Farewell talk

For as long as I can remember, while growing up I’ve always had faith and a testimony that Jesus is the Son of God and that this is his true church upon the Earth. Never have I doubted or questioned that continually following the commandments, getting baptized, and utilizing the atonement was the way to eventually receive exaltation. While this isn’t uncommon when being born into the church, it also wasn’t, or won’t be, the case for everyone.

This method, or I guess, blessing, of receiving a testimony has been a great gift my whole life; but it did present a problem when I was asked to speak on how to gain a testimony. The immediate answer that came to my mind was, “It’s just true. You just know.” After realizing that that wasn’t quite going to take up my allotted time for this talk I decided to go to the scriptures and words of the prophets to get some real steps to developing a testimony. So here we go.

In 1 Nephi 2:16 we find out that the first step to receiving a testimony is having the desire to receive one.

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know the mysteries of God, wherefore I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father.”

After recognizing his desire for knowledge, Nephi did as each of us can do and as Joseph Smith did when he had a question which was to ask of God. If we will ask God with pure intent, we will receive an answer. The Holy Ghost will bear record to our hearts that those things which we are questioning are true.

In D&C 42:61 it says, “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.”

I remember once in Young Women’s we were talking about how God will always answer our prayers. My Young Women’s leader challenged us all to go home that Sunday and pray and ask God if he loved us. She told us that if we really wanted to know, that he would answer. She said that we had to be patient and wait and listen for the answer. I went home that Sunday and forgot all about the lesson until I was laying in bed reading that night when I remembered that I hadn’t asked God if he loved me. So I got on my knees real fast, and still halfway under my blankets, said a one question prayer, “Heavenly Father, do you love me?” I didn’t feel anything except cold, so I got right back under my covers and continued reading. Surprise, I still didn’t feel anything. I was disappointed. It wasn’t until a couple days later that I once again remembered the assignment and got on my knees to ask God if he loved me. At the end of my prayer I again uttered the question, “Heavenly Father, do you love me?” And then, to my credit, I didn’t immediately jump into bed. I waited. And I waited. And I felt it. I remember feeling overwhelmed with the amount of love that flowed through my body. Although I had already had faith that God loved me, it was reaffirmed even more fervently. Since that night I have periodically asked God if he loves me at the end of my prayers and have found that the days I am willing to listen, he is always there to fill me with his love again.

This simple method of praying to receive a testimony is adequate for many aspects of the gospel such as that Heavenly Father lives and loves his children. Jesus Christ lives and is the Son of God and that Joseph Smith restored the gospel to the Earth. However, there are other parts of the gospel that require more than a prayer to gain a testimony of their truthfulness.

In Ether 12:6 we read, “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trail of your faith.”

We must act on our faith. If you want a testimony of tithing, you’ve got to pay it. If you want to know prayer works, pray. If you want to know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, read it. Want to know that you can actually find answers in there even though it’s ancient? Have a question and then read it. Basically we need to do what Nike says and, “Just do it.” Just do what the Lord has commanded.

Regardless of if you follow these couple outlined steps of having a desire, then praying, and then acting or if you fit more with my original answer of, “It’s just true. You just know,” this concept of action is what unifies the two ways of gaining a testimony into ultimately being the same. You have to just do it; put in the effort. Whether you’re doing whatever it happens to be in hopes of receiving previously unknown truth or if you already know it’s true so you’re simply continuing to do what’s right; by acting on the principles of the gospel you are able to receive a testimony of their truthfulness.

Although the precursing steps will vary from person to person and each individual will have their faith tested and developed in different ways, in the end there is only one way to ultimately receive a true testimony and that is through the Holy Ghost. In 1 Corinthians 2:11 we learn that, “the things of God knoweth no man, but [by] the Spirit of God.”

When speaking of the Holy Ghost, Joseph Fielding Smith said, “It’s convincing power is so great that there can be no doubt left in the mind when the Spirit has spoken. It is the only way that a person can truly know that Jesus is the Christ and that his gospel is true.”

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we gain a testimony the same way as the president of the church? All testimony comes through the Holy Ghost.

Many times in my life I’ve wished for a sign. If God can move mountains or part a sea then it would be way cool if he would just make my bed for me or if I could have a vision. And who hasn’t tried at least once to walk on water?

Although these signs or wonders would have been amazing experiences that certainly could promote faith, they are not the way to developing a lasting testimony. We see this multiple times throughout the Book of Mormon, the most well-known of which is the lives of Laman and Lemuel.

Laman and Lemuel repeatedly witness miracles; an angel appeared to them, they saw the Liahona work and stop working, they were there when Nephi got the plates from Laban, and they saw their younger brother build a ship. Even when presented with proof that God exists, it did nothing for them. Because they had no desire to believe, the Spirit was not able to testify to them. Just as miracles cannot be the only elements of your testimony, so it is that any kind of scientific or man diagnosed proof cannot be the basis of your testimony.

