I wrote
down my testimony in January 2016 for my nephew’s baptism and thought it would
be a good way to open this chapter. “My parents taught me the gospel as I was
growing up, but it was important for me to develop my own testimony separate
from theirs. My testimony grew little by little, like drops of water filling a
bucket. I gradually learned that living the gospel brings joy and peace as I
watched the examples of my parents, teachers, leaders, and good friends.
Through studying the scriptures and attending church and seminary, I learned
that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is described as ‘true and living.’ However, I don't want that to sound like I am
criticizing other churches or the really good people that attend them. Here are
some of the reasons I have found for that description: The Church today has the
same structure as the Church that existed when Jesus lived on the earth. It
actually has been restored. Prophets and apostles guided and taught people
throughout the scriptures and we are guided by a prophet and apostles today.
Just like they had the priesthood then, we have the priesthood today. Because we
have the priesthood, our lives can be blessed by the ordinance of baptism and
the ordinance of the sacrament each week. Our lives can also be blessed by the
ordinances in the temple. The Church is ‘true’ because it is actually led by
Jesus Christ. It is ‘living’ because we have the priesthood, prophets,
ordinances, and the gift of the Holy Ghost that continues to testify of truth
to each individual. Unfortunately, the Church is filled with imperfect people,
but it's not the people that make the Church true. We are trying to do the best
we can along the way, just like people in other churches are. It is the
doctrine that makes the difference.”
I continued, “Heavenly Father knows
each of us personally. He really does hear and answer prayers. I have learned
that He often answers our prayers through other people. When we truly love Him, it leads us to want to
serve Him. It also helps us to love ourselves and the people around us. When we
love others, we stop thinking so much about our own problems and try to help
them to solve theirs. I
know that the Atonement of Christ really works. I know that Jesus really did die for us and that He really was
resurrected. Because He lives, we will all live again and have the opportunity
to be with our families after this life on earth. Heavenly Father and
Jesus love us and are aware of us. They will magnify us for the tasks They need
us to accomplish when we have faith in Them. I also know that the Holy Ghost is
real, that He testifies of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and that He
inspires and prompts us to live righteously.”
I
continued, “I know that there is always hope through the Atonement of
Christ. Because of His atoning
sacrifice, we can forgive and be forgiven. I'm thankful for the opportunity that His Atonement gives
me to change and improve. I'm also thankful for the strength it gives me
to overcome my challenges. I know that Jesus
perfectly understands what each of us goes through in this life and is
perfectly able to help us because of what He suffered during His Atonement. With
the Savior’s help, I have been able to work on one goal or habit at a time and
have slowly turned many of my weaknesses into strengths. I’m thankful for that
ongoing miracle. As we practice living righteously, we will eventually become
perfect through the grace of Christ.”
I
continued, “I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith in
answer to his prayer and that They restored the original gospel to the earth
through him. I also know that They helped him translate the Book of Mormon so
that we would have it to bless our lives and to clarify the truth that is in
the Bible today. I have experienced the power that comes from reading the Book
of Mormon each day. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, just like the
prophets before him and since him. His life changed when He read in the scriptures about asking questions
directly to God. He wasn't perfect, but he was willing and God was
able to work through him to restore truth to the earth. I am thankful for his example of doing difficult
things that he knew were right.”
I
concluded, “During my life, I have learned that the Church and gospel are true
through sincere prayer, scripture study, listening to the promptings of the
Spirit, and trying to obey the commandments. As I've had questions, I have
continued to follow this pattern and it has helped me become more sure of the
truth. I am thankful that we are able to pray about
what the prophet and apostles teach us so that we can gain a sure witness for
ourselves. The gift of agency is important and central to Heavenly Father’s plan
for us. Just as we can’t force others to have faith, Heavenly Father won’t
force us to have faith. As we choose to believe and live the principles of the
gospel, we will be blessed.”
Jeffrey R. Holland
gives wise counsel on the subject of belief and testimony. “Observation number
one… when facing the challenge of faith…in the growth we all have to experience
in mortality…. In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground
you have already won, even if that ground is limited.… When those moments come
and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately
forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand
strong until additional knowledge comes…. The size of your faith or
the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it
is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you
already know. The second observation is a variation of the first. When problems
come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much
you do not have, leading as it were with your ‘unbelief.’…Let
me be clear on this point: I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not
have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have. Sometimes we act as if an honest
declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage than is an
honest declaration of faith. It is not!... Be as candid about your questions as
you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But… don’t let
those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle” (“Lord, I Believe,” Ensign,
May 2013).
