My Testimony

I was listening to BYU-TV this morning and it always gets me thinking.  I was thinking about my testimony of the gospel and how it came to be.

I was eighteen years old.  I had been introduced to the Mormon missionaries and they were teaching me the lessons they teach.  Elders Soderberg and Mottishaw.  I've lost contact with them, I guess I should be glad I can even remember their names.

Each meeting had a particular topic and they would leave a pamphlet and reading assignment.  I usually didn't do the reading assignment, probably because I worked a lot of hours in those days.  But a threat to postpone my baptism made me get on the stick.  I was a person who believed, and I thought that was enough.

As a person much older than eighteen now, I can see the value of getting your own answers and testimony.  You can't let other people's strength be enough for you.  What if those people fall away from the truth?  Are you going to fall just because they did?  What if your Bishop robs a bank?  That's pretty unlikely.  But it's not unlikely that some day, someone you look up to will let you down.  It could be a grievous sin or just a matter of being inconsiderate. You need to have the strength to stand on your own.

A testimony of the gospel is more than just believing.  It's getting an answer to your question of 'Is this really true?'  The missionaries instructed me to ask a question that could be answered yes or no.  The question I asked was, "Did all this in the Book of Mormon really happen?  Were these real people?"  I knew if it was real, then Joseph had to be a real prophet.  Else he couldn't have translated it.  Then the church had to be true.

I went about studying and reading the scriptures for about a month.  I would often get on my knees and ask the above questions.  I was mindful of it even when going about my day.  There is something more.  I told the Lord I would do what he wanted me to do.  If this was his true church, I would be baptized.  And live it.

One day, I was sitting on my bed and asking these questions again.  A feeling came over me which I had never felt before.  It seemed to go from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.  A chill.  But accompanied by an extremely peaceful and loving feeling.  It spoke to my soul.  I remember thinking, at the time, that it filled the room to the corners.  But anyone outside of the room would not feel it. I know now that this was the Holy Ghost.  This is how He answers prayer.

Too much stuff

We have been spending so much time moving all our stuff, trying to sell stuff, practically giving stuff away.  If I could go back in time, I would not allow so much to accumulate.  Maybe have a plan to have a yearly yard sale. Go through drawers and closets to dejunk.  Give to charity.  Keeping things organized would help with overbuying.  I wouldn't buy more if I knew how many I already had.