most efficient and widely used energy sources for power. It can be used to power trains or to turn turbines that create electricity. Moving water just one degree – from 211 degrees to 212 degrees – unleashes a lot of power. That one extra degree makes all the difference.
In life and in missionary work, a little extra effort can make all the difference. But making extra effort requires a proactive mindset…using your agency in powerful, proactive ways. Having this mindset will help you to act in greater faith. One of the best areas to apply this extra effort is in your obedience to the commandments and the standards we’ve been given by prophets in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.
I think it is important to note that there is an exactness to this principle. The change doesn’t happen at 210 degrees…not 211 degrees…it takes exactly 212 degrees for this change to happen. Similarly, your
effort to be exactly obedient can bring great changes to your mission and life. I love a principle taught in the story of the Army of Helaman. When Helaman described these 2,000 young men, he said, “Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them” (Alma 57:21). Their efforts to be exactly obedient was a statement of their faith. And “according to their faith it was done unto them”, or they received the blessings they needed.
When our life lacks this exactness, and we treat things lightly (usually because of some form of unbelief), D&C 84:54 describes what can occur. “And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received.” Treating things lightly can cause us to lose faith, and thus lose power.
President Nelson said it best: “Obedience brings success; exact obedience brings miracles.”
As you think about being a more consecrated missionary, remember the number 212. A little extra effort…a little more exactness…can bring about big changes in your mission. That extra effort can bring a lot of power. Making that commitment will be worth it. .
I share with you the same encouragement I’ve given my kids literally hundreds of times: “Have a 212 day!”
Sister Barlow and I love you! Let us know if there is anything you need.
As missionaries depart from the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned about being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
One day, Kayla and Richard Schroeder began talking about Rich’s past experience in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rich explained how he was baptized when he was young, but stopped attending church around age 14. He also explained how his parents used to have the missionaries over, and this led the schroeder family to reach back out to the missionaries through an online request. Elder Beckstead and Elder Staker were the first to pick up the phone. Kayla recalled the experience, “We wanted to see if meeting with missionaries could help us to better our lives, grow, and change. We decided to make the request online.”
The Schroeders faced many challenges at first. After their decision, opposition immediately followed, and the Schroeder family was in danger of losing their home after Kayla started suffering medical complications. Despite all of their hardships, the Schroeders still pushed through and sought out the Lord and His church. Rich came to church by himself the first week while his wife was recovering, and Kayla and the rest of their family came the following week. They would begin to see incredible blessings for their acts of faith as they sought at the Lord and experienced the power and blessing of the sacrament.
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Elder Driggs and Elder Staker began meeting with Kayla at first. Elder Driggs recalls, “As we met with Kayla, there was always such a powerful spirit. I know that the Lord was preparing her to be an achor for the rest of her family.” Kayla stated that she was nervous attending church at first, but gained more confidence as the missionaries continued to visit. Kayla explains, “I didn’t know much at the start, so when the missionaries would teach the gospel, it blew my mind!” She continues, “I never felt judged by the missionaries or by the members at church, it was an amazing journey to experience and I am happy that I dived right in!”
Kayla would play a pivotal role in helping her children learn and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. One day the missionaries received a voicemail from Kayla’s phone by their 9 year old nephew Brayden. It was a simple request: “I want to be baptized… please?” Elder Driggs and Elder Lewis began teaching their family: Brayden Rutherford, Kaylie Rose, and Kayla’s mother, Paralee Honeycutt.
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Brayden loved the missionaries coming over to have family home evening night. He always was the first to raise his hand to say the prayer before the lesson, and he was so excited for his baptism. Kaylie would always express such amazing thoughts and insights about the scriptures as everyone read them together. Paralee was very happy to see the whole family come together and learn about Jesus Christ.
Later, Elder Driggs and Elder Lewis invited Kayla to set a baptismal date. Kayla accepted and worked on marking off every invitation each day on her calendar with diligence and faith! Kayla tells her experience, “Working towards baptism, there wasn’t one big experience where I knew the church was true. I just felt guided, every day I was just so blessed by being led by the Lord.” On May 11th, 2024, Kayla Schroeder was baptized by her husband, Richard Schroeder.
Kaylie was also able to attend Young Women’s Camp! She was so happy to meet many incredible young women her age, and role models older than her. She discovered a love of volleyball at camp and wants to continue practicing and playing that sport afterwards. Kaylie was very touched by the testimonies at Young Women’s Camp, and wants to continue to go every year. Kaylie also plans to serve a mission when she comes of age! She truly wants to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. Read more about Young Women’s Camp here:
On July 6th, 2024, Brayden and Kaylie were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Richard Schroeder. It was incredible to hear Kayla speak at her kids baptism. She bore a powerful testimony of baptism and the restoration of the Christ’s church to the earth. Her faith had always inspired Brayden and Kaylie, and she continues to inspire them to this day.
