As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned that will help them be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.
#DiscipleOfChrist
Disciple of Christ – Sister Massey
Tender Mercies in the TKM: Josh
Josh is the epitome of a miracle! Josh’s wife Sierra was baptized in May 2024. Josh sat in on the lessons as Sierra was taught, but he had a couple setbacks that kept him from being baptized.
Josh continued to be taught by many missionaries and he loved learning the gospel of Jesus Christ. The turning point in his conversion was when members of the ward began to connect with him and became his friend. With their encouragement, he started reading the Book of Mormon every day and everything changed! He was happier, he had a greater resolve to help and support his wife and daughter, and he felt a desire to serve those around him. As Sierra was retaught the lessons after her baptism, Josh would join in with the missionaries. Over time, he recognized the importance of having an eternal family, and this became one of his greatest desires.
Josh decided he was going to put his family first, and the hope of an eternal family became his priority. As he put his family first, he found greater joy.
In the weeks leading up to his baptism, Josh expressed to the missionaries that he was feeling a change in himself as he was consciously making decisions to come closer to God and to his family. The missionaries saw that change in him too. The power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ was truly changing his life.
Josh was baptized on November 23, 2024.
Josh went to the temple for the first time on December 7th, and the next Sunday, with a giant smile on his face he said, “When I was getting baptized in the temple, I felt the power of God working through me!”
Josh looks forward to being able to be sealed to his family in about a year.
#TKMTenderMercies
Tender Mercies in the TKM: Jose and Guadalupe
Elder Bradshaw and Elder Poll were on the opposite side of their area when Elder Porter and Elder Harper called telling them they had met a lot of Hispanics at a laundromat. By the time the Spanish missionaries got there, it was around 8:50pm and there were only two people still there. Everyone else had left.
They had a short conversation with the two people there and invited them to the International Day party that the branch would be having two days later. Jose and Guadalupe both came to the party and stayed the entire time. After the party, Jose texted the missionaries and thanked them for inviting him. He even said he would like to come to church.
On Sunday, the missionaries saw Jose sitting in the back of the chapel. Jose started coming to English class and eventually brought Guadalupe with him. Because of his work commitments, Jose could only meet on Saturday afternoons for about 30 minutes. His progression was slow but very steady.
After being taught by the missionaries, Jose and Guadalupe wanted to get baptized, but first they would need to get married. They had a number of challenges as they worked to get their marriage license.
Finally, in September 2024, they were able to get everything they needed to get married. When they went to Nashville to get their marriage license, the worker asked if they would like to get married right there. They said yes! This was an inspiring step of faith that enabled them to now be baptized.
Jose and Guadalupe were baptized on October 6, 2024. They continue to come to church and contribute to the ward. Jose has received the priesthood and they are excited to be sealed in the temple one day.
Disciple of Christ – Sister Fear
As missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned that will help them be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
#DiscipleOfChrist
Tender Mercies in the TKM: Jose
One Friday night in August at around 8:45pm, with 15 minutes before it was time to head home, Elder Safsten and Elder Sommer went to the Walmart parking lot to talk to a few more people to find people to teach. As they were walking down a row of cars, Elder Safsten spotted José and started to talk with him. They made an instant connection with him.
José was really surprised that these two white young men dressed in ties were speaking such good Spanish. This really intrigued him and was what first got him interested in what they had to say. By the end of their conversation, even though they had just met him, José was teaching them the pronunciation of Spanish words and joking around with them.
The missionaries invited José to church and English class. He came to both. English class was a big part of his desire come into church at first. But as time went on and their friendship grew, his focused shifted from English class to the desire to be baptized.
Teaching the commandments went smoother than normal because José had already personally decided to obey them before the missionaries met him and taught them to him. This was evidence of the preparation Heavenly Father had given José before ever meeting the missionaries.
As his baptism day approached the members made a huge difference in helping Josè understand the baptismal convent. José learned that converts who get baptized into the church are invited to work and serve. Elder Hardy baptized José on October 13, 2024 as a member of the Lebanon 2nd Ward. He was confirmed by Hermano Luna after his baptism. The missionaries have since had many follow up lessons with José and gone to the temple with him.
Tender Mercies in the TKM: Isaac
Isaac had heard about our church from a friend. He was curious as to what made his friend make such drastic changes in their life just to get baptized into another church. So one day, Isaac wandered into the church about an hour before sacrament meeting started. The times on Google Maps were wrong which led to Isaac meeting the missionaries in Columbia, Tennessee.
