Izander was first found by Elder Poll and Elder Lindsay. They met Izander’s mother, Lumary, at church. She was a returning member who had been invited to church by another friend they were teaching. Izander immediately loved going to church and youth activities, but eventually stopped meeting with the missionaries.
Six months later, Elder Colling and Elder Richins went to visit Lumary to invite her to a special Christmas sacrament meeting. It was then that they met Tely, Izander’s sister. Elder Colling had noticed her hiding in her room and invited her to join us. She was baptized a month later. The week following her baptism is when they met Izander, her older brother.
They invited Izander to be baptized our first time meeting him. They extended the baptismal date of March 1, but then Izander insisted that they move it up so he could be baptized as soon as possible. He quickly progressed and enjoyed reading his Book of Mormon and showing the his baptismal calendar that was all marked up as he tracked his daily prayers and reading the Book for Mormon.
After accepting his baptismal invitation, Tely, his sister told the elders “it was her mission to get Izander baptized.” Tely and her mother, Lumary played a critical role in Izander’s conversion. They taught him about the restored gospel, probably as much as the missionaries did and gave Izander incredible support.
Izander immediately started going to youth activities again. He began to love going to church and couldn’t wait to get baptized . Izander quickly prepared for his baptism and was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on February 23, 2025.
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Izander is now very involved with the youth and has made friends of all the young men in the West Hills Ward. He’s now helping bless and pass the sacrament and is a blessing to everyone in his new church family.
Barlows in TKM 