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.
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.
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.
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.
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Barlows in TKM 