Dionamit, Jhoan and Jeremias were found by Elder Tyson Hurtado and Elder Isaac Maynes soon after they moved to the United States. Their journey is filled with hard work, family, and faith. The Elders met them at a new convert’s birthday party and invited them to begin taking the discussions. Jhoan had met with missionaries in Venezuela years prior, but after the message of the Restoration lesson, nothing came of it. Now in the States, he was finally prepared. The family soon became dedicated to attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as much as possible.
Many obstacles stood in their way that could have prevented them from receiving saving ordinances. Yet they came so far and they weren’t ready to give up. One challenge was work. Their boss had them working every other weekend. On the weekends when they were free, they were at church and attended sacrament meeting times many, many times before the day of their baptism arrived.
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Since moving to Greeneville, their relationship with the Lord has only grown. They prayed day and night for their dreams of baptism to come true. They never doubted He would work it out. When Sister Wood and Sister Holliday began working with the family, all they asked for were prayers. Dionamit and Jhoan would need to be married before they could be baptized. It was set up so they would be married on Thursday, get baptized on Friday, and attend the temple for the first time on Friday. It was also their son, Jeremias’ 13th Birthday week!
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Everyone came together to celebrate these big events with this family. Each member of the ward offered something beautiful for the wedding Ceremony. A youth baked a 3 tiered cake, a sister who plans weddings brought more than 7 flower arrangements, center pieces and table cloth, our friend captured the whole thing like a professional on her camera! And like a potluck, everyone contributed!
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They were baptized on August 9, 2024 in a wonderful service attended by many friends.
The trip to the temple was remarkable. The happiest moment of all, is Dionamit’s smile as she held her very first temple recommend. To top off the festivities, Jhoan took family names to the temple. The next day, Sunday, him and his son were able to pass the sacrament for the first time.
Sister Angell and Sister Avei were in the Walmart parking lot and saw them. Alex ran up and did his typical, “Sister Missionaries!!” They chatted with him and Sara for a few minutes when Sara asked, “So what is the difference between y’alls church and everyone else’s?” Alex grabbed the Book of Mormon and said, “This!” He then invited Sara to meet the missionaries.
Sister Angell and Sister Avei met with Sara and Alex two days after they talked in the parking lot. They taught her the Restoration and Alex shared his testimony after every principle that was taught. After the lesson Sara expressed, “I’ve understood more in this 20-minute lesson than I have for the past two years at my previous church.” Sara attended sacrament meeting the following Sunday and was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ that day. The missionaries invited her to follow the example of her Savior Jesus Christ and be baptized into His Church. Sara said that this is what she wanted to do. Alex hugged Sara, looked her in the eyes, and said “I know this is the right thing for you and it will change your life”.
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Sara was instantly fellowshipped by the youth of the Signal Mountain Ward. They all asked if they could join in teaching Sara about the truths they were raised with. Sara grew up without this same knowledge and was actively seeking truth. She developed a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and had a desire to be baptized.
But Sara’s parents were hesitant about this idea. They were unsure about signing the form allowing her to be baptized. Alex knew how much baptism would bless Sara’s life. He fasted all day so that his parents would be willing to sign the form. Alex and Sara both bore their testimony to their parents. They shared why baptism was important to them. They shared why they felt this was the true church. When their mom heard the testimonies of her children and listened to Sara express a desire to be baptized, her heart was softened. She signed the form and even attended the baptismal service a few days later.
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Sara was baptized on Saturday August 24, 2024. She had the support of many friends and family, including many members of the Signal Mountain Ward. When Sara came up out of the water her face was beaming with the biggest smile. This baptismal service was filled with pure joy. When Sara bore her testimony at the end of the meeting, she closed with “Thank you Alex for bringing me to God.”
Sara made the decision to pursue a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ despite initial opposition from her friends and family. She has found pure joy through the restored gospel. She is an example to all around her, and invites her friends to learn more about Jesus Christ and His gospel. We are so grateful for Sara’s sweet spirit, persistence, and continual missionary efforts. She is a life changer!
Darla’s story is nothing short of countless miracles, family love, faith and at the center of it all, Jesus Christ.
Last year, Darla applied for some housing and was put on a year-long wait list. Early this year, she was notified that she had an apartment, but was only given a 48-hour window to move in the apartment or her offer would be gone. Darla knew that her, her husband, and 15-year old grandson Jayden would not be able to move everything into the apartment in time and frantically began looking for help.
