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VIEW PERSONAL BELIEFS
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POSTED BY:
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wsvirtue
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DATE:
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12.10.2008 |
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SUBJECT:
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Power of personal testimony |
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LOCATION:
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parsons, United States
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"Look unto me in every thought; duobt not, fear not" D&C 6:36. How do we do that, I mean truly do that? How do we travel these bumpy roads in life not fearing what surrounds us, not doubting we are on the right road or going in the right direction?
Dieter F. Uchtdorf said in speaking of personal testinmony, "The testmony of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel will help us in our lives to learn God's specific plan for us and then to act accordingly. It gives us assurance of the reality, thruth, and goodness of God, Of the teachings and atonement of Jesus Christ,and of the divine calling of latter day prophets. Our testimony motivates us to live righteoulsy, and righteuos living will cause our testimony to grow stonger". Marion G. Romney said that a testimony is the "abiding, living, moving conviction of the truths revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ" . President Gordon B. Hinkley said, "Every latter day saint has the responibility to know for himself or herself with a cerainty beyond doubt that Jesus is the resurected, living son of the living God."
Now how do we get there, to that "certainty beyond doubt"? How do we know this is the only true church on the earth today? How do we know that God the Father and Jesus the Son live and love us and that Jesus atonened for our sins? How do we know the Book of morman is true, or that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God that resrtored the Gospel of Christ? How do we know that there is a living prophet leading the true church today?
In Revelation 19:10 it says, "for the testimony of Jesus is the spirirt of prophecy".
I was at the Oklahoma City Temple recently and had the privilege of hearing the Temple President bear his testimony. He said, " I do not give you my testimony, but my witness, that Christ lives and is the Savior of the world". There stood before me a man telling me that he has pesonally witnessed the Savior. How did he obtain such powerful witness?
When I was a young boy I was in search of a testimony of my own and found it through dilligent scripture study, furvent prayer and fasting, and steadfast faith that I would recieve an answer. Not that I would recieve a spesific answer, but that I would just be told the truth by a loving God. I didn't know for sure if the Book of Morman was true, and I wanted to know the truth concerning the matter. I knew that there was a God who created us, so I gave myself to him fully to have him tell me the truth. For six months I diligently searched for an answer. Then one night while in prayer I recieved that answer in the form of a powerful and overwhelming feeling of joy and peace that shook my very core. Some say they feel a warm feeling of peace and comfort. Some say they were brought to tears with a realization that Christ atoned for our sins.
The thing that is important when looking for the truth is that you look in the right place, in the right way, and with a pure heart and real intent. You can't find the spirit in a dance bar, or when listening to or telling inappropriate jokes, or watching movies that have explicite themes or content. You will be able to know if he Book of Morman is true by reading it, you will be able to know if Jesus is your savior by putting it to the test and asking for forgivness, and you will know if the prophets are prophets of God by following their councel. Living the word of wisdom, praying, fasting, reading the scritures daily, attending church, and having faith in God will lead you to the truth. This bumpy road we travel in life becomes easier to travel, and even though we can't see what lays ahead on that road we can KNOW that we are on the right path.
Why do we need a testimony?
If you didn't believe that you could see why would you look?
If you didn't believe you could walk why would you stand?
If you didn't believe in love why would you look for it?
If we don't believe we have a purpose and direction in life then we wonder aimlessly.
The power of a personal testimony is the fuel in our tanks. It is the wind beneath our sails. It is the source of our strength. It is our liahona.
I want the world to know that I know Jesus Christ lives and that he atoneded for our sins. I know because I have put it to the test. I know that the Book of Morman is the word of God. I know because I prayerfuly read and pondred it myself. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and that Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet leading this true church under the direction of Christ himself because I followed their councel and recieved blessings and peace for doing so. I can say to you that I know, I don't just believe, I know.
I bear you this wittness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Shane Virtue
I AM Solid!
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