Tag: book-of-mormon

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Sara

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Alex Johnson is a recent convert in the Signal Mountain Ward. He was baptized in March 2024 and has since tried to share the gospel with EVERYONE! This included his little sister, Sara.

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!

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Darla

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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.

#TKMTenderMercies

Happy Birthday President Nelson!

~ barlowsintkm ~ 2 Comments

Missionaries across the Tennessee Knoxville Mission gathered together with friends and members to watch President Nelson’s 100th Birthday Party! Each zone held a party. Missionaries gathered at 6pm to watch the broadcast and had a potluck, cake, and ice cream afterwards.

To celebrate President Nelson’s birthday, all of the missionaries did two things:

First, we each participated in President Nelson’s “99+1” invitation to spread the love of Jesus Christ by reaching out to someone in need. While we do this every day as missionaries, we made this a special focus of the three preparation days leading up to President Nelson’s birthday.

Knoxville Zone

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Second, all missionaries memorized “The Restoration Proclamation”. We’ve been working on it over the last two months and set a deadline to have it completed by President Nelson’s birthday. This was a really powerful experience and we look forward to sharing more about that in a future post. Also, we will be recording the missionaries reciting the Restoration Proclamation at our next zone conference.

Cleveland Zone

We were grateful to have many friends join us to celebrate President Nelson’s birthday.

Lastly, at our zone conferences last month, Elder Jentzsch wrote a new verse to “Follow the Prophet” that we all sang together (with actions as taught by different missionaries)!

Kingsport Zone

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Happy Birthday President Nelson! We love you and are very grateful for your leadership and service.

#WhatsUpInTKM

Tender Mercies in the TKM: James

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by Elder Rumsey

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.

#TKMTenderMercies

Changing Our Vision

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Message in September 2, 2024 Newsletter

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: 

  1. 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. 
  1. 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. 
  1. 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!

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Michelle

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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.

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Susie

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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!

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Mia

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In 2019, the Cruz Family lost their home. Brother Cruz Sr. shared, “I sent my son, my daughter-in-law, and my two grand-daughters away to Virginia. I told them before they left, “Don’t worry about me, I’ll catch up.” I ended up being homeless and I lost everything I owned.”

“One night while homeless, I said to the Lord “If you want me, come get me. Otherwise, I am jumping in front of a bus at 9pm.” At 8:30pm that night, a man came up to me and asked me about what I was doing. I shared with him my plan. As we were talking he told me things that comforted me and told me he would miss me.”

“After talking so long, I looked up and saw that the 9pm bus had just zoomed by. I took this as an answer to my prayers and asked the Lord: “Tell me where to go and I’ll do it.” He led me to the Anaheim, California 4th ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

“After a while of going to the church, the members said they wanted to help me. The bishop asked what could they do and I asked for a one-way ticket to Jonesville, VA. My first missionaries and the bishop said goodbye and sent me off from Santa Ana, CA to Jonesville, VA. When I got to Jonesville, I met back up with my family and said “I told you I would catch up”. I kept going to church in the Powell Valley Ward and got baptized December 27, 2019.”

Brother Cruz Sr’s powerful testimony has had a huge impact on the rest of his family. Teaching Mia has been a special experience. As she read the Children’s Book of Mormon we had gospel discussions about the scripture stories found in its pages. Brother Cruz Sr. would tell his grand-daughters how much the gospel meant to him and how much it changed his life.

Mia was baptized by her grandfather on April 21, 2024. Now every first Sunday of the month during Fast and Testimony Meeting, Brother Cruz Sr brings his two granddaughters up to the pulpit with him to all bear their testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

#TKMTenderMercies

Book of Mormon in 65 Days!

~ barlowsintkm ~ 2 Comments

Back in April, Sister Barlow invited all missionaries in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission to increase in power by reading the Book of Mormon in 65 days. This was the number of days it took Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon by the power of God. Our goal was to read it at the same pace.

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Over the next 9 weeks, everyone worked really hard in keeping up with the schedule. Most missionaries also highlighted this new copy of the Book of Mormon with something they were looking for…things like the Doctrine of Christ, covenants, prophets, or willingness were a few examples.

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It is difficult to put into words the powerful experience we had together as a mission. It was really meaningful to do it together, and anytime you read the Book of Mormon at a faster pace like this, it leads to observations and connections you wouldn’t make otherwise. We began each meeting during this period with two missionaries sharing thoughts about what they were learning from their recent Book of Mormon reading. We discussed their progress and learnings in interviews.

In the introduction of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith is quoted as saying, ““I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

President Ezra Taft Benson once said, “There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.”

Our current prophet, President Russell M. Nelson taught, “When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.”

We learned in the TKM the power that these prophets are talking about and invite everyone to tap into that power themselves by reading the Book of Mormon.

June 18th was the day on our schedule that we would finish the Book of Mormon. We gathered as a mission on zoom and read together the final chapter of the Book of Mormon, Moroni chapter 10. Anytime you finish the Book of Mormon, it is a meaningful experience. But finishing it together with this amazing group of representatives of Jesus Christ is an experience we will never forget.

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Sister Barlow had promised that we would do something special to celebrate finishing the Book of Mormon together as a mission. And as promised, Sister Barlow “makes no small plans”!

“Make no small plans. They have no magic to stir men’s souls. – Spencer W. Kimball

Sister Barlow then announced that to celebrate finishing the Book of Mormon in 65 Days, we had arranged for all missionaries to be able to attend the temple. As there are no temples in our mission boundaries, this was a REALLY big deal. Many of these missionaries had not been to the temple for over a year, so some of their reactions to this announcement was priceless.

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We are grateful for the power of the Book of Mormon. We testify that it can help everyone come closer to Jesus Christ. And we are grateful for these wonderful missionaries. We love them and feel so grateful to see them act in faith and receive the blessings that come with doing so.

#WhatsUpInTKM