Pictured, left to right, are Elder Small and Elder Baker
Elder Xavier Small and Elder Gregory Baker are the newest missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assigned to work in the Ooltewah area. Young men, generally ages 18-25, volunteer to give two years of their time to serve The Lord full-time. They are assigned to one of more than 300 missions in the world, not knowing beforehand where they will labor.
Elder Small is the eldest brother to three younger brothers, who he loves with all his heart. He grew up in the small town of Pahrump, Nv.
His grandmother was baptized a member of the Church at a later age and, when he went to live with her, she took him to Church. At the age of 14, he was baptized. “I didn’t grow up in the Church,” Elder Small said, “but my grandmother set an example for me, and I want to do the same for my younger brothers. I came on a mission to help others develop a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus Christ, we can do hard things together,” Elder Small said. Elder Small is 20 years old and said he has been through many trials in his life but he knows that Jesus Christ is the source of joy, and he wants to share that glorious message with others.
Elder Baker has been in Tennessee for about 15 months, and says he couldn’t ask for a better place to serve. He is from Gilbert, Az. and comes from an amazing family of seven children. He is the third oldest. “I became a missionary because of my love for Jesus Christ, and for the knowledge that I have that He loves me,” Elder Baker said. “I will exhaust every effort to bring others to that same realization that The Lord loves them, too. He is in the details of our lives. By detailed obedience to His commandments, we can receive blessings from heaven and answers to our prayers.”
Elder Baker also shared his testimony that God has provided a modern-day prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, to lead the restored Church today and that President Nelson holds the same prophetic mantle as Moses, Abraham and prophets of old. This is the same prophetic mantle that was restored to Joseph Smith, who is the prophet of the restoration in these latter-days, Elder Baker said.
Elder Small and Elder Baker are grateful to be serving in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which includes the greater Chattanooga area. They invite all to come unto Christ, and celebrate this Christmas season of peace on earth, good will toward men.