Author: barlowsintkm

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Robert

~ barlowsintkm ~ Leave a comment

Robert’s story began one evening while he was on Facebook. At the time, he felt he was in a dark place in life. As he scrolled, he came across an invitation asking if he wanted to come closer to Christ. In that moment, he said he was overcome by a prompting within, guiding him to take the first step on his journey.

The very next day, missionaries contacted Robert and visited his home. They shared a scripture with him and gave him a Book of Mormon.

.

Reflecting on that experience, Robert said:

“After our meeting they prayed with me and made arrangements to come back for more lessons. It was through these lessons that I learned about Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, and the Plan of Salvation. I learned more about our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, and how much they love us! I learned that faith leads to repentance which leads to baptism and the Holy Ghost. By praying, reading scripture, and attending church regularly, I could feel my faith growing stronger every day! It caused me to fall to my knees and repent with all my heart while asking for forgiveness of my past.”

On July 5, 2025, Robert was baptized and confirmed. Since then, he has taken another step forward by being ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood and receiving a calling as a ward missionary.

.

Robert shares, “I love my church family, and am joyous to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!”

Not a day goes by that Robert doesn’t bring a smile to those around him. He continues to fill the world with light everywhere he goes.

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Aziyah and Quionna

~ barlowsintkm ~ Leave a comment

In May 2025, Aziyah saw an online invitation to learn more about baptism. When the missionaries first reached out, they asked if they were texting with Aziyah, and she replied no. After introducing themselves and explaining why they had contacted her, she confirmed that it was her but said she was nervous. A few texts and phone calls later, she agreed to meet.

When the missionaries met with Aziyah, they immediately felt her light and saw how prepared she was. She expressed a desire to be forgiven of her past mistakes. As the missionaries taught the doctrine of baptism, they invited her to be baptized. A Young Women counselor from the Hixson Ward was present and bore testimony of covenants. She had tears in her eyes as she expressed the love the Savior has for these two girls. The Spirit was powerful, and Aziyah responded with, “Yes! Yes! How can I prepare?”

The next day, when the missionaries returned, Aziyah’s 9-year-old sister Quionna answered the door. They invited her to join the lesson, taught about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and asked if she wanted to be baptized the same day as her sister. She declined at first.

.

At a later lesson, the Sisters felt prompted to extend the invitation again. They watched the video of Jesus Christ’s baptism together, and when asked if this was something she wanted to do, Quionna admitted she was very afraid of water, but still wanted to be baptized. Through prayer and encouragement, the missionaries helped her put her trust in God and begin to overcome her fear.

On June 22, 2025, both sisters entered the waters of baptism. Aziyah radiated with joy as she made her covenant with God. When it was Quionna’s turn, fear returned. For nearly 20 minutes she stood at the edge of the font, unable to step in. With patient encouragement from Brother Barrott, quiet support from Sister Barrott, and the prayers of the ward members present, Quionna finally found the courage to enter the water. She overcame her fear and was baptized, surrounded by the love and strength of her new church family.

.

It was truly a day to remember. The pure love of Christ was manifest in the faith of these two young sisters. Today, Aziyah and Quionna continue to attend church faithfully and are excited to keep learning the gospel and to share it with their friends.

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Jerry

~ barlowsintkm ~ Leave a comment

Elder Porter and Elder Barnett received a referral on a Saturday night, so they called Jerry immediately and invited him to church. The next morning, Jerry came to church for the first time. After church, the elders taught Jerry about the doctrine of baptism and confirmation and invited him to be baptized, and Jerry accepted.

Over the following weeks, Jerry met with the missionaries regularly and had contact with them daily. He had a smoking addiction for over 30 years and he said he needed help being able to quit smoking. The missionaries promised him that if he read the Book of Mormon daily and continued to come to church then he would be able to stop smoking.

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day. – President Russell M. Nelson

From that point on, Jerry read the Book of Mormon every day and came to church every Sunday. With the help of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he quit smoking.

At the first lesson the elders had at Jerry’s house, Jerry told the missionaries he was confused because he never sent in a referral so he didn’t know how the missionaries got his address. But he was very grateful for the things he was learning.

#TKMTenderMercies

Jerry was baptized on June 19, 2025 as a member of the Dayton Ward. Jerry’s life has improved greatly after baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. He is a changed man and his countenance has changed due to the covenants he has made.

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Curnekia

~ barlowsintkm ~ Leave a comment

Curnekia has had great faith her whole life. Through her many trials, Curnekia has depended on God to overcome her hardships. She sought peace through different baptisms in different churches, and in the beginning of 2025, she was baptized again in a different church. However, she still felt there was something more.

Curnekia had sent in several online requests to meet with missionaries dating back to December 2024. But for various reasons, the missionaries were unable to maintain contact with her. Finally, on May 8th, she sent in a referral responding to the invitation, “Would you like to become the best version of yourself? Meet with the missionaries to find out how.” With that invitation, she began to meet with Elder Andrus and Elder O’Brien.

