Monday, 17 April 2017
I cannot remember exactly how old I was when I made a conscious decision to gain a testimony of the truths of the gospel, but I must have been about seven or eight years of age. I remember sitting in my swing perusing and pondering the information in a Joseph Smith pamphlet distributed by the Church. As I read, I remember my whole body being enveloped in an aura of light and warmth. No one else witnessed this occurrence, but I have never forgotten how I felt and I knew (never doubting) from that time forward that Joseph Smith had actually seen and heard The Father and The Son in the Sacred Grove, and that he was a prophet.
I cannot remember exactly how old I was when I made a conscious decision to gain a testimony of the truths of the gospel, but I must have been about seven or eight years of age. I remember sitting in my swing perusing and pondering the information in a Joseph Smith pamphlet distributed by the Church. As I read, I remember my whole body being enveloped in an aura of light and warmth. No one else witnessed this occurrence, but I have never forgotten how I felt and I knew (never doubting) from that time forward that Joseph Smith had actually seen and heard The Father and The Son in the Sacred Grove, and that he was a prophet.
I was baptized by my father at the age of eight. My mother was the Primary president and needed teachers so at the age of twelve I was given the opportunity to be the assistant teacher for the seven-year-old children who were preparing for their own baptisms. At a stake preparation meeting, we were encouraged to not use our books in class but to meet the needs of the children by teaching from our heart. I was obedient to that counsel and the basic principles of the gospel sunk deep into my soul.
When I became a Beehive in M.I.A. at the age of twelve we were asked to choose a personal symbol. Mine was the rainbow because I had learned of God's promise to Noah that the entire earth would never again be covered with water. God placed a "bow" in the sky as a symbol of that covenant promise. The Spirit testified to me that God always keeps His promises. Later, when taking seminary, I read Proverbs 3:5-6 and received a personal witness that I could "Trust in the Lord. . . and He would direct my path." It became a guiding principle in my life.
The Lord has kept that covenant and patiently led me down paths that have fulfilled the promises given to me in my Patriarchal Blessing and He has heaped bounteous blessings upon me and my family. I am not perfect by any means, but I keep trying to be obedient to those principles that I know are true and to expand and increase my knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to be able to kneel at His feet and hear those words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . . " I desire to be an example for good in my sphere of influence and assist my progeny and others in finding and keeping those gospel principles that will lead us back to live with our Eternal Father and Mother.
After listening to President Russell M. Nelson during the April 2017 General Conference of the Church, my next goal is to find, ponder, annotate, and record my impressions of every scripture found in the Topical Guide pertaining to Jesus Christ. I don't want to just know OF Him but I want to KNOW Him.
I have learned that I can only retain what I learn by the testifying power of the Holy Ghost so included in my quest for gaining spiritual knowledge, I am determined to seek and recognize His confirming witness. I realize that it is a necessary ingredient. When He whispers, I must be in tune to be able to hear and feel those promptings. As I practice, it becomes easier to recognize them.