Isaac met with the missionaries in Columbia, Tennessee for a month, he had regular discussions with Elder Madsen and Elder Alder about the gospel. He enjoyed getting to know the community and the doctrine of the church through Elder Madsen and Elder Alder. But not too long after he began meeting with them, Isaac moved to the Chattanooga area to start his new job.
The missionaries from Columbia referred Isaac to the missionaries in the Ooltewah Ward. After about a week, the missionaries in Ooltewah were able to speak with Isaac and start having discussions. Isaac met with Elder Hirst and Elder Staker frequently to study and learn more. Isaac had a feeling that he needed to get baptized but struggled with some uncertainty about whether or not he was ready. One night, the Elders had a lesson with Isaac and Brother Marshman, a member in the Ooltewah ward. During the lesson, they read the promise of Moroni in Moroni 10:3-5. After reading the promise, Brother Marshman extended the invitation to Isaac to pray about whether or not he should get baptized. Isaac prayed and after faithfully asking his Heavenly Father, Isaac stood up and said he felt like he should make his first covenant with God and get baptized..
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Moron 10:3-5
Isaac soon would face strong opposition in his journey along the path to baptism, which led to a few delays in the date of his baptism. But Isaac never once forgot that night when he first felt that he should get baptized. Isaac continued to press forward in his search for truth, he met and discussed with Elder Hirst and Elder Staker, as well as many of the members of the ward. He felt loved and he saw the joy the Gospel brought to their lives. He too desired that joy in his own life. Isaac watched General Conference, went to Stake Conference, and continually received the same impression that he not only needed to get baptized, but also receive the discerning power of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
That following weekend Isaac went with the ward to help in the service efforts of cleaning up after the hurricane in Augusta, Georgia. It was so fascinating to him to see so many people helping and serving others. It testified that not only was the church a worldwide church, but also a church of service and charity. This was a turning moment for Isaac, because he knew that a church of so much joy had to be true! Isaac trusted that receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost would help him to have the guidance and direction that he needed in his life. Isaac made the decision to get baptized and confirmed that Thursday!
Isaac was baptized on October 24, 2024.
Isaac’s baptism was meaningful to him in a lot of ways. It was significant to him to have that clean slate through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and baptism.. It was a comforting experience to receive the constant companionship of the gift of the Holy Ghost. Although still new to the area, lots of people attended and supported Isaac in this choice. Isaac realized he not only found a church, he found a second family.
Isaac continues to press forward strong in the gospel today and has even started attending lessons with the missionaries to share his testimony with other people seeking the truth like him!
Disciple of Christ – Sister Jepson
As missionaries complete their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned that will help them be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
#DiscipleOfChrist
Disciple of Christ – Sister Bird
As missionaries complete their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned that will help them be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
#DiscipleOfChrist
Disciple of Christ – Sister Wittwer
As missionaries complete their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, we invite them to share what they’ve learned that will help them be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.
#DiscipleOfChrist
Tender Mercies in the TKM: Denilson
Having lived in Venezuela for most of his life, the missionaries first met Denilson when he moved to Cleveland, TN. He moved in with the family of a few recent converts of the church, who quickly took him in as their own. Denilson’s girlfriend, Samyra, also grew up as a member of the church, and they slowly began to attend church together with the rest of Samyra’s family.
For months, Denilson would listen to or sit on on some of the missionary discussions. He always asked thought-provoking questions, and truly took interest in growing his faith. As he slowly began to attend church more, Samyra commented that she saw a big spiritual change in Denilson. Missionaries and family members had always talked with Denilson about making the covenant of baptism, but he hadn’t felt ready to make the decision.
One day, the missionaries came by to visit Raines and Lizzie, two of the recent converts of whom Denilson was living with. Denilson and Samyra were together in the home as well, and they soon started talking with the missionaries about their current circumstances. They had been struggling, and they expressed that they needed support and more of God’s strength in their life.
The missionaries testified of the strength that would come through making a covenant with God. They promised Denilson that he would be able to receive more support as he exercised his faith in being baptized. Denilson knew it was the right thing to do, and confidently said yes to being baptized. Before his baptismal date, Denilson and Samyra also planned to be married!
The marriage ceremony was fun and filled with lots of cultural Venezuelan and Peruvian food. It was a sweet moment in which family members of all sides joined in, both virtually and in-person.
The next day, Sunday, October 20, 2024, Denilson was baptized and confirmed as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had a bright smile leaving the baptismal font, and almost appeared to be glowing with the spirit. Denilson had come a long way, and his baptism was the start of a covenant relationship with his Father in Heaven.
Barlows in TKM 