She found herself on Facebook where she discovered the Kingsport Tennessee Stake page, and sent a message requesting help. At the time, Bishop Polk was beginning his first week as the new bishop over the Rotherwood Ward. When he received the message that someone within the ward boundaries was looking for help moving his immediate reaction was to dismiss it as he already had so much on his plate, but the Spirit stopped him. There is more to this story.
Bishop Polk followed the prompting and reached out to Brother Adam Smith, the Elders Quorum President, and asked him to help Darla. Brother Smith immediately reached out and scheduled a time to come help. Even after the original meeting fell through, Brother Smith continued to contact them and eventually, with the help of many ward members, got them settled into their apartment.
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After the move, Brother Smith stayed in touch and continued to help them with every opportunity he saw, including inviting Darla to meet with missionaries. She began meeting with Sister Harris and Sister Duncan. As she met with the missionaries, she felt changes began to happen in her life. She felt the desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ and decided to be baptized.
Darla was preparing for her baptism when her husband became ill and died. She lost contact with the missionaries for a while as she mourned the death of her husband and thought about what the future would mean for her. Darla reconnected with missionaries, now Sister Terry and Sister Leathers, and determined to finish what she’d started.
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As Darla began her journey again, trial after trial sprang up trying to pull her back or distract her from the path she was on. The major turning point for her was when she kneeled down to pray, to ask her Father in Heaven, if all this was true. She received her answer that yes indeed it was true! This was an amazing experience for Darla to receive this personal witness that the principles she was being taught were true!
That knowledge gave her strength and courage to continue forward through even more challenges she faced as she again approached her baptism: sickness, family troubles, and other emergencies. She often told the missionaries she felt like she had spiritual armor on as she prayed and studied her scriptures, and that power was increasing every day. She experienced the peace and love as she and her house were blessed by priesthood authority.
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The day of her baptism she was very special, surrounded by ward members that now had become her family! Darla asked Brother Smith to baptize her. She was baptized on July 27, 2024 and is not a member of the Rotherwood Ward.
Elder Bangerter and Elder McClellan started to fellowship James in the spring of 2023. They loved meeting with him and his family. At that time James kids, April’s step children weren’t members yet. But steadily they began to want to be baptized. Eventually, I, Elder Rumsey began my mission in March of 2023 and I was trained by Elder Bangerter. I met James on the third day of my mission. I became fast friends with James along with the rest of their family. We ate dinner at their house many times and loved meeting them for the three months I was there. I wanted James to be baptized, but I wasn’t sure what to do as he didn’t feel ready to make that covenant at the time.
I eventually had to leave the area and added the Herndon family to my weekly email list. There was a small prayer in my heart that James would read them and feel the Spirit.
Elder Barrow and Elder Nash became companions and started to teach James kids. Who soon enough, in the summer of 2023 decided they wanted to be baptized. In July of 2023 they were baptized and confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-Day Saints. The only member of the family who wasn’t a member at this point was James.
From this point forward, the spiritual progress of helping James reach the waters of baptism was slow. The Herndon family is a busy bunch. James also was fighting an unknown medical condition at the time. They were constantly trying to find answers to why he felt the way he did. We now know he has Parkinson disease.
One year later, I was called back to Kingsport! At the time, I had only guessed why I was sent back to my first area on my mission. I tried to see James and the rest of the Herndons but they were away for a while. I wasn’t able to get ahold of them for about 8 weeks of being back. I figured that I wouldn’t be able to.
Out of no where, James’ wife April came to church and invited Elder Croney and I over to do a service project. The following Saturday came and James was there, it was the first time I had seen him in over a year. After the service project was finished. The we went inside for dinner and to share a message. As we shared our message I felt the stirrings of the Spirit to invite James to be baptized. It was so random and out of no where that I was caught off guard. It had been a year since I had talked to James and I didn’t want to be rude. He had a lot going on in his life and to be honest, I didn’t want to invite him and ruin any progression that he had while I was away. So I unfortunately pushed it aside, assuming I had thought it at random.
As we left the house the feeling of regret grew. In my heart I knew that what I had pushed aside was the Spirit. I pleaded with the Lord to give us another chance to invite him.
The next day, James came to church. Elder Croney and I knew that if there was ever a time to seal the deal, it was then and there. We asked James after Sacrament Meeting to come into a classroom to sit down and talk with us. James being the nice guy he is, agreed.
