A few weeks ago I was having a particularly hard time with Luke at church. He didn't want to wear shoes, wouldn't sit in his chair, wanted to bug Peter the entire meeting., kept insisting to sit on my lap. Wouldn't you know it....the same day a member of our Stake Presidency was visiting. After the meeting a member of the Bishopric rushed down and came to my area of the gym to tell me President Taylor wanted to chat with me for a moment. No worries, I thought. Then he asked me to speak at the Adult Session. Yikes!
When I told him I would get busy writing a talk asap he told me they just wanted me to "share my spirit". I was totally baffled by that comment. Thankfully, I've had a few weeks to ponder what I should say. I've never been one to procrastinate writing a talk but this one finally came to me with just three days before the assignment.
Stake Conference
Adult Session – August 17, 2019
Audience – Adult
Members of the Spring Creek West Stake
Introduction – My name is
Laurie Ann Thomas. My husband and I moved to Springville in 2011 when my boys
were just 2 and 6 months old. As we made the decision to buy our 1st
home I told myself that I would never in a million years move to Springville.
Apparently, the Lord had other ideas because we found the most amazing home in
the Spring Creek 20th Ward and we’ve truly cherished the people and
experiences we’ve gained while being here.
It is with great
confusion and trepidation that I speak to you today. I honestly have no idea
what I can offer and share with you that will inspire and motivate you.
However, I will do my best to share the thoughts and impressions I’ve had as
I’ve prepared for this assignment.
I am a child of the ‘80’s.
As such, this next reference may or may not jog any memories for you:
Line upon line, precept on precept
Like a summer shower
Giving us each hour His wisdom.
These lyrics come from
the original film Saturday’s Warrior. They are a simple reminder to me that
Heavenly Father never expects me to know everything there is to know about
mortality in one earth-shattering moment. Just like this song says you and I
both learn “line upon line, precept on precept”.
As children of loving
Heavenly parents, we are expected to do our part to learn the eternal nature of
things and to develop and build our own testimonies. The following information
provides us with insight on what a testimony is, how we can develop one, and
why a testimony is the driving force behind all we do in our lives. As I read
the following statement listen to the still small voice within you for confirmation
that what I am telling you is true.
Testimony
Overview
“A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The
foundation of a testimony is:
The knowledge that
Heavenly Father lives and loves His children;
That Jesus Christ lives,
that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement;
That Joseph Smith is the Prophet
of God who was called to restore the gospel;
That The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth; and
That the Church is led by
a living prophet today.
With this foundation, a
testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
have the sacred opportunity and responsibility to obtain their own testimonies.
Having obtained a testimony, each member has a duty to nurture it throughout
life. Happiness in this life and throughout eternity depends largely on whether
individuals are “valiant in the testimony of Jesus” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:79; see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:51, 74, 101).
Testimony grows through the application of the
following principles:
The quest for a testimony begins with a
righteous, sincere desire. Speaking to a group of people who did not yet have
testimonies of the gospel, Alma taught: “If ye will awake and arouse your
faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of
faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work
in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion
of my words” (Alma 32:27).
Testimony comes through the quiet influence of
the Holy Ghost. The results of a testimony can be miraculous and life changing,
but the gift of testimony usually comes as a quiet assurance, without
spectacular displays of God’s power. Even Alma, who had been visited by an angel
and had seen God sitting on His throne, needed to fast and pray so he could
receive a testimony through the power of the Holy Ghost (see Alma 5:45–46; 36:8, 22).
Testimony grows gradually through experiences. No one receives a
complete testimony all at once. It grows as individuals show willingness to
serve in the Church and to study, pray, and learn. It increases as individuals
obey God’s commandments. Testimony grows as it is shared.
Part of a testimony’s development comes when it is shared. In
the Church, testimony is shared often in fast and testimony meetings, in Church
classes, and in conversations with family members and friends.”
As a
young girl I knew I was responsible for obtaining my own testimony for myself.
Just like some of you, I was raised in a loving and happy home filled with
gospel learning and serving. My parents taught me gospel principles in a simple
way that made a significant impact on my young mind.
As
the years passed, I grew in a desire to obtain my own testimony. A mighty force
for good in obtaining my testimony was a young seminary teacher named Tracy
Kirkham. He taught seminary at the Payson Jr. High and I and my sister happily attended
his class. He saw my thirst for knowledge and encouraged me to study above and
beyond what we were studying in our seminary classes. As I faithfully prepared
for class by reading assignments and memorizing lots of scriptures (remember
all those amazing scripture mastery verses) the small fire of my testimony
became brighter and brighter.
As
I’ve reflected on the development of my testimony in the many years since that
first seminary class, I’ve thought often about the refiner’s fire that often
accompanies the faithful. It seems to me that during these times of trial and
testing our testimony is often the only thing that can keep our feet moving
forward when things seem at their most difficult.
Recently,
a friend and I, met at the Church History Museum in downtown Salt Lake City. My
primary motivation was to expose my boys to some of the hardships the early
pioneers faced when they joined the church and settled in Utah. I was hoping this
experience would help Peter and Luke as they face a challenging school year. We
had a beautiful time at the museum and my oldest son was in awe and humbled by
many of the artifacts and stories he experienced there.
As I
was slowly walking thru all the exhibits I came across the rooms that hold
special mementos from our Latter-day prophets. For some reason, I was
especially drawn to the exhibit of President Spencer W. Kimball. You must
realize that I had no particular reason to be drawn to this exhibit for I was a
very young child when President Kimball passed away and I have no memories of
seeing him on tv when I was little.
Inside
one of the display cases though, I noticed a small grey box. I scanned the
description of it and was quickly reminded that President Kimball used this
small box which turned out to be a microphone to project his voice after he had
surgery on his vocal cords.
This
thought immediately came to my mind: If a prophet of God never faltered in
bearing his testimony – even when it became physically difficult to do so, surely,
I can do a better job at developing, maintaining, and sharing my testimony with
others.
Finally,
let me share my own testimony with you:
I
know that I am a daughter of Heavenly Parents. I know with all the energy of my
soul that they exist, that they love me, care for me, and want me to return to
live with them again someday.
I
similarly know, that my brother – Jesus Christ – walked that lonely road to
Gethsemane where he suffered, bled, and died for my sins.
I
know that Brother Joseph was called and chosen by God to bring forth the
Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know I will
be forever grateful for his testimony which he treasured and held fast to until
that fateful day when he died a martyr’s death.
I
know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one true
church on the earth today. Despite other people’s doubts and opinions, I know
for myself. This knowledge has guided/and continues to guide me thru many dark
and foreboding storms. I am humbled and extremely grateful for this particular
part of my testimony.
I too
know that President Russell M. Nelson is our living prophet carefully selected
and prepared to guide us right here and right now. I have and will continue to
sustain and support him in all forthcoming revelation he provides to both you
and me.
Brother
and Sisters, life is hard. At times, life is very, very, very VERY hard. Yet,
as we put our trust in our Heavenly Father, and actions behind the testimony in
our hearts, we can and will conquer this “frail existence” and enjoy together
all the beauties that await us in eternity.
THE END
