My Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
St. George Temple
My Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
I was raised in a home where we often had family home evening were we discussed the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. At times we would read the scriptures, but not regularly; but we did pray daily, my parents taught us to rely on prayer in all cases and in every situation. As a little lad, once I lost one of George’s toys in the bushes, and he was threatening me with a most severe punishment if it was not returned. I remember looking and looking, then kneeling down and praying for help to find that lost toy. I prayed as never before and as with as much faith as a little lad could muster. In a short time, I did find the toy and with a grateful heart I proudly took it to my brother.
Many years have passed since then and many more prayers have been voiced from my heart and many I have seen answers, while many I have yet to see answers, but this much I know, my Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers, and he grants blessings according to those prayers. Prayer is the foundation of obtaining the will of God in my life. Faith leads me to pray, believing that I will receive an answer or a blessing for some needful thing.
When I was twelve or thirteen years old, our stake president came to our ward for sacrament meeting. In those days we had Sacrament Meeting in the afternoon from 3:00-4:30 pm. I was deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood and our Stake President was Doug Callister. He spoke about the Prophet Joseph Smith and his role as the prophet of the restoration. He recited from memory the first vision found in the Joseph Smith History in the Pearl of Great Price. I remember the feelings I felt as he told the story of young Joseph entering the Sacred Grove and praying to know the answer to his question of, which church was right and which he should join. Then the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to him to tell him to join none of the churches. Never in my life had I felt like this before, I remember the feeling so was great I could hardly contain myself in my seat; but I was riveted to what he was saying.
Several times during my life, I prayed to Heavenly Father to ask if the story of the first vision is true if He and His Son, Jesus Christ, did in fact appear to the Prophet Joseph Smith and I felt the same feelings I felt as a young deacon, the Holy Ghost telling me that yes it was true. Nearly every time I read that story or hear it quoted, I feel the same feelings of peace and knowledge that this event did in fact happen. This event has done several things for me, first, it has taught me the true nature of God, and His Son Jesus Christ, they have bodies of flesh and bone and are two separate beings, the Father and the Son; second, it has formed a base for understanding the feelings of the Spirit, because when I feel the Holy Ghost prompting me in some manner, if the feeling is the same, I know where it comes from and that the doctrine taught is true, or that I need to act; third, it has helped me to come to know the prophetic call of Joseph Smith as a prophet, seer, and revelator. These three things have been a foundation for my testimony.
The next thing I did, when I was 17 years old. I read for the first time cover to cover The Book of Mormon. Knowing the feelings of the Spirit, I did as Moroni directed to “ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true” (Moroni 10:3-5). And I had the same experience as before the feeling of peace and knowledge and the understanding that The Book of Mormon, as Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is true.
Now I was raised in a home where we all went to church every Sunday, as I mentioned in my history we had family prayer daily, my parents are believers, but the knowledge and testimony I have of the trues of the restored gospel are mine alone. There comes a point in everyone’s life where they have to act for themselves, they can’t rely on their parents any more. I have over the years had many other “spiritual experiences” that have witnessed to me that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ are real and that they know me. Many of those experiences have come while using my Priesthood to bless someone, being in a meeting where the Spirit just comes over me and I feel the love of the Savior.
One such time was when my wife and I were dating. I was very unsure about the idea of this relationship getting serious, I was 29, nothing had worked out before, so why would this one? And she was not like the other gals I had dated, she was different, for one thing she was a lot more shy and reserved, at times I felt our conversations would get stuck. I did not want anyone to get hurt in this, so I began to pray in earnest about continuing the relationship, in one such prayer, I said something like this; “Heavenly I am very unsure about this, if she is the right person for me then help me to feel comfortable tonight when we go out.” When I arrived at her apartment that night the comfort level was completely different from all the other dates we had been on, the conversation carried smoothly and never got stuck; I quickly realized it was an answer to my prayer that morning. We were married in the St. George Temple for time and all eternity and have been happily married now for almost 22 years. I love my wife dearly, she is my greatest blessing, and I thank her often for marring me!
The Savior said that “by their fruits ye shall know them”; the fruits of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are real. There is no other way to describe it. Sure there are distractors out there, but none of them can compare to the reality of the experiences I have had in my life from living the gospel.
I express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father daily for the blessings that come from the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. Many in the world today think that He was just another prophet or a great teacher; the reality is that He is the Son of God, to whom we will answer to for all our activities here on earth. As I have learned more about Jesus Christ and what he had done for me, by atoning for my sins, that is truly amazing, I don’t think I can describe much about the atonement by my weak use of our language, but I know that it was real and it covered all sins ever committed and that ever will be committed on the earth. His grace is truly sufficient for all, we just need to repent and keep his commandments. I love Him, for it is through His grace that I know these things are true.
No other person who has ever lived, promised what Jesus Christ has promised – His ability to free us from sin through belief in his atoning sacrifice and through keeping His commandments. This one event is central to my testimony, that through his atonement I can be free of all my sins and be able to return and live with He and His Father in the next life. It is through the atonement that things are made right in the world.
I am grateful for the knowledge that I have of these truths, they have blessed my life and the lives of my family members countless times. God, our Heavenly Father is real, as is His Son Jesus Christ and we owe everything to them. As I try to remember Jesus Christ in my daily activities, and live as He would have me live, my life is better and more peaceful. The covenants I have made with Him are real and important to me as I know they are to Him.
I humbly share this testimony that my children may know more about their father, and that you the reader may know more about me. I invite you to enjoy the same blessings that our loving Heavenly Father has for you and your family by learning more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for taking time to read this post.