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As we began to talk, I confessed that I felt as though I missed a prompting from the Spirit. I could see a look of interest and a glimpse of a smile on James face as I explained how I felt. I then invited James to be baptized. James’ response startled both Elder Croney and I. He said, “I knew you wanted to ask me! I could see it on your face. Yes, I would love to be baptized.” As simple as the moment sounds reading it on paper, the Spirit was so strong.
James was then baptized the following week on July 21, 2024.
One of my favorite stories in the New Testament is found in Acts 3 where Peter and John heal a man who had been crippled since birth. In my opinion, it is also one of the best Bible Videos (that you can watch here).
As this story begins, this likely was not the first time Peter and John had seen this man. In fact, they probably have seen him and walked past him each time they had been to the temple. Verse 2 notes he was “laid daily at the gate of the temple…to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.” And that happened again this time. “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.”
But something changed when they saw him this time. Verse 4 has the phrase of “Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John…”. This time, Peter and John saw this lame man differently than they had before. Their vision changed. And because of that, a miracle occurred.
To his request for alms, Peter responds, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:6-8).
Because they acted differently, the outcome changed completely for both the lame man, and also Peter and John. Think about the difference this experience made for the lame man. He had never stood on his feet, but now he could walk and jump. But I also think about the difference it made for Peter and John. To heal this man must have had a great impact on them as well.
There are some great lessons we can learn from this story:
To change our results in life, we have to change what we do. To change what we do, we have to change what we think. To change what we think, we have to change what we see.
Thus, a key to getting different results is to have a vision of what needs to be accomplished. We have to see people differently. We have to see our circumstances differently. We have to see His work differently.
This is so important with missionary work. A bold vision of the work can cause us to see things differently. As we see things differently, we begin to think differently. As we think differently, we begin to act differently. And as we act differently, results will begin to change. It all begins with obtaining a new vision of what needs to be accomplished…to see things differently.
With that in mind, what is your vision for the work? How can you see things differently? Don’t be afraid to try to new things – to act differently – to change your current outcomes. Always act within the standards we’ve been given, but change up your routines. Break out of patterns that may be limiting your thinking of what is possible. Break those lids!
See differently…think differently…act differently…results change.
We love you and are so grateful to serve with you. Let me or Sister Barlow know if you need anything!
Michelle was found by missionaries knocking on her door. Sister Chappell and Sister Campbell had found a friend at an apartment complex and had scheduled a lesson with him, but when they went to the lesson he wasn’t home. Preach My Gospel teaches us, “Perhaps you have been led to this person because someone else in the home or neighborhood is ready for the gospel” (page 173). As they considered this, Sister Campbell felt prompted to knock on the door of a house nearby.
The missionaries were led to Michelle’s door and she answered. They felt impressed to share some gospel music together, and as they did, they got to know each other better. The missionaries shared the song “Disciple of Christ” and Michelle loved it! They set up a time to visit her again and began teaching her about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ..
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As the missionaries got to know Michelle better, she told them that she had been praying for people to talk to God with her. Michelle already knew Jesus Christ and had faith in Him. She always studied her Bible. She grew up in a different religion and had always felt close to the Savior. She quickly gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon and the truths she was being taught.
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Michelle was baptized on July 20, 2024 and is now a member of the Hixson Ward.
Two missionaries pulled into the Food City parking lot to do some public contacting. One of the missionaries said “Hey, I think we need to go visit the Webb’s – you know the ones mentioned in branch council that moved here a few years ago?” Immediately they hopped back in the car and headed out.
Just a few miles over, John and Jenny Webb were out looking for some of their chickens that had been attacked the night before. They were always hard at work; gardening, taking care of chickens, quail, goats, and dogs, and their sweet grandson Westley. They previously had lived in Texas with a large home and lots of land and busy work schedules. Their dream of building a home and having land brought them to Tennessee. However, an injury from an accident required 8 surgeries and an amputation, which put a halt to the plans to build a home. Times were hard and money was tight, but the Webbs had been through a lot, and they knew they had each other.
When the missionaries pulled up, they were immediately impressed by the down-to-earth kindness from John and Jenny. They have always lived in a manner of serving and loving others, and they have taken many teens into their home over the years. John grew up in the church, and has always clung onto his testimony. When they moved here they looked up the church building and were considering going. The missionaries visited and talked about the sacrament and invited them to church.
