Cesar was found when Elder Poll and Elder Colling tried knocking on a referral, but instead, they met Cesar! We then started teaching him. From the beginning, we knew Cesar had a very special spirit. He was also curious about the Book of Mormon, so he started reading it and pondering its message. This was a key part of his conversion.
Another important part of Cesar’s story is when he accepted a baptismal invitation. At first, he was nervous, but he also knew he could do it. He decided to meet with us more often, which was crucial to his overall baptismal preparation. During this time, he learned about some of the commandments he would need to keep to be baptized, and fortunately, he was already living by all of them. The Lord had been preparing him for this moment.
Members made a huge impact on Cesar. Hermana Williams was there for Cesar every step of the way. She taught him many things and helped him understand the gospel principles through our church lessons.
One of our favorite experiences with Cesar was on Christmas Day. He was going through a tough time, and we offered to give him a blessing. This was a huge turning point for him. The blessing brought him peace, which he really needed at that moment.
Cesar was baptized on January 24, 2025 as a member of the West Hills Ward. At Cesar’s baptism, it was clear how much the gospel had changed his life. He came out of the water with a sense of peace and strength we had never seen in him before. We are grateful for Cesar and for the decision he has made to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Barlows in TKM 