In Matthew 16:17 Christ applauds Peter for his method of obtaining a testimony saying, “Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Peter received his testimony not through man, but by God & the Spirit.

Once we receive our testimony from the Spirit, it is vital that we maintain it. Even after being given a witness of the gospels truthfulness from the Holy Spirit, we are in no way set for life. Each of our testimonies is a living testimony; always subject to waning or growing.

One way to strengthen your testimony is by sharing it with others. Brigham Young said, “Many may think they haven’t any testimony to bear but get them to stand up and they will find the Lord will give them utterance to many truths they had not thought of before. More people have obtained a testimony while standing up trying to bear it than down on their knees praying for it.” This idea is unlike any other. Normally when you give or share something, such as money or food, you have less of it. But, when you share your testimony is strengthens it for both the hearer and the bearer. The spirit will testify to you as you bear your testimony that these things are indeed true.

I tried this idea out at a Youth Conference that my ward held while I was in high school. I knew that the Book of Mormon was true and that I could find answers to my questions if I read it. But I really wanted to love reading it. I wanted to be excited about reading it every day. So I bore my testimony and told everyone that I believed that as we read the scriptures daily that they became an exciting and awaited part of our day. Guess what. It worked. I loved reading my scriptures. This story is also a good example of how if you don’t continually nurture your testimony it will fade. I didn’t read for a few days and then the days I read got more sporadic and the anticipation I had felt about reading the scriptures dimmed. However, when I would get back on track and consistently read my scriptures, the joy would return. This is the most clear example to me in my own life that you can lose a testimony if you don’t keep working at it.

We must continue to grow our testimonies by consistently obeying the commandments and laws God gives to us and by trying our best to live as he would have us live.

There are two channels to God through which we can gain further light and knowledge regarding how he wants us to live. The first channel is through our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and the other leaders of the church. This channel will direct us in the doctrine, ordinances, and commandments the Lord wants us to adhere to. This channel to God results in obedience.

The second channel is personal testimony, which goes from us directly to God. This channel deals with God’s existence, our relationship to him, and the truthfulness of the restored gospel. This channel results in knowledge.

If we will commit to keeping both of these channels to God open throughout our whole lives, our testimonies will be in constant increase. We will enter into an eternal circle where the knowledge we receive from our own personal communication with God will encourage obedience to the words of the prophet. And this obedience will then enhance our knowledge.

Thus, our testimonies grow and develop. All of the truth and knowledge won’t come to us at once. Rather, as we continue to live the gospel we will be blessed with further knowledge. In D&C 50:24 it says, “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

My testimony began with prayer. The first recollection I have of a prayer being answered was when I was in middle school. It was probably in the top 5 of the silliest, most unimportant things that I’ve ever prayed for, but it was answered the next day at school. Since then, I’ve known that God will listen to anything that I have to say and that he cares. Once I knew that prayer worked, it has become a foundational point in my testimony and through it I have gained further understanding and knowledge of the principles and ordinances of the gospel. The Lord has been able to build upon my testimony precept by precept as I was ready for it.

So, in a nutshell, we’ve got to just do it. And then we’ve got to just keep on doing it. It is not enough to simply believe or even to know. True testimony drives you to action. Satan knows that God is God. He knows that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He knows we need to pray and read our scriptures. He knows all of it. The difference between us lies in our actions. We must build our testimonies strong and fervent so that Satan cannot destroy what has been built within us.

President Monson said, “There is absolutely nothing in this world that will provide more comfort and happiness than a testimony of the truth.”

I know that that is true. My own testimony of this gospel and especially of the unconditional love of my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has brought me indescribable joy and peace. That is why I am going to Sweden. That is why I’m giving the next year and a half to the Lord. Because it’s true. And it brings a level of happiness to your life that I know isn’t available if you aren’t following the teachings of the gospel.

M. Russell Ballard said, “The fire of your testimony is all that you need in order to introduce the gospel to many more of our Father’s children. Trust in the Lord, and never underestimate the impact your testimony can have upon the lives of others as you bear it with the power of the Spirit. Doubt and fear are tools of Satan. the time has come for all of us to overcome any fear and boldly take every opportunity to share our testimonies of the gospel.

Like Nephi, “I do not know the meaning of all things.” I don’t know every answer. I’m no great scriptorian. I can only recite one scripture and I would have to sing it because scripture mastery songs. I don’t know how a lot of things in the church are going to work out. But let me tell you some things that I do know. I know that my family is sealed together and that we can be together for all eternity. I am so grateful for my parents and the unending support they give to me. In fact, my mom’s sort of life motto fits along perfectly with all of this. It is to find out what it is that God wants of you, and then have the courage to do it. I know that God lives. I know that he loves his children. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he carried out the infinite atonement so that each one of us can return to live with him again. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Savior’s church on the Earth. I know that if we will continually live our lives in accordance with the commandments of God that our testimonies will never fail us. They will be bright beacons of light that those around us will be able to see. I know this gospel is true and I am so excited to share what brings me the most happiness with the people in Sweden. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.