The first time they came to church they just stayed for sacrament meeting. That week was Jenny’s birthday. The missionaries weren’t planning on stopping by their house that day, but the Spirit said otherwise. So they baked a little cake and dropped it off. Jenny was touched that someone was aware of her and that she got to celebrate her birthday in a simple way. The missionaries went by again and asked Jenny if they could teach her. Jenny said absolutely!
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She explained that many missionaries have knocked on her door over the years and she has always been irritated. However, this time was different. She said that her experiences in the last few years had changed her heart.
The missionaries started coming over a few times a week, and Jenny started reading in the Book of Mormon every day. She is legally blind, but didn’t let that stop her. She installed the Book of Mormon app and Gospel Library and zooms in on her phone so that she can see it and listen to the scriptures.
When she learned about the Godhead and that we are created in the image of our Heavenly Father, she said it made so much sense! Jenny continued to read and pray every day. She didn’t miss going to church on Sunday, and she kept praying for an answer.
As we talked about patterns of revelation and light, she was able to connect with the pattern that is akin to walking through fog; where there is only enough light to take one step at a time. When the missionaries invited her to be baptized she was overwhelmed and felt she wasn’t ready. As she had doubts and fears, she continued to turn to the Book of Mormon and pour out her heart in prayer. One Sunday she came up to the missionaries and said, “I’m ready to take the next step into the fog.”
As we planned her baptism there was continuous opposition. One afternoon Jenny stood in the parking lot at the church and felt like she simply couldn’t do it anymore. She wasn’t sure she could carry on and continue to prepare to be baptized. Sister Holladay and Sister Gabbitas each had a unique story they shared. Their experiences struck a chord with Jenny, and she was able to pause and remember why she was working towards this. As they stood in the parking lot crying together, they uttered a simple prayer, and the Spirit spoke peace to their hearts. Jenny had a clear thought. “This is why.” She felt this peace is why it is all worth it. This is why we turn to God in our struggles, so that He can consecrate those experiences for our gain. This is why true joy comes from turning to Jesus Christ.
When Jenny told her sister (who joined the church years ago) that she was getting baptized, her sister shared an experience she’d had 15 years ago. They had been at a Webb family gathering and a discussion about the church ensued. Someone made a comment that Jenny would never join the church. She stood up and said “I never said that!” In that moment, her sister saw her standing there in all white, and she felt in her heart that Jenny would someday be baptized. When she heard the news from her sister, she cried tears of joy.
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Jenny was baptized and confirmed on July 21, 2024. Her father in law, Bill Webb, who is in his 80’s, was able to perform those sacred ordinances. As Jenny sat down and John and Bill Webb stood in the circle to confirm her, the most beautiful light emanated from them. This was a family on the path to their eternal progression.
Jenny and John look forward to the day they will be sealed. Jenny continues to read the Book of Mormon every day and she says that she will not let the adversary take away what she has. Jenny and John continue to love and serve everyone around them and look forward to their path of progression together. Jenny shared, “Even though we have less than we have ever had before, even though we have lost so much, I have never been happier.”
Vic married Sandy Woods, who is a member of the Gray Ward. Sandy’s faith and example played a critical role in helping him in his conversion.
Vic grew up a member of another church and is very grateful he had a Christian upbringing. Sandy would often invite the missionaries into their home and Vic always had great respect for them. He was especially impressed with their willingness to try to share the gospel in the South and the resilience they had when they were faced with rejection.
Vic had been going to church with Sandy for a long time. He was actually given a calling to serve in the nursery before he was a member. When it was announced that he was going to be baptized, a lot of the members of the ward were really surprised because they thought he was a member all along.
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Vic was baptized on July 13, 2024 as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Susie is originally from Maryland and moved to Cookeville out of the blue on Thursday May 16, 2024. She was leaving a rough situation and was looking for a new start.
On June 11, 2024, Sister Biasi and Sister Hunt got a referral for a woman named Monica who was looking for a church to attend. We called her and taught her about the sacrament and asked if she would come to our church for a chapel tour. When she agreed, we asked Monica if there was anyone else who would like to join for the tour. She started yelling for a girl named Susie.
Susie took the phone and we began teaching her about the sacrament and we ended the phone call with a church tour set up for Saturday with Monica, Susie, and 4 other girls!
