On March 18th we welcomed 12 new missionaries to the Tennessee Knoxville Mission. Excited to have these missionaries here in the TKM!

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As always, the departing missionaries made some great welcome posters for our arriving missionaries.

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After getting them to bed early on Wednesday night, we started Thursday morning by introducing them to their trainers and first areas.

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We are excited to see what these missionaries accomplish and how much they change as they invite all to come unto Christ!

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On March 18th we had 10 wonderful missionaries finish their service in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission. These missionaries have changed in amazing ways over the last 18 and 24 months. We are so proud of them and grateful for the impact they’ve each had on the mission and their fellow missionaries.

We were missing Sister Barlow as she was not feeling well, so President Barlow took care of the 24th TKM Family Olympics.

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We had three events for our olympics. Missionaries competed in ping pong, Sequence, and the marquee event, our Welcome Poster Contest for our new missionaries.

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The missionaries did a great job on their five posters welcoming 12 missionaries arriving the following day.

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Congratulations to the gold medal winners for the 24th TKM Family Olympics: Sister Brock and Sister Tuala.

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The missionaries shared their final Tender Mercy video:

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God bless these missionaries! And God bless the TKM!

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Jason was facing a really difficult trial in his life, and one day came across an ad online to meet with missionaries. He liked how happy the people were, and decided that he wanted to find out why they were so happy!

Jason sent in a request and met with missionaries who taught him about the Restoration of Jesus Christ’s church. As Jason continued to look into the church and learn about truths like the Plan of Salvation, he felt that the gospel principles were really what God would want for His children.

When he attended church for the first time at the Abingdon Ward, Jason noted that the church members really practiced what they preach. He felt that the feelings he got there were real and that they came from God through His Holy Spirit.

Jason’s first time taking the sacrament was a powerful experience for him. He felt the Holy Ghost stronger than he ever had previously. He knew that he wanted that Spirit in his life all the time and asked the missionaries how he can always have the Holy Ghost with him.

On March 8, 2026, Jason was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After being asked how he feels about his baptism, he said “I feel really happy. It’s like I want to dance or something. I just feel really happy.”

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Jason continues to help the missionaries and wants to continue to share Jesus Christ’s gospel. He wants everyone to know, “I didn’t come from this background. At first the stuff seemed strange, but the Holy Ghost has confirmed it’s true. And that’s really, really good. There’s power in it!”

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Missionaries originally found Mark in July 2025 when they knocked on his door. He was taught once but then lost contact with the missionaries.

In February 2026, the sisters knocked on his door again. Mark said he’d like to keep meeting so the sisters started teaching him. As he was being taught, Mark kept saying over and over, “This has got to be true because I can feel it!” He said, “It all fits together!”

One of his biggest keys to Mark’s conversion was that he fell in love with the Book of Mormon. He loves learning about the people in the Book of Mormon and how the Book of Mormon works hand-in-hand with the Bible. He loved the truths taught in the Plan of Salvation and said he wanted to start preparing for judgement day.

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When Mark came to church for the first time, the congregation in Maryville was so welcoming. He has made many new friends in the Maryville Ward and loves his new church family.

Mark’s baptism ended up being postposed one week at the last minute so his childhood friend Tony could baptize him. Mark used that week to work hard on strengthening his testimony even more. His baptism day was a very joyous day! He was baptized on March 22, 2026 as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Maryville Ward. Mark frequently talks about how he wants to share the joy and truth he has found from Jesus Christ’s restored church with others.

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Sergio sent in a referral and the missionaries called him immediately. In their first conversation with him he said that he wanted to get baptized. The sisters didn’t have steady contact with him until they stopped by on Saturday where they invited him to church. Sergio said that he was going to go with his friend, but if he didn’t like his friend’s church he said he would come to our sacrament meeting next week.

Later that Saturday night, the sisters got a text from Sergio saying he’d changed his mind and he’d like to come to church with them.

On Sunday morning, the Dorociaks drove him to church and Sergio was able to participate in an ordinance for the first time when he took the sacrament. He loved church! The Spirit prompted the sisters to invite him to be baptized on March 22nd, and he excitedly accepted!

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Sergio told everyone how much he wanted to change his life and start fresh. The missionaries worked to teach him everything he needed to know before his baptism. He started reading the Book of Mormon every day and loved to tell them about what he was reading. Sergio said he had been “getting on his friends’ nerves” for how often he’s been talking about his baptism.

So many things came together beautifully for Sergio to make this covenant with our Heavenly Father. He was baptized and confirmed on March 22, 2026 in the Forest City Ward. It was a wonderful service and so many people came to support him. Sergio is very thankful for everything God has given him.

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President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, “I know the Book of Mormon is true,” I want to exclaim, “That’s nice, but it is not enough!” We need to feel, deep in “the inmost part” of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, “I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people” to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon” (“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?”, Ensign, Nov. 2017, 62-63). 

With Oliver Cowdery as principal scribe, Joseph Smith began translating on Tuesday, April 7, 1829. The task was completed about 85 days later. Not all of that time was spent working on the translation. Time was taken to receive the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, receive and record 12 revelations that are now sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, move from one state to another, apply for a copyright, and begin making arrangements for the publication of the Book of Mormon. Conservatively estimated, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon in 65 days. With this in mind, as a mission we will be reading the Book of Mormon in 65 days! We invite you to join with us. Here is the schedule:

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As we celebrate Holy Week and prepare for Easter Sunday, the missionaries in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission worked to memorize The Living Christ. The Living Christ is a short, powerful declaration written by modern apostles that testifies of Jesus Christ as the living Son of God and Savior of the world. It summarizes who He is, what He has done for all mankind, and affirms that He lives today and continues to guide His Church through living prophets.

We are grateful to share our testimony of “The Living Christ”. We love the Savior and feel tremendous appreciation for His resurrection. “He lives!”

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Happy Birthday to Kimberly! How did she spend her birthday? Serving the missionaries she loves. We love her and the great difference she makes with everyone who crosses her path.

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Yesterday was Day 1 for 12 new missionaries in the TKM! The very first thing they did yesterday morning was head to the University of Tennessee campus with their trainers to find people to teach. We can’t wait to see the great things they accomplish!

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