San Antonio’s Newest Latter-day Saint Pioneers

by Ken Jarvis, Area Media Specialist

In July many of us are inclined to think of the early pioneers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When we think of pioneers we typically think of covered wagons and a long trek across the plains and mountains to the Salt Lake valley.  But not all pioneers are of that era.  Pioneers exist in every era.  The following is an account of a very, very recent pioneer.  

In October 2019 Sister Lynn Irvin was at a low point in her life.  She was going through a separation and a custody battle.  Her oldest daughter wouldn’t talk to her and finally moved out.  She was unhappy at work.  “I was really struggling with life and I guess one afternoon I finally took it out on my brand-new vehicle that had a tiny scratch on it.  I was trying to clean it off by sanding it and using rubbing compound.  But nothing seemed to work.”  

Front row: Zephaniah, Felicitas Irvin, (Sister Irving’s mother). Back row: Xavia, Marinda, Sister Irvin, Brayden.

So, there she was taking out her frustrations on this car.  Meanwhile here come two Sister Missionaries into her neighborhood and they’re very discouraged as well.  All their plans and backup plans had fallen through for that afternoon.  Sister Irvin continued, “So, they took a break, got off their bikes, sat on the curb and prayed.  They asked Heavenly Father ‘Who do you want us to talk to?  Please guide us and direct us to who really needs to hear from us at this moment.’  Then they got up, went around the corner, and saw me working away on my car and they asked, ‘Can we help you?  Is there anything we can do for you?’”

Sister Irvin said that she just unloaded on the missionaries.  “I told them about all my troubles and that I didn’t know what to do with my life or how to deal with all my problems.”  The Sisters replied, “We can help you with that!”  

The missionaries pose with a bulletin board filled with notes of encouragement or scriptures for Sister Irvin to read after her baptism.

So, they started teaching her.  The message resonated with Sister Irvin and soon she was studying regularly with the missionaries.  Then the holidays came along and for a variety of reasons She didn’t have extended family support.  She had children at home but she wasn’t sure they would be able to even celebrate Christmas.  So, the Sister Missionaries stepped in to help.   

Sister Smith and Sister Fowles with Sister Lyn Irvin at her baptism, February 29, 2020

“I wanted to pay them back for all their help so I started feeding them a couple of times a week.  With the meals and the lessons, I was seeing them almost daily.”  Soon after, a date was set for her baptism and on February 29th of this year she was baptized.  The next week she was scheduled to go to the Temple to do baptisms but COVID-19 shut everything down and she couldn’t even attend church.  

Sisters Smith and Fowles teaching through technology during COVID

But that didn’t dampen Sister Irvin’s testimony.  “Even with COVID-19 they (the members) have come up with creative ways to make me feel at home, welcome and unjudged. They accepted us as who we are.”  

Earlier, while Sister Irvin was studying with the missionaries her daughter, Miranda Romo, who previously wouldn’t talk to her, became extremely sick and wanted her Mom to help take care of her.  In spite of their differences her daughter returned home.  While she was home, she heard the message the Sister Missionaries were teaching to her Mom.  Before long they were able to teach her, too, and she was baptized last March right after COVID-19 shut everything down. Sister Irvin’s two younger children were baptized last month.  An older son who is in the Air Force, is studying with missionaries as well.  

Lynn Irvin; her oldest daughter, Miranda Romo; Brayden and Xavia Irvin; Sisters Chamberlain and Jacobs; Bishop Livingstone

All of this happened with no regular church services, no activities, and no opportunity to socialize.  Nevertheless, in less than a year Sister Irvin, with the help of two missionaries, was able to open the door for her entire family to join the church.  “A lot of amazing folks made up this most amazing new journey we embarked upon with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

And what happened to the car with a scratch?  “The dealer ended up buying it back…It’s another long story.”