Jacob’s story begins with the sister missionaries teaching his mom Rebecca. She said that he had asked why the elders never stop by to visit him. While the sisters had tried to teach him, he was not interested so this was a big change and a surprise for the sisters.
Immediately the sisters called the Hixson elders, Elder Mendenhall and Elder Harmon. They set up a time to visit with Jacob the next day. During the first lesson Jacob talked about how he has been trying to live a better life and wanted to change to be better. He also talked about how he was actually an atheist and hated god and used to tell people god wasn’t real, but as he saw his mom gain joy and happiness with meeting with missionaries he wanted to see what it was all about.
The missionaries explained that baptism was the way to gain a relationship with God. Jacob said he wanted to be baptized but didn’t feel now was the right time. In the next few lessons, his heart was softened by the Spirit and he went from saying he would be baptized at 18 to being baptized in a few months.
A big moment in his conversion was the story found in Mosiah 18 when Alma was teaching the people at the Waters of Mormon. As we watched the Book of Momorn video with him he was inspired and touched by the Spirit. It seemed every lesson after that the Spirt was teaching Jacob. Elder Mendenhall was transferred out and Elder Haderlie had came to serve in Hixson as a new missionary.
During the whole process of preparing Jacob to be baptized, Jacob had been attending church with his mom and building friendships with the youth his age. After a few weeks of teaching Jacob, his mom Rebecca was baptized. At her baptism, he shared his testimony and expressed how happy he was and that he felt he was ready to be baptized.
At the beginning of the planning stages for Jacob’s Baptism, he expressed that he didn’t want very many people at his baptism and only wanted his closest friends and family. But as members kept expressing their love for him and as he attended youth activities he was gaining true friendships that would be life long. He started inviting people to his baptism.
Jacob was baptized on August 4, 2024. He couldn’t have been more happy. His closest friend came to his baptism as well as six other non-members, including his sister who was also taking the missionary lessons. As he came out of the water, Jacob had the biggest smile, gave Elder Harmon a hug, and expressed how much he felt God’s love.
While changing back and drying off Elder Harmon said Jacob told him he felt something and it was warm and powerful and knew it was the Spirit. After receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, he was visibly happier and more joyful. His mom shared her testimony at the baptism on how as a mother, she saw the hand of the Lord working in Jacob’s life and it was incredible to see his mighty change of heart.
A few months later Jacob was able to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead. While waiting to go back and change, the Temple President came in and talked to him about the joys of the temple. Jacob expressed that this was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. After doing baptisms, and as everyone was walking around the temple grounds, he talked to the Elders saying he wished he could explore more of the temple. They shared that one day he would get the chance to experience everything the temple offered. He was so happy and expressed he looks forward to that day.
Jacob is now serving and a faithful priesthood holder, blessing and passing the sacrament to the members and friends of the Hixson ward.
#TKMTenderMercies
Barlows in TKM 