Paralee continued to meet with missionaries and learn more about the restoration. She made many sacrifices to prepare for baptism, and wanted to have the entire family together as members of the church. She was very grateful for all of the scriptures, videos and movies the missionaries would send to help her learn more. When the time came she felt very ready to be baptized. She was baptized on July 27th 2024. Paralee explains her experience, “when i went under the water and came back up, there was a big change. I came up and felt totally different. Things have changed for the better”.
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The Schroeders have grown so much together as a family. They are holding family home evening and working towards the temple together and when the time comes they can be sealed together for eternity. Families can truly be together forever.
Sister Barlow often says, “The little things are the big things!” Alma said something similar to his son Helaman when he taught, “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). Nephi said it this way: “And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things” (1 Nephi 16:29).
Doing the small things in life requires discipline, and discipline is required to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. The small and simple things can be easy to overlook or dismiss as inconsequential or unimportant. But President Dallin H. Oaks has taught, “Though…practices may seem to be small and simple, over time they result in powerful spiritual uplift and growth. This occurs because each of these small and simple things invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the Testifier who enlightens us and guides us into truth.” (“Small and Simple Things”, April 2018 General Conference).
Sister Becky Craven made this observation: “There is a careful way and a casual way to do everything, including living the gospel. As we consider our commitment to the Savior, are we careful or casual?” (“Careful versus Casual”, April 2019 General Conference).
Consider these examples:
Are you careful or casual about arising at 6:30am each morning?
Are you careful or casual about your personal studies from 9-10am each day?
Are you careful or casual about keeping member meals less than one hour?
Are you careful or casual about getting out the door at 10am every morning?
Are you careful or casual about spending time in the Book of Mormon every day?
Elder Bednar has taught, ““The spiritual pattern of small and simple things bringing forth great things produces firmness and steadfastness, deepening devotion, and more complete conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel.” (“By Small and Simple Things Are Great Things Brought to Pass”, 2011 BYU Women’s Conference)
Examine your life as a missionary. Are there small and simple things where you could be more exact? I invite you focus on having more discipline to do these small things. I promise as you do so, you will increase in power as a missionary. This discipline and commitment will deepen your conversion, help you to build greater faith, and lead you to become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
Sister Barlow and I love you! Let us know if there is anything you need.
The sister missionaries in Lebanon got media referral from an online ad. When they called the referral, they set up chapel tour for later that week. When they came to the chapel tour, this referral brought his friend Yanner.
The referral ended up moving to new York, and the Sisters passed Yanner off to the Elder Sommer and Elder Safsten. There were two really important things that helped with Yanner’s conversion: First was his experience with the Book of Mormon, and the other was hearing the testimonies of members who joined the missionaries on their lessons.
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Yanner gained a testimony very quickly as he read and prayed. On his second lesson, he said he already knew the Book of Mormon was the word of God. The very next lesson we felt a prompting from the Spirit to invite him to be baptized on July 7, 2024. He said yes, and we continued to work with him.
After we extended the date, he told us that he was struggling to find work and was about to move to New York for better employment. But thanks to a member, he was given a job for some time so he could get back on his feet. He continued to exercise faith in Jesus Christ even through the hard times so he could receive the blessings of baptism. Yanner was baptized on July 7, 2024.
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On August 2nd, we went to the Nashville Tennessee Temple where he was able to perform baptisms for the dead. He really enjoyed it. He said the Spirit he felt there was very strong.
The members really made a big difference in Yanner’s conversion. He now is working with one of the ward members, so he is able to stay in Lebanon and is an active member of the ward.
On June 27th, the day before transfers, we were driving to go see people previously taught by missionaries. On our way there, we saw Luis walking on the sidewalk. We rolled down the window and asked if he had a church. He said he’s actually looking for one right now! We talked about the Sacrament and invited him to come to our church for a church tour. He said he was “going through a spiritual journey.”
We called him two days later and Luis talked about his journey and life changes he’s been making to come closer to God. He talked about his journey of exercising faith in Christ and repenting. We brought up baptism and explained how it was the next step. We taught him the promises made at baptism and the blessings of keeping our covenants. He wanted the peace and joy that comes through baptism, so we invited him to be baptized on July 27th.
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He lives in our neighborhood, so we could easily have frequent lessons. The ward family helped out immensely. We truly saw the power and importance of having a member at every lesson. We coordinated for members to take him to church and join our lessons in person, via video call, phone call, voice messages, and video.