He
continued, “This is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and
blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if
from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and
resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know
will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is
to walk by faith. So be kind regarding human frailty—your
own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer,
mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son,
imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly
frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see
imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the
divinity of the work….So be patient and kind and forgiving” (“Lord, I Believe,” Ensign,
May 2013).
He
concludes, “Last observation: When doubt or difficulty come, do not be afraid
to ask for help. If we want it… humbly and honestly… we can get it. The
scriptures phrase such earnest desire as being of ‘real intent,’ pursued ‘with
full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God’ (2
Nephi 31:13). I testify that in
response to that kind of importuning, God
will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen our belief…. Hope on. Journey on.
Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever
fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that
believe….” (“Lord, I Believe,” Ensign, May 2013).
Dieter F. Uchtdorf also gives excellent
counsel on this subject. “…It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a
great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one
time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of
the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith—even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty. Faith
is to hope for things which are not seen but which are true. Therefore…my dear
friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your
faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the
divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”
(“Come, Join With Us,” Ensign, May 2013).
He continued, “The Church is designed to nourish the imperfect, the
struggling, and the exhausted. It is filled with people who desire with all their heart to keep the
commandments, even if they haven’t mastered them
yet…. If you define hypocrite as
someone who fails to live up perfectly to what he or she believes, then we are
all hypocrites. None of us is quite as Christlike as we know we should be. But
we earnestly desire to overcome our faults and the tendency to sin. With our
heart and soul we yearn to become better with the help of the Atonement of
Jesus Christ” (“Come, Join With Us,” Ensign, May 2013).
D. Todd Christofferson explained, “The Prophet Joseph Smith confirmed the Savior’s
central role in our doctrine in one definitive sentence: ‘The fundamental
principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets,
concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third
day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our
religion are only appendages to it.’ Joseph Smith’s testimony of Jesus is that He
lives, ‘for [he] saw him, even on the right hand of God; and [he] heard the
voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:23; see also verse 22)” (“The Doctrine of Christ, Ensign, May
2012).
Throughout
the Church, a fast and testimony meeting is held once each month, usually on
the first Sunday, during sacrament meeting. I don’t generally ever plan to
stand up and bear my testimony in fast and testimony meeting. However, I have
often felt inspired to write down my thoughts during the sacrament. Sometimes I
do feel the nudge to share it publicly. I’ve kept a record of them over the
past decade. On April 11, 2010, I shared the following thoughts during my testimony.
“I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ works. The Lord really cares
about us and He is aware of us.” I then shared two verses from The Book of
Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. “...Their preservation was
astonishing.... And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God,
because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—
that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be
preserved by his marvelous power” (Alma 57:26). “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye
shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” (Moroni 7:33). I concluded, “The Lord will make us equal to the task He
needs us to accomplish when we have faith in Him.”
On
November 9, 2010, I sent an email to my sister-in-law, who was meeting with the
missionaries. I will share some of it, with a
few corrections for clarity. “Praying for specific answers is always a little
tricky for me too.... I always try to spend a few seconds before and after my
prayers trying to just be still inside. Then after I ask, I pause again.
Sometimes I hear distinct words or phrases in my mind that are similar to my
thoughts, but are accompanied with a sure or peaceful feeling. And sometimes I
just feel more certain afterward. I always try to ask that if it's a ‘yes’
answer, I will feel certain about it and won't second-guess it anymore. And
that if it's a ‘no’ answer, I'll feel even more confused and upset about it. That
has helped me with answers to questions in the past. For me, it really does
boil down to the way I'm feeling about it.”
I
then shared most of the testimony from the beginning of this chapter. I
continued, “I know it seems crazy to say that I know this. But I have had these
truths confirmed to me over and over again… and I couldn't feel more strongly
about them. You know how much I struggle with attending church because of my
group situation issues. And, believe me, it would be so much easier for me to
just not go ever again and to deny all of this. But these truths really do
bless my life each day and it makes me want to keep going, even though it's
difficult for me. I really do hope that you'll be able to find out these and
other truths for yourself.... I also hope that you (and my brother) will be
able to have these truths in your lives and in your home to bless you and your
future family. The priesthood blessings I've received from my dad (and husband)
have been a great strength to me. I've felt the power of their words and I know
the blessings they speak are coming from Heavenly Father through them to me. I
know Heavenly Father really does know each of us personally. He knows me and He
knows you. And I know He really does answer prayers. I hope you'll be able to
clearly feel the answers He gives you. And, more than anything, I know that
Jesus really did die for us and that He really does live now. And because He
lives, you and I will live again after this life and we won't have to deal with
all the hardships and heart ache that accompany this earthly life anymore. We
will have passed the test. And we'll be able to live with our family in deep
and abiding happiness for eternity.”
