Strengthening A Testimony

I'm trying to understand more of how much influence the Holy Ghost has on us when we are blessed to have that gift. We are able to communicate with God through the Holy Ghost. We get this gift after we are baptized. It is such a powerful influence that is important in so many ways. I have thought of how my son will be turning 8 next year and I want him to know for himself that this is what he wants to do. How do I know that he is doing it because he honestly wants to and not just because it is tradition? So then I thought, why would I push him to get baptized when he doesn't fully understand? That's what made me think of the Holy Ghost. I want him to have that gift. It will help him understand what to stay away from and will help him in so many ways. At the age of 8 we are able to know what is right and wrong. We are then accountable for our choices. So it is best to have the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us along. To feel the Spirit more in our lives. I know that the chur...

I have been reading about the Anti-Nephi-Lehies with my kids and today I was lucky to teach the 4 year olds in church about them. This chapter is one of my favorites. I was thinking of the swords and how they are symbols for our countenances. These evil people repented and made their "swords bright" when they were baptized. They promised Heavenly Father they would never raise their sword to another person. So now, the bad men are coming to get them and their lives are in jeopardy. Isn't it right to defend yourselves and your family? That's the logical thing to do. They made a promise to Heavenly Father. They could have easily justified it and tried to protect themselves but they stayed faithful to those promises. They had a knowledge of the atonement and did not want to jeopardize their salvation. They cared more for their salvation than their lives. They buried those swords to show Heavenly Father they were faithful to their promises. Even when one thousand people w...

I have been thinking about this powerful gift that the Lord has given us. I think it's pretty amazing how we have this gift. I think of all the gifts Heavenly Father has given us, this is the one that I couldn't do without. The realization that someone is actually listening to me when I'm praying is a great comfort. I also have felt a great comfort in how He is listening to others when I cannot help in any way. It is our communication to God. A way to check in every morning and night. A way to repent. A way to give gratitude for all that He gives us. A way to ask for things that we need, like answers. So many gifts come because Heavenly Father has given us this chance to communicate with Him. I've been reading the words of Jesus in the scriptures. I have read over and over again these verses. It is in 3 Nephi 18: 18-21: 18 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift...

I feel a strong urge to shout out my gratefulness to God. I keep thinking today of how blessed I am. I feel so incredibly blessed. I am so happy that I have the knowledge that God is watching over me and helps me find my way. I am so overjoyed that I know, without a single doubt, that He is there for me and everyone else. My crazy life has been in shambles for a long time and yesterday felt like it couldn't get much worse. But today I feel so calm and ready to face my future with optimism. I could have chosen different ways to deal with my problems, but I am glad that I chose this one. I know that I would not feel this peaceful feeling if I chose any other way. I understand better when the prophets in the scriptures talk about having a desire to proclaim the gospel to everyone. Why wouldn't you want to feel such happiness? Any worldly way cannot bring ultimate and long term happiness. So I want to repeat what those prophets have said, "Come unto Christ." He has gone t...

There is a new channel on YouTube from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have 26 videos as of today and they were well done. This is one of them: The Truths about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I just wanted to write that I am so grateful for all that I'm blessed with. I feel so lucky to have the gift of the Holy Ghost. I can't imagine making such big decisions without guidance from the Holy Ghost. Last night I read 2 Nephi 24. One scripture stood out more than the rest. Verse 3: And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give thee rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. Heavenly Father talks to us in different ways. Through other people, the Holy Ghost, and from the scriptures. I know that the Lord was talking to me through the scriptures and it gave me such great comfort. Anyone can pray to Heavenly Father. It doesn't matter where you are in life. He wants to hear from us. He loves us so much. 

In the April conference Elder Gerald N. Lund said in his talk "Opening our Hearts", While in Liberty Jail, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation that describes a condition of some hearts: “Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? “Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men.” 15 Many in the world now live in prosperous and peaceful circumstances. In the Book of Mormon, prosperity often led the people away from the Lord. Mormon warned, “We may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art . . . , then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God.” 16 The Lord noted three natural consequences of having one’s heart set on the things of the world: First, we seek to hide our s...