Meet the Johns: The Texas Fort Worth Mission President and his Wife
Shane Keil, of the Hurst Texas Stake shares his experience meeting with President Jarom L. John, President of the Texas Fort Worth Mission, and his wife Jamie John.
By Shane Keil
Jamie Joy John and Larom L. John. Image courtesy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Jarom L. John and his bride, Jamie J. John had decided early as a newly married couple they would commit to whatever the Lord asked them to do. Fast forward seven children later and a dentistry career put on hold. The John family are now in Fort Worth, Texas as the newly called President Jarom L. John presides over the Texas Fort Worth Mission. Accompanied by his wife with their children, the John family is a living testament of doing what the Lord has asked including leaving their Twin Falls, Idaho home to come to Texas to serve.
I had the privilege of interviewing President and Sister John in February prior to the upcoming Hurst Stake Conference in March. They were gracious with their time to join me in a virtual interview to reflect on President and Sister John’s desire to serve.
Called to Serve
A mission president, along with their spouse, is called to serve three years away from their residence. Each June–July throughout the world, a seamless transition takes place as a portion of mission presidents end their mission on June 30th and are released, while the newly called take their places to preside on July 1st.
For the Johns, the call to serve began when they were first notified by Elder Dale G. Renlund’s office to meet for an interview in 2021. The interview was to determine if Jarom John would be called as a mission president. There would be a series of interviews by other General Authorities of the Church before they would be told if he would receive the calling to be a mission president. Interviews included questions related to worthiness, temporal readiness, gospel knowledge and understanding.
After receiving the call to be a mission president, the assigned location where the couple would serve would come later. During this interim, the couple along with other newly called mission President couples receive training on the responsibilities of a mission president and his wife to preside over a mission area.
The orange outline delineates the Fort Worth Mission area. Image courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mission Training
Former mission presidents are asked to mentor and prepare the new mission presidents. They receive learning material and access an online Missionary Portal. President John describes it as intense training. They participate in podcasts about mission financing, transportation, housing, and medical welfare. All these areas fall under the responsibility of the mission president and his wife. President John said, “It was like being taught how to run a business.”
Memorable for them are the times they were taught at the feet of members of the Twelve Apostles and when President Nelson would address them.
In the mission, the Johns are assisted by mission staff, which are usually adult couples, or single elders and sisters called Church Service Missionaries.
President and Sister John have seven children, most of them traveled with them to Texas. Sister John remarked:
“It is a huge blessing for them to be around the missionaries. Seeing what missionaries do, witnessing learning and growing; feeling the Spirit of the work.”
Bringing the Mission Together
On Sundays, the Johns host a virtual call for the entire mission called, “Seal it Sunday.” It’s a time set aside for the missionaries and their parents to join a live virtual meeting. It’s an opportunity for missionaries to reflect on the efforts and successes of the past week. President and Sister John give reflection and encouragement to the missionaries and parents by sharing a “miracle minute,” which are short, compiled videos submitted by the missionaries of their work of the past week. This is also a time to recognize birthdays and other celebratory acknowledgements. In addition, departing missionaries are given time to bear testimony of their mission experience and parents and families see their sons and daughters on the call and feel the spirit of the missionary work. As many as 600 people have signed into these Seal it Sunday virtual meetings.
Love for the Missionaries
Both President and Sister John express their love for the missionaries serving with them. They emphasize and encourage the missionaries to have faith in the Lord—teaching the doctrine of Christ: faith, repentance, baptism, with making and keeping covenants. They encourage the missionaries to prevail to the end and constantly embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sharing in the Work
To encourage the members of the Hurst Stake to assist in missionary work, President and Sister John suggest the following:
Be available to attend when lessons are being taught to those just learning about the Gospel.
Let the missionaries teach the lessons and participate.
Keep your homes as a place where the spirit will preside to allow missionary work to influence those learning.
As a member of the Hurst Texas Stake, meeting with President and Sister John was a great experience for me. They have served for eight months and feel at home in Texas. They know this is where the Lord asked them to be. As an invitation to participate in missionary work, President John closed our interview with this comment, “The fruit of the Gospel is delicious, you just want to share it.” They look forward to being with us at stake conference.
Shane Keil serves as the Hurst Stake Communications and Social Media Director. In his profession, he works in outside sales; assisting engineers with the design of city water and wastewater infrastructure. He enjoys being with his wife, kids, watching movies, cooking, and playing the drums during his free time.