Tag: god

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Michel

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Michel was born in Nicaragua and grew up constantly facing dangerous situations. One night, two men kidnapped and tried to kill her. She said a prayer and miraculously was able to fend off her attackers and escape. She immediately learned trust in God and to do everything He asked. She learned He would deliver her and not lead her astray. She knew she could trust Him and made the hardest decision of her life, deciding to leave everything behind and move to the United States for a safer future for her and her family.

Elder Barrow and Elder Johns first knocked on Michel’s door in December of 2023, but unfortunately they weren’t able to contact her after their first visit. Shortly after meeting the missionaries, Michel moved to Dallas, Texas. The missionaries in Dallas met Michel on a bus. She loved their message and later attended one of their services. The missionaries continued teaching her until she decided to move back to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Elder Rodriguez and Elder Colling then got a phone call from the Dallas, Texas missionaries about Michel and were able to meet with her immediately. Michel was very grateful to see the missionaries and progressed quickly. 

In the very first lesson Michel accepted the invitation to be baptized. During this lesson they talked about how we can become closer to God, and prepare ourselves for baptism. She readily agreed and started finding joy in daily prayer and studying in the Book Of Mormon. She knew she was being led down the right path.

An important moment in Michel’s conversion is when she made the decision to come to church. Sunday service was very special for her and her kids. They learned so much about Jesus Christ and her daughter loved Primary.

We also could not have done this without the Gilday family who has supported Michel in so many ways! The Gildays have helped her understand the true concept of charity! They have also been a friend to Michel in some of her hardest times and done so much for Michel.

Michel was baptized on January 4, 2025 as a member of the West Hills Ward. One of the most powerful moments at Michel’s baptism is when she bore her testimony about her love of Jesus Christ. You could feel the spirit that entered the room when she bore testimony about the Savior. You could tell that she knew what it meant to come unto Christ! We are so grateful for this decision that Michel has made to be baptized and know she will be a great disciple of Christ.

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Elie

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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.

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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. 

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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.

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Simon

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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.

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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.

#TKMTenderMercies

Tender Mercies in the TKM: Stuart

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I can clearly remember the day that Stuart walked into the church building shortly after Sacrament meeting had ended. He told us that he saw on Facebook that it said “Visitors are Welcome,” and it was inviting people to come to church. So, he decided to come!

Stuart had never read the Bible before and didn’t know that much about Jesus Christ, but he knew he wanted to strengthen his relationship with Him. Sister Holladay and I set up an appointment to meet him at Dairy Queen for our first lesson. When we had arrived at Dairy Queen, we talked to him about God, our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. We explained how they are three separate individuals and how they work towards one purpose.

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We then talked about how prophets in the scriptures prophecy of Jesus Christ coming and how prophets speak for God. Stuart then learned that Jesus Christ came to the earth and gained a physical body and atoned for his sins and did this so that He could support Stuart. Stuart also didn’t know how to pray to God, and so we gave him a simple outline. Stuart learned that when he is going through something hard, he can always turn to God in prayer and the Lord will help him.

About three lessons in with Stuart, Sister Holladay and I decided to extend the baptismal invitation, and Stuart was so excited to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. About three days after his baptism, we set up time to go to the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. Stuart told us that the temple felt familiar to him and that he wanted to do everything the temple had to offer. Being able to teach Stuart was an absolute privilege. I truly cannot express in words how humbled and grateful I feel to have been the messenger of the covenant and to share these restored truths with such a beautiful, humbled, prepared son of God. Stuart has so many beautiful things in store for him, and I feel just a fraction of the love that God has for him.

– Sister Wall 

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What a blessing it’s been to teach Stuart about Jesus Christ! There were so many miracles along the way like him randomly showing up to church his first day, minimal damage when he hit a deer on his way to church, and his own quickly-developed testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and the restored gospel.

Several days after he was baptized and had been to the temple, he came to us and the Garcia family and told us of the immense family opposition he’s been having as a new member. It really broke our hearts knowing how much his family meant to him, but he testified with conviction “I cannot deny how I feel, I know it’s true.”

Our experience with Stuart has truly opened my eyes to the power that the Spirit can have on an individual. I know Stuart is going to continue strong and receive all the blessings the Lord has in store for him!

– Sister Holladay

#TKMTenderMercies

Studying General Conference

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Message in the October 25, 2024 Newsletter

In his BYU Devotional titled “Hold Fast to the Words of the Prophets”, Elder Neil L. Andersen asked the following questions: 

  1. Could you tell me the names of the three members of the First Presidency and the names of each of those who comprise the Quorum of the Twelve? 
  2. Do you sustain the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators?
  3. Could you share with me the counsel given by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from last October’s general conference?
  4. Perhaps more important, could you share with me a recent decision where you changed something in your life because of counsel received from one of these 15 men?

We had a wonderful General Conference earlier this month. We invite you to study the talks given, especially by those who we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. 

As you study their talks, you will find that prophets and apostles are Preach My Gospel Master Inviters! You will see that they follow the pattern we are asked to follow in Chapter 11 of PMG:

Teach Doctrine > Invite with Clear Language > Promise Blessings > Testify

For many years, I’ve used this template as I study talks from General Conference, and invite you to try it out. As you study these talks, identify and write down the following:

  1. What did the prophets say that you want to remember?
  2. What did they invite you to do?
  3. What blessings did they promise?

We promise that as you record their invitations and promised blessings, you will feel a strong desire to act on their invitations and claim every promised blessing made by prophets.

Use this same pattern as you teach your friends to help them make and keep commitments (as you know, you can learn more about it in PMG: Chapter 11):

Teach Doctrine > Invite with Clear Language > Promise Blessings > Testify > Follow Up

We love you! Let us know if you need anything.

President and Sister Barlow