I
concluded, “I hope my sharing those feelings helps in some way. After I prayed
for you again just now, I felt like I should share them. I hope it doesn't
annoy you. I love you (and my brother) and I know that searching this out
together will bless your already happy marriage. Don't worry, I won't always be
this preachy and serious. I just wanted to state for the record how I felt. And
if there's anything I can do to help you as you're trying to find out the truth
of these things for yourself, just let me know. You know me. I'm not anywhere
close to perfect, but I think you know I always try to be honest and open…. I'll
just keep praying for you (and my brother) and will respect your desire to
figure it out on your own without outside interference. And I'll love you no matter
what you decide. I promise.”
I
practiced proclaiming my testimony more boldly during fast and testimony
meeting on January 2, 2011. “I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church on the earth. It's
true because it's the actual church of Jesus Christ that has been restored
through the Prophet Joseph Smith. And it's living because of the gift of
the Holy Ghost and the priesthood that makes possible the ordinances of the
sacrament and in temples. We teach the gospel within the
structure of the Church. But we can learn so much about living the gospel from
other good people throughout the world who often live it much better and more
fully than many of us.”
I
will just insert a quote by Joseph Fielding Smith here. “And so we say to the
good and noble, the upright and devout people everywhere: Keep all the good you
have; cleave unto every true principle which is now yours; but come and partake
of the further light and knowledge which that God who is the same yesterday,
today, and forever is again pouring out upon his people.” (“A Witness and a Blessing,” Ensign, May 1971).
I
continued my testimony, “I know that there is always hope because of the
Atonement of Christ. I'm thankful for His birth that we celebrated last
month. I was reminded that the manger, because it is actually a feeding trough,
is more like a table than a bed. And because Jesus is the Bread of Life, His
laying in the manger reminded us of the bread that is now administered from the
sacrament table each week. I'm thankful for the opportunity that His
Atonement gives me to change and improve. I'm also thankful for the strength it
gives me to overcome my challenges. And, right now, I'm very thankful that my
medicine is working better so that it's easier for me to attend church. I
also hope to be able to attend the temple more easily this year.”
I
bore the following testimony on October 16, 201l. “Alma 34:31 says,
‘...now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will
repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of
redemption be brought about unto you.’ I wrote these two thoughts in the margin
of my church scriptures several years ago: 1.) The Lord is just waiting
to help us and bless us. As soon as we take a step in the right direction, He
immediately applies the plan of redemption in our lives. 2.) Repentance
means a change of heart, and a true change of heart shows in our
actions. When we make even a small change, it starts the ball rolling and
it allows the Lord to help us in our lives. He can make miracles happen if
we will let Him. I'm thankful for the extra help and support the Lord
has given me in these things that I've been trying to do – especially since they seemed almost impossible
to me at the beginning of this year.”
On May 2,
2012, I wrote down my testimony for our daughter to be read at girls camp. “My
parents taught me the gospel as I was growing up, but it was important for me
to develop my own testimony separate from theirs…. I attended four years of
early morning seminary and that helped in developing my testimony. I also had
some great Young Women leaders and Sunday School teachers that helped
strengthen my testimony. As I worked on my Personal Progress goals, I learned
more about the gospel and that strengthened my testimony as well. Because of
the examples of my parents, teachers, and leaders, and through the feelings I
felt as I attended church and seminary, I learned that The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. Through all of that, the main foundation
of my testimony is that there is always hope in Christ. No matter how depressed
I felt or no matter what I had done wrong, I knew that He could make it better.
I gained a testimony of His atoning sacrifice as I repented of the things I had
done wrong as I was growing up. Because of that, the sacrament has always been
very important to me. I appreciate knowing that I can start over with a clean
slate each week after I partake worthily of the sacrament.”
I continued, “My testimony also grew
while I was serving a mission for our church. I remember really understanding
then that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and that meant the people
I met and taught on my mission were actually my brothers and sisters. I was
really thankful for the opportunities I had to bear my testimony to them
because that strengthened my testimony. I think that is also when I really
gained a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his role in helping to
restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth again. I know that he received
answers to his prayers and that he actually saw Heavenly Father and Jesus
Christ. I also know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers and your
prayers. Along with that, I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I think I
read it for the first time all the way through when I was in ninth grade
because that is what we studied in seminary that year. I felt a warm feeling
about many of the things I read and, when I prayed about them, I knew that the
Book of Mormon was true. I have always loved listening to the General Authorities
speak in general conference. As I've listened to them over the years, I have
developed a testimony that this church is led by a real prophet and apostles of
God. I gained a testimony of the priesthood as I partook of the sacrament each
Sunday, as I had blessings given to me by my dad, and as I went to do baptisms
for the dead on our temple trips. I really felt the Spirit strongly when I was
in the temple back then and I still love attending the temple to this day.”