In that very first phone call, our member Brother Beeler, sent us his testimony of the Book of Mormon via voice message. Luis loved and appreciated Brother Beeler’s testimony and perspective as a convert himself. Little did any of us know that one month later, Brother Beeler would be standing in the circle to confirm Luis a member of Jesus Christ’s church.
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Luis eagerly accepted the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He committed to living all the commandments, and had committed to most of them even before we met with him. He was so happy to be finding truth. Something cool we noticed was that in the beginning, he talked a lot during our lessons. He would tell stories of how he has seen God’s hand in his life. But over time, as the Spirit worked on him, he talked less and listened more. Each time we had a lesson, the Spirit was stronger.
When it came time to plan his baptism, Luis picked all the people to baptize him, give talks, etc. He knew so many members from them being part of his lessons and fellowshipping him at church. He was so excited to tell us who he wanted to participate in his baptism.
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Luis is nothing short of a miracle. Throughout his life, he has been so prepared by our Heavenly Father to make covenants with Him. From the day we met him to the day he got baptized, it was exactly one month.
Luis is such a light to everyone around him. He shares his testimony in word and deed. He sees the change in himself through Jesus Christ and wants everyone to have the same blessings he has. It’s been amazing to see him develop his own personal testimony and begin studying the Book of Mormon on his own. He is so excited and grateful to be on the covenant path, and we are so grateful God led us to him.
Happy August, y’all! Here we are at the last week of the transfer. Thank you for your attendance in yesterday’s TKMTC as we went over Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ and Safeguards for Technology. These come to us from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
It’s interesting that we often see letters and introductions in publications from the First Presidency, but it’s not as common to see all 15 prophets together endorse something. In addition to Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, the Quorum of the Twelve and the Fist Presidency have endorsed together The Living Christ, The Family Proclamation, and the Restoration Proclamation. I just highlight this to remind us how important it is that we individually know these standards and strive to follow them with exactness. They are given to us to keep us safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
A few weeks ago, I spent some time doing a personal inventory of where I am now and where I’d like to be. I listed the things I am doing well and some things I can do better to help me be a more consecrated missionary. I made the decision to get to work changing, rearranging priorities, and eliminating things that pull me away from my goals. I have felt more confidence and joy in doing this.
I invite each of you to do a personal inventory. Recognize and acknowledge the things you’re doing well and some things you could improve on. Make a plan and stick to it. A new transfer is a great time for a fresh start!
Have a great weekly planning tomorrow! Remember your missionary purpose and who you are – actual representatives of the Savior, Himself. Then set goals and make no small plans!
We love you,
Sister Barlow
Message from President Barlow
Amalickiah in the Book of Mormon is a type and shadow of the adversary. President Russell M. Nelson has said, “The Book of Mormon both illuminates the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary” (“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?”, October 2017 General Conference). The story in the Book of Mormon about Lehonti in Alma 47 warns us of the unintended and tragic consequences that come to our life when we lower our standards, even just a little bit.
Lehonti and his soldiers are in a place of security on a mountain top named Antipas, and declare that they are “fixed in their minds with a determined resolution” that they will not join Amalickiah’s army in their attack on the Nephites. Amalickiah recognizes the position of strength Lehonti has on being on higher ground, so his goal is to get Lehonti to “come down” off the mountain.
Amalickiah sends a secret embassy (interesting that it was done in secret) and three times they ask Lehonti to “come down to the foot of the mount, for [Amalickiah] desired to speak with him.” All three times, Lehonti refuses. He is “fixed in his mind with a determined resolution”, and he will not come down.
Finally, when Amalickiah was convinced “that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount,” he decided that he would go up, “nearly to Lehonti’s camp”. On his fourth try, Amalickiah invited Lehonti to come down “just a little” and to keep his guards with him if he felt unprotected. Feeling everything would be okay, Lehonti compromises where he was previously determined. He leaves the safety of his mountain top and accepts Amalickiah’s offer. Lehonti should have never come down from his mountain. Because he made that compromise, Amalikiah would now have the opportunity to “administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.”
What are the lessons here?
First of all, stay on higher ground. There is safety in keeping the standards found in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have promised that these standards “will help protect you physically, spiritually, and emotionally and help you be the disciple Jesus Christ needs you to become.” Satan wants us to come down from our mountain, so he repeatedly invites us to leave the higher ground offered by these standards. If we won’t come down all the way, he invites us to come down just a little. Don’t do it! Keep the standards with exactness. As the hymn states, “Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace.”
