Pictured, left to right, Sister Warburton and Sister Burch
Sister Helen Burch and Sister Kari Warburton, missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called to the Tennessee Knoxville Mission, have been assigned to serve in Hixson. Over 65,000 missionaries of The Church serve around the world. Sister missionaries serve for a total of 18 months voluntarily without pay. To quote President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church and prophet of the world, said, “All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people.”
Missionaries invite all to come unto Christ, the “Savior of all mankind.” As officials state, “No matter your story…we can all experience more joy in our individual lives when we turn to Him - who loves us most.” Sister Warburton has expressed her strong testimony in the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness,” as stated in the book of Alma, Chapter 7, of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
Sister Warburton was born and raised in Utah, has two sisters and one brother, and has been serving for 11 months previously in the Cumberland Stake near Knoxville. She was recently transferred to Hixson. Coincidentally, her mission experience has brought her to the same area in Hixson in which her father, Chad Warburton, served in 1987. Her father was a district leader from 6/11/87- 10/22/87. Sister Warburton was excited that her father was able to go back into his missionary journal and revisit some of his experiences and share them with her. At the time of her father’s service, the mission was known as the Nashville Mission. Following her mission, Sister Warburton plans to attend trade school and become an optician.
Sister Burch has lived in Arizona and Wyoming, and has been serving in the Chattanooga area for 8+ months. Sister Burch has been able to experience firsthand the effect of the love of Jesus Christ, who is the center of Heavenly Father’s great plan of Happiness. Through Christ’s triumph over physical and spiritual death, known as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, “all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel” (Articles of Faith). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “has been established in these latter day to invite all to come unto Christ” and Sister Burch, like all missionaries, finds joy in declaring this message. Sister Burch also expresses gratitude for the spiritual blessings experienced by other family members as she has been serving The Lord. Following her mission, she plans to attend BYU Idaho in Rexsburg, Idaho and major in art.