I concluded, “ In summary, I learned
that the Church is true through prayer, scripture study, listening to the Holy
Ghost, and trying to obey the commandments. As I've had questions, I've
continued to follow this pattern and it has helped me become more sure of its
truthfulness. I'm thankful for a living prophet that guides us just like
prophets throughout the scriptures have guided the people. I'm especially
thankful for the Savior and believe that there is always hope through His
Atonement. My faith in the Atonement helps me to get through life and
strengthens me to overcome my struggles.”
I
shared the following testimony in fast and testimony meeting on November 6,
2012. “Over the past year, I have developed several habits in various aspects
of my life, which included attending church, the temple, and institute class
each week. But now that I've been to church every week for over 1 1/2 years
(except for the Sunday we were down in Moab) and to the temple every week for a
little over a year, I've decided to stop counting. I am now a church
attender and a temple attender. That is what I do. And I'm so
thankful that the Lord has helped me establish these important habits. We
are promised that when we serve in the temple, we will be blessed in both our
temporal and spiritual affairs. I know that has been the case in my life. I know that Heavenly Father is
really there, that He knows us personally, and that He hears and answers our
prayers. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and I'm so
thankful for its enabling and compensating power. Partaking of the
sacrament each week has been such a strength to me. I also know that the Holy
Ghost is real, that He testifies of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and that
He inspires us to do good. I have been reading the Book of Mormon
personally each day for almost 1 1/2 years now and we've been reading the Book
of Mormon each day for this entire year as a family. I'm thankful that the Lord
has helped us develop those habits and I know that the Book of Mormon is
true. Reading it each day gives me hope. I'm thankful that we were able to
listen to the prophets and apostles speak recently at general conference. I
know we are led by a true prophet today and that if we follow his counsel, we
won't go wrong.”
This
is the beginning of the testimony I shared in my friend’s Easter lesson on
March 29, 2013. (I shared the last part as the ending of this book.) “Church
has been hard for me emotionally for several years, so I used to only come when
I felt emotionally able to – which
didn't happen very often. But on the Sunday that my son was ordained to be
a deacon in April 2011, I decided to start attending church each week, whether
I felt like I could or not. A month later, I started reading the Book of
Mormon every day (in May 2011). I wasn't doing that very consistently
either because it would make me feel guilty. But from then on, I read,
regardless of how I felt. About four months later, I decided to start attending
the temple each week (in September 2011). For years, I tried and tried,
but failed to change. However, when I aligned my will with the Lord's will and
did things in His way, He was finally able to give me the strength I needed to
make a permanent change. With His help, I was able to consistently work on
one habit at a time and slowly turned my weaknesses into strengths (like it
says in Ether 12:27).”
I shared the following testimony during fast and
testimony meeting, prior to general conference, on September 27, 2015. “Since I have spent almost half of my life
struggling with depression and anxiety, I have the opportunity to spend the
rest of my life catching up and learning from others. I'm so thankful for my
good friends and family who are so kind and patient with me as I learn at my
own pace. One of the verses I read almost every day (my scriptures literally
fall open to that page) to help me when I am feeling less steady in my progress
is Ether 12:4. ‘Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a
better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of
faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and
steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.’ I really
appreciated watching the General Women's meeting. I was especially thankful for
President Uchtdorf's talk. In it, he quoted Great-Aunt Rose, ‘God didn’t design
us to be sad. He created us to have joy! So if we trust Him, He will help us to
notice the good, bright, hopeful things of life. And sure enough, the world
will become brighter. No, it doesn’t happen instantly, but honestly, how many
good things do?... Now is part of eternity. It doesn’t only begin after we die!
Faith and hope will open your eyes to the happiness that is placed before you
now.…Everything… in the gospel—all the shoulds and the musts and the thou
shalts—lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be like
Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our own
problems and help others to solve theirs’ (“A
Summer with Great-Aunt Rose,” Ensign, Nov. 2015). I testify of that.
Reaching out to others – even if I didn't know what to say or do or even really
have much to offer – will forever bless
my life. My mantra over the past few years is: ‘Practice makes better.’ The
only way perfection is possible is through Christ's Atonement and as we
practice trying to live like Him. I'm thankful for the patience that He and
Heavenly Father have with me every minute of every day. They literally send
people and blessings directly into my life to bless me, help me, and teach me
what I need to know.”