The missionaries invited her to church and she attended with her husband, Tim, and her 18 month old son, Timothy. Though she faced opposition in coming to church and had to leave early, she still stopped to pay her tithing. Curnekia has had great faith and she truly loves the Lord with all of her heart. The Elders ending up passing off Curnekia to the East Ridge Sisters because Curnekia and her family lived in their area.

.

Sister Brizzee and Sister Petersen decided while they were on an exchange to go by and visit her. Unfortunately, the door to her apartment complex was locked and there was no way for the sisters to get in. As they were walking away, Curnekia opened her window and yelled at them to come back. They had a very spiritual discussion with her about proper priesthood authority and difference between her previous baptisms and the baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. When they asked her if she would be baptized again, but this time with the proper authority, her face broke into a smile and she said yes. Curnekia was more than willing to meet up with the sister missionaries almost daily until her baptism.

Curnekia was baptized on June 28th, 2025 as a member of the Chattanooga Ward. It was a very sweet, spirit filled day. Curnekia continues to be an example to all those around her. She attends church each Sunday, and pays her tithing. She loves God and her family and she is so excited for the next steps of her covenant path.

#TKMTenderMercies

Welcome to the TKM!

~ barlowsintkm ~ 1 Comment

On August 20th, we welcomed 19 new missionaries to the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, and Sister Hunt followed a week later making it 20. This is an amazing group of new missionaries who are going to make a big difference in the mission.

Elder Allred
Elder Banfield
Sister Blake
Elder Bona
Elder Collette
Sister Dunn
Elder Empey
Sister Fuhriman
Elder Harvey
Elder Hoskins
Sister Ingebrigtsen
Elder Jarocki
Sister Larsen
Elder Larsen
Elder Morris
Elder Pedersen
Elder Pelton
Elder Roberts
Elder Tillberg
Sister Hunt

.

We had a great group to welcome them to Tennessee, complete with the welcome posters from the departing missionaries.

.

We are so grateful for our 23 trainers this transfer! These new missionaries will get off to a great start with their support.

New MissionaryTrainerArea
Elder BonaElder NelsonGray
Elder EmpeyElder BrownLakeway
Elder MorrisElder ScottOoltewah/Collegedale
Elder AllredElder TylerDayton
Elder PeltonElder KaumavaeSparta
Elder BanfieldElder BergesenPoplar Creek
Elder HoskinsElder KerbySmoky Mountain
Elder JarockiElder CarleyWest Hills SP
Elder LarsenElder RobbinsSevierville SP
Elder ColletteElder PackGrove Park SP
Elder HarveyElder RichinsLebanon 2nd SP
Elder TillbergElder Youngberg/JohnsDalton SP
Elder RobertsElder NaufahuFranklin
Elder PedersenElder MartinSpring Creek
Sister FuhrimanSister BowlerMarion
Sister DunnSister HornbergerWaynesville
Sister HuntSister Hansen/BrizzeePleasant Ridge
Sister BlakeSister HernandezSpring Creek
Sister LarsenSister LarsonCookeville 2nd SP
Sister IngebrigtsenSister Zogg/WilliamsGrove Park SP

.

Welcome to the TKM!

#WhatsUpInTKM

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Nathan

~ barlowsintkm ~ Leave a comment

The missionaries had been knocking doors in Greeneville when they met Nathan., That day, they taught him about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the Restoration. Nathan said it all made sense to him logically and recognized the Holy Ghost was bearing witness of truth. He said he continued to feel the Spirit every time he read the Book of Mormon, especially the book of Alma! As he learned, it was like he was going through the first of many new awakenings he would experience in his life!. There were also many miracles that showed Nathan that God was still there, and not giving up on him.

When the missionaries first asked Nathan to be baptized, he felt ready and excited to have that experience. However, there were things that prevented him from achieving this goal right away. Nathan relied greatly on his daughter Addy’s faith. He knew that this would be the best choice not only for him, but for his daughter’s future as well. He wants her to have a good life, and so he held tightly to the teachings of the Book of Mormon, his hope for the future, and the support of the members of the Greeneville Ward.

.

After exercising faith unto repentance, Nathan was baptized on May 31, 2025 and confirmed the following Sunday. He said he was so surprised at how happy he felt, he nearly cried. “He had finally been able to do this good thing the right way, as he put it. “I knew I was finally doing the right thing in the right way!”

Going to the temple was another incredible step for Nathan. He felt it was yet another awakening for him, and said it was a beautiful experience. He was so humbled to have been able to enter the House of the Lord. He truly felt that his ancestors were happier now that he knows the truth, and has been “saved for real.”

.

Nathan loves his church family in the Greeneville Ward and knows that they are always here for him if he ever needs them. He knows that in the struggles of life, he doesn’t need to fear because his church family and God will always be there for him.

When asked how he felt about the covenant path before him, Nathan simply said, “Rock ‘n Roll”!

#TKMTenderMercies