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.
.
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.
.
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.
As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned about being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned about being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
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.
.
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.
As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned about being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
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.
.
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.
As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned about being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned about being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned about being a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
Steve was referred by his friend Lydia, who is a member of the church in Texas. Years ago Lydia bore her testimony about the Book of Mormon and then slipped one in Steve’s suitcase when he left. A few years later, Steve lost this Book of Mormon and felt curious of what it held that his friend Lydia testified so strongly about. He asked Lydia about it, and she offered to have the missionaries bring him a new copy.
What Lydia thought would be just dropping off a Book of Mormon turned into slow but steady lessons with Steve with the missionaries. At first Steve was hesitant. He didn’t dive right into the Book of Mormon. He said, “I have never read a book in my life!”
Slow persistence and member friendship helped Steve realize he needed to read this book for himself and see what he could learn. In his prayers he prayed for the safety of the missionaries as well as asking for help to understand what he was reading in the Book of Mormon. Steve’s prayers and continued faith helped him progress toward making covenants or special promises with God.
After meeting members during lessons Steve saw the same happiness and joy through trials that he saw with his friend Lydia. After going to church the first week, Steve said, “ I just can’t figure out why everyone is so happy!” But he knew he needed to be part of it.
.
Steve became more curious about baptism, but there were a few road blocks along the way. Steve has smoked cigarettes his entire life from the time that he was a child, throughout his service in the military, and into his adult life. He smoked a lot. 3 packs a day was not unusual for him.
Steve wanted to be right with God for his baptism but he knew how hard quitting smoking had been for him in the past. Quitting was difficult. Going from that much smoking to none at all was not an easy task. Through lots of prayers, fasting, the help of God and persistent effort, Steve was able to stop smoking. When we asked him what made the difference, he said, “It must have been this book (The Book of Mormon) and the message that y’all shared.”
The Book of Mormon is what made the difference in Steve’s journey to quit smoking and come unto Jesus Christ. We know the power the Book of Mormon brings, we’ve seen it with Steve. Steve has also seen this power and he wants to share it with others so it can help them.
Steve was baptized on June 1, 2024. This was a huge step in God’s plan for Steve. He continues to grow his testimony by coming to church and preparing to help others by doing their work in the temple.
Barlows in TKM 