I shared the following
testimony in fast and testimony meeting on December 6, 2015. “This has been a
very difficult month for me. I have been relatively settled in my progress and
testimony for the past couple of years, but I have been given a trial of my
faith this month that tested me to my core. However, I have emerged stronger in
my faith; closer to Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Spirit; more confident
about my ability to know Their will for me; and more sure of how to follow the
promptings I am given. I am thankful for the opportunities to step out into the
darkness in faith, knowing with a certainty that I will be blessed with more
light as I move forward trying to follow the promptings I receive. I am
thankful for the course corrections that come during that process and the way
we are tutored by the Lord during those times. I am thankful for the power and
safety that come into our lives when we are faithful to the covenants we have
made. I am thankful that we are able to pray about the things that the prophet
and apostles say so that we can gain a sure witness for ourselves. I am
thankful that we can find strength in the scriptures and that we can trust them
to guide our lives. Joseph Smith’s journey began when he read in the scriptures
to ask questions directly to God. As Joseph followed that counsel, the Lord was
able to use his willingness to restore Christ’s true gospel to the earth. I am
thankful for his example of doing difficult things that he knew were right.”
I continued, “I am thankful for the things I
have learned about agency and Christ’s Atonement being inextricably connected.
A few months ago, I came to the realization that I can't manipulate or
micro-manage other people's agency with my faith. In the temple, I received
even more guidance on that principle a couple of months ago. I now know that as
we allow Christ’s Atonement to sanctify us, we can better honor the agency of
others. In one of my favorite Relief Society lessons ever, we were reminded
that we don't just hang out by the tree of life and beckon to our loved ones to
come and partake of the fruit. Instead, we need to continue to partake of that
fruit constantly. That way, the love of God that is manifest through the Savior’s
Atonement will fill our hearts and lives with charity for ourselves and others.
I am thankful for the good friends that the Lord has brought into my life
during the past two years. They have truly helped me turn some of my stumbling
blocks into stepping stones. My good husband has been a great support to me as
well. I love the Savior deeply and I am so thankful for His atoning sacrifice.
I know that I owe all the progress I have made to Him and the enabling power or
grace that He extends so willingly to me. I have been willing to move my feet,
but he has given me the strength to take each step. I'm thankful for this
Christmas season where we all seem to turn our thoughts to Him more often. I'm
so thankful for the confirmation that I've been given that I'm heading in the
right direction.”
I
shared the following testimony on my 47th birthday in February 2019.
“…This morning, the Lord reminded me
very clearly that struggle is not the same as hypocrisy. As long as we continue
to try, we aren't hypocrites. I was asked to give a message in three Relief
Society meetings in three different stakes in the year before we moved here. I
was also reminded this morning that one of my main points was that progress
isn't always linear. Many people say that it's important to be better
tomorrow than you were today. And I agree, but maybe that isn't always possible
in a time of struggle. However, as we partner with Christ, our overall
trajectory is upward. When babies learn to walk, but then they start
teething and don't walk as much or choose to crawl instead for a while, we
don't think they have a character flaw. We just know they are struggling with
something. It's the same with grownups. We're all just big children and it
would be good if we remember that lesson for all of us too.”
I continued, “I think that even
Christ didn't feel a lot of joy in Gethsemane, but an angel was sent to
strengthen him. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, ‘...Let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross… and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.’ Sometimes that's how things are for us
too. My institute teacher asked me spontaneously to give a spiritual
thought. She didn't know I had a hard weekend. I turned to this verse and knew
I needed to share it. ‘And the Lord provided for them that they should
hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength,
that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in
the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this
because he prayed in faith’ (Alma 31:38). The answers and help are always there, but sometimes we
need to have a trial of our faith first and then the light comes through
personal revelation or the scriptures or a talk with a friend. When a door
closes (MS relapse), a window often opens (increased time for family history
and temple work).”
Henry B. Eyring
testified, “I thank our Heavenly Father for the gift of His Beloved Son, who
came voluntarily to earth to be our Redeemer. I am grateful to know that He
atoned for our sins and rose in the Resurrection. Every day I am blessed to
know that, because of His Atonement, I may someday be resurrected to live
forever in a loving family. I know those things by the only way any of us can know them. The Holy Ghost
has spoken to my mind and heart that they are true—not just once but
often. I have needed that continuing comfort” (“His Spirit to Be With You,” Ensign, May
2018).
Russell
M. Nelson gave this promise, “You don’t have to wonder about what is true (Moroni
10:5)… Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that
the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that
this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can
ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true” (“Revelation for the Church,
Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign, May 2018).
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