Second, as Sister Barlow often says, “The LITTLE things ARE the BIG things!” One of the adversary’s techniques is to get us to feel that small compromises are no big deal, that we are still safe and still in control. Beware of these little compromises on standards. “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). President Nelson has promised, “Obedience brings success; exact obedience brings miracles” (Talk at the MTC, December 2013).
Sister Barlow and I love you all! We testify of this eternal truth: your obedience to commandments (and Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ) will always lead to joy, peace, and safety in your life. If there are any changes you need to make to be more exact in your obedience, we invite you to make those changes. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you.
It starts with faith. And since I was young, I pretty much had faith that Jesus was my Lord and Savior. That was stuff my grandmother taught me.
I moved to Bristol and I wasn’t really going to church. One day, while I was at the laundromat, some people talked to me about joining their church. But I lost the information, so I looked up a church online. I was looking for a church and I saw an ad that had The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I decided to give that one a try. That is where God told me to go, so that’s where I went.
I saw an ad in the mail about a truck and they gave me zero down and no payments for three months. It’s a lot easier for me to get to church in my truck. God was good and He found a way for me to get there!
Upon going there I was introduced to the missionaries by Bishop Keohane, and we started meeting at Dairy Queen. They taught me lots of great things like the Doctrine of Christ which is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then (their favorite) enduring to the end.
I was baptized on June 29, 2024.
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After my baptism, I was able to go to the temple in North Carolina. They invited me to go to the temple to perform the ordinances, so that was pretty cool. I got to perform my first baptism. It was the most peaceful place I had ever been on earth.
Every Sunday, I get to partake in the sacrament which renews our covenant with the Lord, helping us to endure to the end. Because of the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity, I’ve been able to see the world differently. I can even tell I heal better.
Listening to a lot of those talks, which come from the scriptures in the Book of Mormon, I’ve been able to become a better peacemaker. The talk about peacemakers from the prophet was awesome!
When I first got to the church I was like, “I don’t know about this Book of Mormon thingy.” But I like how the prophecies in the Book of Mormon prophecy of things to come, and that’s the most compelling part. Like when Benjamin foretells the coming of Jesus Christ way before His mortal ministry. I like how it’s the same lessons from Jesus, but it’s so repetitive because we need it over and over again. I love the Book of Mormon.
We were trying to find a person previously taught, but they weren’t home. Their neighbor was outside, so we asked if they knew anyone who might need their faith strengthened in Jesus Christ. They said to try the door on the corner, and so we did! Terry opened the door and invited us to sit and talk on his porch.
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Terry grew up in a home where he had to take on a parental role early in his teenage years. He helped his mother provide for him and his five other siblings. His mother raised them to love God and do their best to serve others. Terry feels that one of his callings in life was to fill the fatherly role for his siblings and give them the best future he could give. Because of Terry’s upbringing, his willingness to serve others has become second nature. He follows the two great commandments very well.
Over the recent months, Terry had been looking for a church. He wanted to be a part of one that would accept him as he is and make him feel welcomed and loved. When the missionaries met him and got him a ride to church, he described his first experience at a sacrament meeting with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: “I felt very welcomed! I didn’t feel uncomfortable, I felt like I belonged there.”
Because of his family situation, Terry graduated high school, but gave up his future education for his siblings. He did all he could to help them get through school. Because of this, Terry has a hard time reading and struggles to understand what he reads, which made reading the scriptures challenging. Luckily, Terry was fellowshipped by a wonderful member, Brian Howard, who befriended and supported Terry, reading the Book of Mormon with him daily. Terry is eternally grateful for Brother Howard’s support. He would spend time with Terry or give him a phone call and help him understand the principles he was being taught.
Terry and Brother Howard at Terry’s baptism.
During this time of being taught by Sister Smith and Sister Ihrig as well as Brother Howard, Terry was praying to know if what he was learning was true. Terry wanted to do what ever God needed him to do. When the invitation of baptism was extended, Terry gladly accepted it! He even threw out all of his tea without a problem. “I just want to keep the commandments” he said.
Terry and Brother Howard
On his way down into the font, Terry felt that he needed to stop for a moment and listen: “I felt the Lord’s presence and I heard Him say that everything was going to be okay, that these people would support me, and that I was forgiven and loved.” Despite being afraid of water, Terry marched on to the font and was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 28, 2024. Terry says that after coming up from the water, although a little frazzled, he felt renewed and safe. He also has said he knows he is not alone now that he has the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.
After Terry was baptized he told the missionaries, Brother Howard, and the ward how grateful he was for them. Terry said, “Sometimes you meet somebody or some people and you feel like you were never strangers. Like you’ve known them your whole life.” He is excited to continue learning and, eventually, wants to go to the temple to give his deceased family members the chance to have the same peace he now feels.
Barlows in TKM 