My Testimony

I want to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It isn’t just because the church wants everyone to go on a mission. I do know that Heavenly father wants me to go. He has been prompting me to go for quite some time and I am going because I feel that I need to.  I am going because I know Heavenly Father is prompting me to go.

I can help someone, somewhere to come into the fold, and to be part of the church. I want to help others. Everyone needs help, no matter what circumstances they are going through in their lives; everyone needs someone to talk to. Everyone needs help learning more about the gospel, learning new perspectives of the gospel.

             I have faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. I know that with Him I can get through everything. I know that He has been there to pick me up when I fall. I know that He has given me my trials to make me the person I am today. Without the gospel in my life, I know that I couldn’t have made it through all of my trials. I have faith that Heavenly Father will help me on my mission and where I lack in knowledge of the gospel. Heavenly Father will be there to help me know what I need to teach the investigators exactly what they need.

I know that the scriptures are true. I know that the scriptures have come from divine revelation by the prophets and apostles of the church. I know that by faith Joseph Smith was able to translate the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon is also the true word of God. I know that by reading and pondering the scriptures diligently we can become closer to Heavenly Father. I know that with the help of prayer and reading the scriptures my question can be answered. Just like my question about going on a mission was answered by reading the scriptures after praying about it. I know that without the scriptures Joseph Smith would never have prayed about which church was true and would have never met God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ in the sacred grove and started the only true church in the world.

            I know that the Book of Mormon will be the greatest tool I will use on my mission to  teach others about the gospel.  I hope that my investigators will be able to feel the peace and the Spirit that I feel each time I read the Book of Mormon, and come to find that it is true just like I have. I know that daily scripture study is what helps keep the spirit in my life, along with going to the temple. I believe with all my heart that the temple is the House of God. Although I haven’t been able to make the sacred covenants in the temple and gotten the opportunity to become endowed, I know the Spirit dwells in that Holy place. I know that the blessings of the temple will be even greater when I become endowed. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to go to the temple, and help those who can’t be baptized for themselves. I am so blessed to help people I don’t even know get out of spirit prison and receive the great blessings of the gospel. I love the overwhelming feeling of peace I receive when I get to do this wonderful service. I cannot wait for the day I can take my temple covenants, and be able to go on a mission and help people who can be baptized for themselves and can receive the blessings before they pass away.

I know that a temple marriage is the only way to be sealed to my eternal companion for eternity. I know through prayer and fasting I will find my eternal companion and cannot wait for the day I will be able to spend my life with him through all eternity. I know that in the world right now, families are not important but I also know that in the church, families are the most important thing. I am grateful to know that with the gospel I will have an eternal family.

I love sharing the gospel in my family. I love the Spirit that resides in a home when they are choosing the right. I love the Spirit that radiates from a family that has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that families are so important in the church because without an eternal family, people fall victim to the world.  I know that my family might not have the spirit residing with them and may not believe in the church any longer, but I know my family loves me. I know that if I do what I need to do, and follow Christ’s way, the Lord will help me to bring my family back in the fold. I will be the example to them. I will be the beacon to lead them back to where the Spirit resides. I will once again have an eternal family.

I know one of the many blessings families can have is the power of the priesthood, and the blessings it brings to each member of the family is amazing. Although I didn't always have the priesthood in my home while I was growing up, I knew that I could turn to any one of the priesthood holders in the church and they would be able to give me a blessing. Not only does the priesthood bring blessings and help those in need, but it blesses the home, and allows the Spirit to reside there. It brings a peaceful feeling that dwells in your home.

             I know the priesthood is the keystone of the church. The priesthood allows the leaders of the church to hold the keys that allow them to be in tune with the Spirit for us. I know that without the priesthood my bishop wouldn’t have been able to give me a blessing of peace and comfort when I was having shoulder pain. I know the Spirit was with him, and was speaking through him as he blessed me to help me find a job and to help me have a better relationship with my family, two things I had not mentioned to my bishop at the time of the blessing. I immediately felt the peace and comfort of knowing that my Heavenly Father was there for me and knew exactly what I needed to hear at that moment in time.

