My Testimony

As I read, I want to add what makes up my testimony.

• I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I believe that it is the true church of God here on the earth, because it is the only one with the fulness of the Gospel of Christ.
• I know that Christ lived on the earth and that he suffered for my sins, and the sins of everyone who has ever or will ever live on this earth.  I know that he died and was resurrected, so that I can live with my Heavenly Father again someday.  I know that it is through His power that we can be saved.  I am grateful for the comfort He gives to me personally because He knows me.
• I know that God has an eternal plan (the plan of salvation).  I know that we lived with God before coming to this earth and that we are here to learn and prove ourselves worthy to live with Him again.
• I know that the Gospel of Christ was removed from the earth and was restored by the prophet Joseph Smith.
• I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  I know that he saw God and Jesus Christ and that he translated the Book of Mormon, which is a record of ancient prophets in the Americas.
• I know that the family is central to God’s plan. I know that marriage should only be between a man and woman and that it is ordained of God.  I know that because I am sealed to my family, that I can be with my family for eternity.  I believe that the former first Presidency was given inspiration from God to write the Proclamation to the World on the family.  It is scripture for our day and I believe every word found in it.
• I know that if I have faith, that the Lord will help me do whatever He has asked of me.
• I know that my church leaders are called of God and I sustain them by following what they teach me and by doing what is asked of me to further the Lord’s work.  I know that the things they say in conference and in other talks they give, are for my benefit. I need to follow their examples and apply their teachings to my life.
• I know the scriptures are true.  I realize that they have more value than any other books that have ever been written.  And I know that they are the words of the ancient prophets.  I know these scriptures are for us in these latter days.  If we liken these things to ourselves, we will not fail.
• I know that as I follow the promptings of the spirit, I will be blessed with more inspiration from God.
• I know that the Holy Ghost is a comforter.  I have felt the arms of comfort when I needed it because I prayed with faith for it.
• I know that if I am prepared, I will not fear.
• I know that obeying the commandments brings us great peace.  If we are on good terms with God, we have no need to fear.
• I know that no matter where we live, the fullness of the gospel of Christ, found in the LDS church, is the same and will lead to happiness.
• I know that the priesthood has been restored in these latter days.  I have experienced the blessings of the priesthood in my own life and I am so grateful for that.  I am so glad that my husband is a worthy member of the priesthood and that he honors it.  I am priveledged to be able to ask for a blessing whenever I feel that life is getting hard.  I realize the responsibilities that come with holding the priesthood and I am grateful to the men in my life who remain faithful and honor those keys which they have been given.  (Also, a little grateful that I do not have those exact responsibilities myself – I’ll stick with what God has given me.)
• I know of the importance of keeping journals.  I am so grateful that I have been journaling as I read the scriptures and that I have kept a record of my testimony for myself and for my posterity.  I know that genealogy is important to the salvation of all men.  I am grateful to my parents and to my in-laws for all the work that they do with family history.  I know that journaling can make me aware of my spiritual growth and progress as a person.  I pray that my words will reach someone and lift them.  I would love for my children to see that I have a testimony and I hope that it will give them strength in difficult times.
• I look forward to the second coming of the Lord and the wonderful things it will bring.  I pray that I will have lived righteously to be counted with the saints at the time of the first resurrection.  I am excited for the awesome work that will be done during that time.
• I have a love for family history.  I know that it is important to do work for those who have passed on so that we all can be sealed together in the eternities.  I truly enjoy learning of the family that has gone before me and what they accomplished in the lives and how the gospel blessed them.
• I am realizing more each day, that even if no one else reads this blog (which I cannot really tell if anyone does, because comments are few and far between), it has been the greatest blessing to me.  I am a hands-on learner and this had been the best way so far, for me to apply scriptures to my life and truly remember the things that I am studying.  As I talk to people about everyday things, I find myself often paraphrasing scriptures that I have read over the past 10 months.  I am so grateful for the inspiration that I was given to start this, and I plan on continuing as long as I am able.
• I have found that many feel I may be “churchy”.  I get the feeling from some that my focus on gospel principles turns them away from me.  I was feeling sad about this, but then I realized that this is where we should all be.  Some think that those of us who are believers in the gospel and who try to really live it all the time, are sheep following blindly and not making our own decisions and leading our own lives.  I disagree.  I have decided that I would much rather be a sheep following the Savior (my shepherd), then a shepherd of my own fold that pays tribute of my soul and the souls of my flock, to Satan.  That may not make sense to others, but it makes perfect sense to me.  If I decided to run my own life, I would selfishly be giving my “taxes” to Satan.  That percentage would be like handing my firstborn over to him.  I cannot justify it.  I will not do it.  I will not be ashamed of the gospel.  I will continue to be “churchy” and hopefully others will see my example and want it in their lives also.  I am happy to be a follower of Jesus Christ and I pray that I will not ever let the mocking of those from the “great and spacious building”, persuade me to give in to the temptations of the world.