Month: December 2024

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Michelle

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Michelle’s story started when her boyfriend, Jerson, was assigned to work with Daniel Godoy, a member of the Cleveland Ward, for the day. They had never met before then, but as coworkers, started up a conversation. Brother Godoy explained that he had two children, a daughter and a son who was currently serving a mission for his church. Jerson, having a suspicion in his mind, asked what church the Godoy’s belong to. To which Brother Godoy promptly responded, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”

Jerson had grown up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but since moving to the United States, he had not participated in any church meetings. When Jerson told Brother Godoy that he was a member of the Church, Brother Godoy quickly invited both him and his girlfriend to church.

On Sunday, while we were greeting people as they came in, Brother Godoy came up to us and told us that he was bringing someone to church. We were excited to meet them, but they showed up a little late so we didn’t have time introduce ourselves. After Sacrament Meeting had ended, Jerson and Michelle had to leave but we had enough time to exchange information and set up a return appointment.

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When we arrived a couple days later for our appointment, we had no idea what to expect going in. With the Spirit’s guidance, we taught the importance of marriage, temples, how families can be together forever, and how the gospel of Jesus Christ fortifies the family. Leaving that first lesson, Michelle wanted those blessings that we shared. She felt the spirit testify to her of what she heard that night.  

We continued teaching them, explaining that the first step before baptism was the need to be married. We left one night inviting them to pray and to ask God when it would be right. The next morning we got a call from Jerson telling us that they wanted to get married that very weekend.

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Everyone came together and made it a night to remember. The following week, on July 7, 2024, Michelle was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As they keep growing their family in this constantly changing world, they find peace knowing that they have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the hope of one day being sealed together as a family.

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Tender Mercies in the TKM: Rachel and Paul

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Rachel and Paul Lam didn’t decide to join the church until after they discovered how much the gospel could bless their growing family.

Rachel has lived in Tennessee her whole life. She was introduced to the gospel in high school by a friend who invited her to church. Paul was raised in California. His grandparents were members and he was around the church often.

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A few years ago, Paul decided to move to Tennessee and met Rachel. They discovered that they both had experience with the church and decided to reach out to the missionaries. This is what Rachel says about her experience:

“Growing up, I knew nothing about God or Jesus. My mother was a bitter alcoholic that didn’t have room for His love in her heart or home. I didn’t learn of His warmth or care until I was in High School.”

“My closest friend and her family were members of our local church. I spent a lot of my time with them, and it was in their home that I first felt safe and loved. It was with them I attended my first sacrament meeting. I remember feeling  peace and love during the service. That feeling followed me, even when I struck out on my own.”

“It wasn’t until I felt truly lost that I really felt the drive to embrace Him. When I was at my lowest point, two missionaries showed up at my door. They brought me back from the edge with their lessons. It all seemed to fall into place the more I learned.”

“My husband, in his own calling, came into my life and subsequently into my daughter’s life. I’ve learned so much from the church and feel so grateful for the gospel, and for Joseph Smith’s revelation. I know in my heart the church is true, and the day I was baptized marked the day my journey to a better life truly began. It feels like everything in my life has led me to the church.”  

Rachel and Paul were baptized on August 17, 2024.

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Tender Mercies in the TKM: Elie

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We first met Elie when she came to church with her brother Jared. As soon as we met her, we immediately knew that we would be great friends. She had moved to the University of Tennessee for school and her brother decided to invite her to come to church with him. Since that day, she never stopped coming! 

Elie was raised learning the doctrine of Jesus Christ and of the Book of Mormon from her parents, but was never baptized. When she attended church for the first time in a long time, it all rang true.

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Her first lesson, she joined her brother, Elder O’Brien, and Elder Hathaway for a lesson with their friend. She recognized the Spirit strongly in that lesson and started to remember the teachings of her father about the Book of Mormon and the Plan of Salvation. We started to meet with her and go over God’s plan, the restoration and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything made sense to Elie and she knew it was true. 

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The turning point for Elie was when she attended the baptism of Cece, the same friend she participated in the lesson with at the very beginning. After the baptism, we all gathered to talk about it. We asked about if she wanted to get baptized and she said, “How about the 13th of October?” We made all the arrangements and Elie was baptized on October 13, 2024.

We were able to attend the temple with her, and as soon as we exited she said, “I want to go back!” Elie now is serving as a ward missionary and sharing her testimony with so many others. Her influence has stretched to everyone in the YSA and all those around her.