On Saturday we showed up for the tour and only Susie ended up coming. As we were giving her the tour, we stopped at the baptismal font. As we opened the doors, we looked over at Susie and she was in tears. She then asked, “What do I have to do to be baptized?” We had an amazing member there who is a recent convert who quickly replied, “Stop swearing and stop smoking!!” We taught Susie about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and ended the tour by inviting her to be baptized on July 6, 2024.
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We began teaching Susie every other day in preparation for her baptism. We invited many members of our church to join us for those lessons, and they were a huge part in helping Susie prepare and overcome many challenges that would have held her back from being baptized. With their support and the help and strength from Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Susie was able to overcome all of her challenges.
As she started moving closer and closer to her date you could see this light growing brighter and brighter in Susie. She told us multiple times that for the first time in her life, she didn’t feel like she was going in circles any more. She felt a sense of purpose and was finally moving forward.
On July 27, 2024 Susie was baptized and on July 28th she was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Susie is now working to go to the temple. She is looking forward to doing the work for Her grandma and sister.
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Susie has since shared many experiences with us that led up to her meeting us. One of those was she was told by a friend that Utah would mean alot to her in the next month. Two weeks later she met two girls from Utah ready to help her receive Jesus Christ’s gospel. We know she was being prepared for a while and was finally in a place where she was able to do all she could to grow closer to Jesus Christ.
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Susie is already such a GOLD STAR of a member. She has such sweet testimony of the gospel. We are so grateful for Susie and her example to us. As Susie would say, “The best is yet to come!” And we can’t wait!
“Back in 2020 I had my leg operated on and I had a really bad infection in my leg and was about to lose my leg. I hadn’t been to church in about 20 years. I was laying there in the emergency room and the ER doctor came in and told me I could possibly lose my leg. I closed my eyes and just prayed “I know I haven’t been the closest to you Lord, but if you’re with me please just don’t let me lose my leg.”
After that they took me in for emergency surgery for about 9 hours. When I woke up I saw my leg was still there and I told the nurse the Lord was with me because I didn’t lose my leg. I had two or three more surgeries after that first one and I kept my leg. I’m able to do most everyday normal things.
It seems like I forgot about Him but He didn’t forget about me, and He still didn’t turn His back on me after that situation.
After all that, I was at home recooperating and I just talked to myself. “Maybe it’s time for me to make a change, get back into church, and try to live my life right.” I had my phone in my hand and I just prayed, “Lord, lead me the way to attend the right church that would be a close knit family.”
Within five minutes of saying that prayer, the website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website pulled up, and I said, “There’s my answer!” So I filled out the form online and in a few days the missionaries called and set up a meeting.
When they walked in I could just feel the warmth coming off of them. I knew they were the real deal. We started studying the Book of Mormon. The missionaries kept close contact and kept encouraging me to read the Book of Mormon every day. These ladies were sent from God.
I read the Book of Mormon for about a month and followed the calendar the missionaries had given me. On June 8, 2024 I got baptized. That was the best day of my life! When you get baptized, you don’t know how clean you’re going to feel. When I came out of the water, I felt so clean. I felt like a new person.
The people at church make you feel like family. You couldn’t ask for a better church then where I go to church at.
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by Sister Wall
I feel so incredibly blessed that I was able to witness Jason choose to follow Jesus Chirst. I remember when Sister Condie and I made a baptismal calendar with Jason, we set his date, and he left the library, and we looked at each other and said, “Why didn’t we plan for his baptism sooner?!” So we ran up the stairs chasing him, and when we finally caught up with him, we asked him if he would like to be baptized sooner. He said with confidence, “That’ll be fine.”
Jason has been a great example of choosing Jesus Christ even when life gets hard and uncomfortable. Jason finds comfort in His Savior Jesus Christ.
by Sister Condie
The first time we read the Book of Mormon intro together, Jason told us he knew it was a good thing. He felt the spirit. After a few lessons, he said he found himself choosing to be kind and acting more like Christ, and he knew those changes came from the Savior.
When baptism day rolled around, the font filled up slower then we were expecting. So Sister Wall, the Elders, and I ran around with pitchers of water so we could get the font filled up in time. It was a little chaotic but when it came time for the actual baptism, the chaos didn’t matter. Jason was happy to be making a covenant with God.
Even when difficult roadblocks popped up, Jason pushed through and made it to baptism. I’m grateful for his testimony, desire to connect with the ward, and example of the light and lasting change that comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Barlows in TKM 