We found Shyra through contacting people on Facebook. Sister Avei added her as a friend and cold called her one afternoon and she picked up. We talked to her about what her biggest challenge in life was right then. She said that she was grieving the loss of one of her friends. We invited her to church and taught her about the Sacrament and how it could help her feel peace. She said she would love to come. She sent us her address and so we set up a time to visit with her the Saturday before church.
Sister Dever and Sister Avei went over that Saturday and we reiterated our purpose as missionaries. She said that she had never been baptized before and that it was something she would like to do. We taught her the Doctrine of Baptism and before we could extend a date she said, “I think I can be baptized in two weeks.” We gave her a baptismal calendar and she used it every single day leading up to her baptism.
Shyra diligently read the Book of Mormon and prayed every single day. She worked so hard to be ready for her baptism. On April 26th 2025 she was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Knoxville YSA Branch.
We asked Shyra her experience with being on the other end of the cold call. She said when she talked to us, it made her excited. She had been feeling impressions to get back in church but didn’t know where to go. She wanted to meet new people and start doing better things with her life. She loves the YSA church family and especially loves all the activities.
She said that reading the Book of Mormon and praying always makes her day better. It has brought her a lot of peace. Shyra got a little scared to step into the font and follow through with her decision, but once she did and after she was baptized everything was great. Since being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost she has been less angry and has been able to deal with life’s problems better. She said it is very calming and helps her feel at peace and has changed her completely. Ultimately, Shyra shared that since getting back on this path it has blessed her life and has helped her to reconnect with her sister again.
Shyra has already started to see the blessings of the gospel in her life and has been sharing her testimony with our friends, her friends and her family. She loves being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Barlows in TKM 