The priesthood helps the prophets, apostles, and even the local authorities to receive revelation to help those in need. Although I cannot hold the priesthood, I can share in the blessings that come from marrying and eventually raising priesthood holders.

I know that we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who receives revelation for all the members of the church. I know that what he says comes directly from Heavenly Father. I know that what he says are things each member needs to strive to work towards and it is what we need in the world today to stave off the natural man, and keep the commandments. I know that no one is perfect, and that is why we have repentance. I know that we have the repentance process to get back to Heavenly Father, and to get into the Celestial kingdom. I know that the power of repentance comes from the Atonement. I know that Jesus Christ gave His life so that we will be able to live with Him once more. He died for us to take away our sins and our pain. I know that each Sunday when we take the sacrament, we have our sins washed away and get to remember once again why Jesus Christ died for us. I know that each sacrament we get to renew our baptismal covenants. I am so glad that I chose to get baptized when I was eight. Even then I knew how true the gospel is and wanted to become a member. I am so glad that I was able to receive the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost. I know the Holy Ghost helps lead and guide me to where I am meant to be. I know that when I hear that still small voice that I need to listen to its promptings. I know the Holy Ghost is my constant companion and my friend, just like Jesus Christ.

I know that if you pray to Heavenly Father, He listens. He is always there for me, even if no one else is. He will answer my questions, listen to my problems, and comfort me when I need it. He will come when a prayer is said. He cannot help me if I do not ask for help. Without prayer I will not be able to have the Spirit help me when I am teaching others. With faith and prayer Heavenly Father will be able to speak through me and help others know that this church is true.

 I know Joseph Smith is a prophet. I know that he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the sacred grove. I know he translated the Book of Mormon correctly. I know that he sacrificed his life for the church; I know that he had faith in the church and knew it to be true. I know that he was able to work through his trials with the help of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know he was the first missionary.  I know through his faith and diligence others wanted to become part of this church. I hope that I will be able to serve the people with love and diligence and have them see how much I love the gospel just like Joseph did. I know the church is true. I know that it is the only true church upon the earth. I know that my Father lives. I know he sent his only begotten son for us. I know he love me. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Waiting

Waiting. The definition of waiting is the act of remaining inactive or stationary. This is what my life has become and will be for the next 121 days, well actually for the next 694 days. How can I possibly remain inactive though. I guess I should explain why and what I am waiting for. There are so many reasons people wait. Waiting to find true love, waiting to grow up, waiting to find there own place in the world. However, I am not waiting for any of these things. I am waiting for the day I get to leave to serve a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I am waiting on my best friend, boyfriend and my future eternal companion to return for serving his mission as well. I don't think the definition of waiting is sufficient for LDS members. We willingly send off our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends and our better halves for 18 to 24 months to serve the Lord. To others outside the church this is a terrible sacrifice. How can and 18 or 19 kid know enough to go out on their own, in a completely new place for 2 years to teach about their faith, their love of the gospel, and their love of their Heavenly Father. However, leaving to serve the Lord is in no way a sacrifice, it is an immeasurable blessing to the family of the missionary, to the missionary, and to those special people that decide to investigate the church. For those two years our missionaries are gone do we put our lives on hold, are we inactive? NO!! We hasten to salvation in our own areas, we become missionaries as well. We are trying to obtain that same Spiritual high our loved ones are experiencing. Our missionaries do not need to be the only ones that benefit from the two years they are gone. We too can have miracles happen. We can become a Preach my Gospel missionary. If I just sat around waiting for the love of my life to come home, then I would not be the same person I was when he left. I want to grow and strive to be a better person just as he is doing right now. He might not know it but he isn't just converting those he is serving, but he is strengthening my testimony and helping me have a true conversion. I love him so much, and hope to to become a great missionary like he is right now.