I have gained many insights as I have compared my beliefs to everday objects or experiences that I have had. One sunday I was listening to a talk about the light of christ and thinking about my testimony and about the trials I was going through. The Holy Ghost prompted me to combine these  and taught me many things as I explored the relationship between a light or a flame, my testimony and trials. This is what I came up.  

            Imagine that your testimony, a statement of your beliefs that you carry within you, is a torch that you always carry with you.  It started out as a small stick with a little flame on the end, but it becomes bigger and longer lasting as you your testimony grows. It is a light to you in the dark times of your life. Its light guides not only you but those around you as well. You can help start the torches of others with it. If you neglect it, it will burn out.  If you try and hide it, it will also go out from neglect or a lack of air.

            Sometimes storms will arise in your life and the winds of trial and gusts of tribulation will blow. Your torch will flicker as it encounters these winds. It might go out if you are not careful. A big gust of wind can easily blow it out but a small steady wind can also put out your flame.  However, your torch can withstand these storms with your help.

            In order to save your flame, you might have to turn around and use your body to block the wind. This means that you might sacrifice some the physical or material comforts in order to keep your testimony strong. This could be a small thing such as waking up a little earlier in order to read your scriptures before class or work. This could mean following the promptings of the spirit when it seems more rational or easier to go the other way. Even with your back to the wind you still have to move forward into the wind. Standing still prolongs the storm because you have to wait for the whole storm to pass over you.  Walking into the storm will be difficult but will shorten your stay within it as well as make you stronger.

            In this situation you are actually walking backwards in order to go forward.  This makes it hard to see where you are going. You can look over your shoulder as you need.  But don’t worry, your Savior is there with you and will be guiding you through the storms. Trust in him. He will not lead you astray. 

            What is amazing is that in order for your testimony to burn and grown brighter it needs trials, just as fire needs air. When you wake up while camping and see that your fire from last night has burned down to embers, what do you do?  You put some kindling by the coals and blow.  With patience and a bit of work you can restart your fire without a match.  Air across the embers can renew the flame.  If you have a fire going and want it bigger, what do you do? You put on more wood and blow.  This will make the fire grow bigger and spread the flame.  Trials can do this for your testimony if you are willing to put more of yourself out to fuel the flame of your testimony. 

Tags: Testimony

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