For a long time I wondered about my testimony. You always here stories of these amazing experiences people have of fasting and praying and then having the spirit bare witness in a powerful way and how that was the moment they knew the gospel was true. I have never had that one defining moment that I could look back at and say, “That was the moment I knew,” and I thought that meant my testimony wasn’t as strong or that maybe what I felt really wasn’t a testimony. Then I had a Sunday school teacher describe how she had never had one of those moments but had just always known the truth. It was then that I understood that a testimony doesn’t have to come in one miracles moment after much questioning and doubting. I have always believed that the gospel was true. I have never doubted for one second that it wasn’t. I have had many little moments throughout my life that have verified to me my beliefs. That doesn’t make my testimony stronger than another’s because I have never doubted and it doesn’t make theirs stronger because they had a miraculous moment. It just simply means that everyone receives their testimony in their own way. How grateful I am that we can each receive a confirmation for ourselves.
I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that he suffered and died for me. I know that because of the Atonement I can be forgiven of my sins and have eternal life. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he restored the true gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet of God. I know that families can be together forever through the blessings of the temple. And I know that I am indeed a child of a Heavenly Father who loves me.
I am so grateful I have had this knowledge to get me through the hard times in my life. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and has made it possible for me to live with Him again. I am also grateful for the blessings of the temple. Knowing that I could be with my dad again was the only thing that got me through his death when I was fourteen. I was again grateful for those blessings as I knelt across the alter and was sealed to Merritt for time and all eternity on our wedding day. And then when we knelt across the alter again with Alex and Sam dressed in white standing near by as Maggie’s little hand was placed on ours and sealed to our family. Every day I am grateful for this gospel and for the blessings it brings to me and my family.