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Tender Mercies in the TKM: Simon

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In 2013, missionaries found Simon pushing buggies, TVs, and other heavy items. The sisters offered to help, and introduced The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Simon for the first time. Simon was at first nervous, but was more open as they talked. The missionaries kept visiting Simon at Walmart until one time they just stop coming.

Fast forward to near the end of September 2023, Simon made the decision to come to church after a member had invited him for nearly two months. That’s when Simon met with missionaries again.

As Simon walked into church each week, he felt a sense of peace. Simon noticed how things started to work out better within his life as he was going to church as when he wasn’t. He really desired to come closer to Jesus Christ and live his life according to God’s will.

Due to his busy work schedule, the Elders would meet at the shop Simon worked at to teach principles of the Plan of Salvation, and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Wakefield and Elder Safsten even helped him move a transmission out of a car!

Many of the missionaries invited Simon to be baptized, but he was just not sure about it. Simon had a lot of questions in regards to the Church of Jesus Christ that he had trouble finding answers to. Many of the members in the Franklin branch shared their love for Simon and helped him feel comfortable at church. One of those members was Brother Sam Carter, who spent a lot of his time answering Simon’s questions. One of those questions was about the temple. He had heard a lot of things about the temple and how special it was, but he couldn’t just take the word of others to know.

One day at church, as Elder Collins and Elder Wakefield were greeting people at church, Brother Carter walked in and said that Simon has set a date to be baptized! The Elders were eager to know what made Simon make the decision. They talked with Simon and he shared what happened the day before.

Simon’s desire to go to the temple, to see for himself, to feel the special Spirit at the temple, and ultimately follow the example of Jesus Christ helped him make his first covenant with his Father in Heaven. Brother Carter and a few other members traveled to Atlanta to see the temple, answering Simon’s questions about the temple along the way. Although Simon wasn’t able to go inside, he shared how he noticed how happy everyone was entering and leaving the temple. Simon stated how he was able to feel uninterrupted peace for an hour, a type of peace he hasn’t truly felt in years. That peace was the Holy Ghost bringing comfort to Simon. He shared how he now knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ’s true church restored.

Elder Collins and Elder Colunga consistently met with Simon, as well as Brother Carter, to answer the rest of Simon’s questions. After learning more about the Book of Mormon, Simon shared that he perfectly understood how the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon work together to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Simon was baptized and confirmed on September 15th, 2024.

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There has always been a special spirit about him. The Elders noticed how that spirit amplified after this special day. 

A few days after making a covenant and receiving the Holy Ghost, Simon expressed how he was unable to sleep for nearly three long months, but since his baptism, he was able to sleep in peace. He continues to bring joy in the lives of others with his willingness to share the Book of Mormon with everyone. Simon is an example of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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Tender Mercies in the TKM: Aimee

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Aimee’s story began before she even realized. Aimee, a native from “The Selva” of Perú, was living in Perú while her boyfriend, Danny, his brother, Denny, and Denny’s girlfriend, Melissa, began meeting with the missionaries in Cleveland, TN. Danny, Denny, and Melissa began learning the gospel with the support of local family members, but soon after those missionaries were transferred to a new area and lost contact with the missionaries. However, they continued to be supported by their family members.

Fast forward a year, and one of the original missionaries who first taught Aimee’s family was transferred back to Cleveland and swiftly started teaching Danny, Denny, and Melissa again. However, during the past year, Aimee immigrated to the United States to be with Danny, so when the missionaries started teaching Danny again, they met Aimee and invited her to learn more. Aimee quickly embraced the restored gospel.

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Denny, Danny, Melissa, and Aimee all progressed at their own paces. Since moving to Cleveland, Aimee was able to witness the wedding of Denny and Melissa. Later she witnessed the baptism of Denny and months later the baptism of Melissa. Sometime after that moment, Aimee decided that she too wanted to and was ready to make a covenant with her Heavenly Father. The only problem, she wasn’t yet married to her boyfriend Danny–a requirement of baptism for those who are living together. As a surprise to the missionaries, Aimee and Danny informed them that they were getting married on June 10th, and that 6 days later, on June 16th, Aimee would be getting baptized.

Aimee and Danny had a beautiful wedding late on June 10, 2024. She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on June 16, 2024 by her family member Daniel Godoy. Aimee enjoyed being a member of the church and attending the temple. Since her baptism, her husband Danny has also been baptized.

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