I was raised in a home where we often had family home evening were we discussed the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. At times we would read the scriptures, but not regularly; but we did pray daily, my parents taught us to rely on prayer in all cases and in every situation. As a little lad, once I lost one of George’s toys in the bushes, and he was threatening me with a most severe punishment if it was not returned. I remember looking and looking, then kneeling down and praying for help to find that lost toy. I prayed as never before and as with as much faith as a little lad could muster. In a short time, I did find the toy and with a grateful heart I proudly took it to my brother.
Many years have passed since then and many more prayers have been voiced from my heart and many I have seen answers, while many I have yet to see answers, but this much I know, my Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers, and he grants blessings according to those prayers. Prayer is the foundation of obtaining the will of God in my life. Faith leads me to pray, believing that I will receive an answer or a blessing for some needful thing.
When I was twelve or thirteen years old, our stake president came to our ward for sacrament meeting. In those days we had Sacrament Meeting in the afternoon from 3:00-4:30 pm. I was deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood and our Stake President was Doug Callister. He spoke about the Prophet Joseph Smith and his role as the prophet of the restoration. He recited from memory the first vision found in the Joseph Smith History in the Pearl of Great Price. I remember the feelings I felt as he told the story of young Joseph entering the Sacred Grove and praying to know the answer to his question of, which church was right and which he should join. Then the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to him to tell him to join none of the churches. Never in my life had I felt like this before, I remember the feeling so was great I could hardly contain myself in my seat; but I was riveted to what he was saying.
Several times during my life, I prayed to Heavenly Father to ask if the story of the first vision is true if He and His Son, Jesus Christ, did in fact appear to the Prophet Joseph Smith and I felt the same feelings I felt as a young deacon, the Holy Ghost telling me that yes it was true. Nearly every time I read that story or hear it quoted, I feel the same feelings of peace and knowledge that this event did in fact happen. This event has done several things for me, first, it has taught me the true nature of God, and His Son Jesus Christ, they have bodies of flesh and bone and are two separate beings, the Father and the Son; second, it has formed a base for understanding the feelings of the Spirit, because when I feel the Holy Ghost prompting me in some manner, if the feeling is the same, I know where it comes from and that the doctrine taught is true, or that I need to act; third, it has helped me to come to know the prophetic call of Joseph Smith as a prophet, seer, and revelator. These three things have been a foundation for my testimony.
The next thing I did, when I was 17 years old. I read for the first time cover to cover The Book of Mormon. Knowing the feelings of the Spirit, I did as Moroni directed to “ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true” (Moroni 10:3-5). And I had the same experience as before the feeling of peace and knowledge and the understanding that The Book of Mormon, as Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is true.
Now I was raised in a home where we all went to church every Sunday, as I mentioned in my history we had family prayer daily, my parents are believers, but the knowledge and testimony I have of the trues of the restored gospel are mine alone. There comes a point in everyone’s life where they have to act for themselves, they can’t rely on their parents any more. I have over the years had many other “spiritual experiences” that have witnessed to me that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ are real and that they know me. Many of those experiences have come while using my Priesthood to bless someone, being in a meeting where the Spirit just comes over me and I feel the love of the Savior.
One such time was when my wife and I were dating. I was very unsure about the idea of this relationship getting serious, I was 29, nothing had worked out before, so why would this one? And she was not like the other gals I had dated, she was different, for one thing she was a lot more shy and reserved, at times I felt our conversations would get stuck. I did not want anyone to get hurt in this, so I began to pray in earnest about continuing the relationship, in one such prayer, I said something like this; “Heavenly I am very unsure about this, if she is the right person for me then help me to feel comfortable tonight when we go out.” When I arrived at her apartment that night the comfort level was completely different from all the other dates we had been on, the conversation carried smoothly and never got stuck; I quickly realized it was an answer to my prayer that morning. We were married in the St. George Temple for time and all eternity and have been happily married now for almost 22 years. I love my wife dearly, she is my greatest blessing, and I thank her often for marring me!
The Savior said that “by their fruits ye shall know them”; the fruits of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are real. There is no other way to describe it. Sure there are distractors out there, but none of them can compare to the reality of the experiences I have had in my life from living the gospel.
I express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father daily for the blessings that come from the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. Many in the world today think that He was just another prophet or a great teacher; the reality is that He is the Son of God, to whom we will answer to for all our activities here on earth. As I have learned more about Jesus Christ and what he had done for me, by atoning for my sins, that is truly amazing, I don’t think I can describe much about the atonement by my weak use of our language, but I know that it was real and it covered all sins ever committed and that ever will be committed on the earth. His grace is truly sufficient for all, we just need to repent and keep his commandments. I love Him, for it is through His grace that I know these things are true.
No other person who has ever lived, promised what Jesus Christ has promised – His ability to free us from sin through belief in his atoning sacrifice and through keeping His commandments. This one event is central to my testimony, that through his atonement I can be free of all my sins and be able to return and live with He and His Father in the next life. It is through the atonement that things are made right in the world.
I am grateful for the knowledge that I have of these truths, they have blessed my life and the lives of my family members countless times. God, our Heavenly Father is real, as is His Son Jesus Christ and we owe everything to them. As I try to remember Jesus Christ in my daily activities, and live as He would have me live, my life is better and more peaceful. The covenants I have made with Him are real and important to me as I know they are to Him.
I humbly share this testimony that my children may know more about their father, and that you the reader may know more about me. I invite you to enjoy the same blessings that our loving Heavenly Father has for you and your family by learning more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for taking time to read this post.