I am Mormon because… My family comes from pioneer stock. My ancestors crossed the plains so the church has always been in my family. Growing up my parents were the Relief Society President and my dad was Bishop. Having such strong parents was great because it gave me a great foundation to work from. At 17 I really had a desire to gain my own testimony. I knelt down and prayed and asked my Heavenly Father if everything that I had been taught were true, I asked if Joseph Smith was a prophet, I asked if the Book of Mormon was true. I received an answer right away with a great burning in my chest and the pure thoughts of knowing that all this was true and that I did below to the correct church. Many things have happened to me over the years. I have had my times where I have even been in-active at church but never have I doubted that experience and those feelings. I know the Book of Mormon and the Bible go hand in hand and are the word of God, I know that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel and that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today.
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Devon Ogden: I am Mormom because… My f … by Devon Ogden
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nplucinik: I have been a member all my l … by nplucinik
I have been a member all my life. Born and raised to do all that the church teaches. And I respect the church to the highest degree. Although I had great role models to look up to, I was always searching for my own testimony. I wanted to say that ” I KNOW this church is true”….i believed it, but i didn’t know it. A few years ago at the age of sixteen I got my confirmation. Now i can say that i KNOW this church is true. And because i have that firm testimony, my life is different. I make choices that i know heavenly father approves of. I set goals to be the best that i can be. And I am constantly trying to improve myself. There is nothing else in this world that means more to me than this church, and knowledge that it gives me. I am so grateful to be one of the lucky people who have this true gospel to guide my life. And i support every missionary who dedicate their time to spreading this gospel and bringing others to know the truth and to feel the holy spirit.
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Brian Andre: When I was in high school I … by Brian Andre
When I was in high school I went to many different churches. My dad was Catholic, my mom was Lutharan, and my parents sent me and my sisters to the Seventh Day Adventist Church down on the corner. All of these churches had wonderful clergy and teachers. I attended a private Christian school in the primary grades and then changed over to public schools as I got older. In high school my best friend was Jewish and most of my other friends went to Calvary Chapel. I also got to know some LDS (Mormon) kids at the school and noticed how happy they where and how close they felt to their families. After high school I began to wonder why, if there is only one God and Savior are there so many different ways to interpret the teachings of the Bible and the nature of God. I attended many different churches and asked lots of questions. Whenever I asked my LDS friends gospel questions the answers just seemed to make sense and feel right. Finally, I decided I would read The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. As I read my love and gratitude for Christ grew and my understanding of His sacrafice and grace became more clear than ever. I invited the missionaries to teach me and answer my questions. I was baptized the September following my graduation from High School. Jesus warned that in the last days there would be false prophets and teachings and then gave us a way to know the truth. He said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt 7:16-20) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bears the fruits of truth, peace, joy, and family togetherness. Everything good in my life has been a direct result of my decision to follow Jesus Christ, be baptized and live my life in accordance with His teachings. The Book of Mormon and the Bible are the word of God, there are true and living prophets on the earth today, Jesus is guiding His church as in times past. Come taste of the living water and the fruit of the truth restored!
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laura04: I have attended church from the … by laura04
I have attended church from the time I was a little girl. I was raised in a Baptist home. At the age of 13, I accepted Christ in my heart. I felt whole, for a while. I slowly moved away from God as I grew older. Once I graduated high school I stopped going altogether. I had been a few times since then. About 3 years ago I met a woman that just happened to be my next door neighbor. We became very good friends. She is the first Mormon believer I’ve met. She invited me to her church and so I went. I in turn, invited her to mine and she came. We are now room mates. On Saturday night, the missionaries came to give her daughter the discussions so she can be baptized. I sat in on the discussions and participated. I could really feel the spirit around me. The spirit has not left, but yet only grown stronger. Last night my friend and I were discussing our different beliefs as far as religion went. I can testify that as we were discussing this I knew the spirit was telling me that the Mormon church is the true church. I had felt the spirit before a few times, but never this strongly! We were speaking of the temples and how it’s so amazing that other churches have been destroyed, but the temples have never been touched. I am starting the missionary discussions tomorrow night so I can also be baptised. I feel an immense peace inside of me that I have never felt before, and it is a feeling I know I can never go without again. I trully feel in my heart, that God brought my friend and I together so I could learn the truth. This is my testimony. The Holy Ghost is real. God is real. The priesthood is real. The Mormon church is true! I can never deny these things, for I feel them in my heart and I can’t wait to finish my journey through this world with the truth!
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susanlj: I gained a testimony of the Boo … by susanlj
I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon by reading it for myself. There is no other way to really know for yourself. When I read the Book of Mormon I learn things about the Lord I never knew before. I learn how much He loves us. I learn how He works. I find answers and solutions to the questions and problems I have in my life. I feel greater resolve to be better, to defend the cause of righteousness, to draw closer to the Lord as my Savior and Redeemer. These are all things that come from reading the Book of Mormon. Most importantly, however, after I read, I can kneel down before my Heavenly Father and ask Him if it truly is the word of God, and He will confirm that it is. every. single. time. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It testifies of my Savior Jesus Christ and because it does, so much better can I. Jesus is the Christ. He is the Christ. Is the only name by which we can be saved. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is literally The Church of Jesus Christ, again restored to the earth. These things I know and testify to all who read in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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Tough Grits: I believe that there is no … by Tough Grits
I believe that there is no greater call within the Church, than that of a teacher. I have a strong testimony that we are all teachers, whether we are called and set apart as such or not. I also have a strong testimony that we are all students/learners of the gospel. By our own example we can teach others (for the good or bad) and by the example of others we can be taught (for the good or bad).
D&C 18:10
Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.I have a testimony that the worth of a soul is great in the sight of God. It is based upon this very testimony of the worth of every soul, that my testimony on the sacred call to teach rests. It is no wonder that our great leaders in this Church are deeply and sincerely concerned about the teaching in our Church, and the example that the members set every day.
Our own Savior, Jesus Christ, was a teacher as he lived and walked upon the earth. He taught others through his love, compassion, faith, and his perfect obedience to our Heavenly Father. He was the greatest teacher to ever have lived upon this earth. He also set the most perfect example for the rest of mankind to follow.
I also have a testimony that our leaders are teachers. They lead and guide us through the loving and omniscient direction of our Heavenly Father. They counsel us and lead us twice a year in General Conference, they instruct and teach us through the Church approved manuals issued by the Church, and they encourage and uplift us through their written words in the monthly Church publications.
I have a testimony that the call to teach also extends down to our loving Stake Presidencies and our Ward Bishoprics. They set the example of loving leadership that is patterned after our Church leaders, even our Living Prophet. The guidance and instruction that our local leaders extend to us, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is for our benefit and our growth in this gospel. As we learn to humbly obey and open our hearts and minds to the guidnace of all our leaders, and as we allow ourselves to be teachable, we will then be able to take the truths that are witnessed to us by the Holy Ghost and apply them in our own lives so that we may, in turn, be an example and a guiding light for those that we come in contact with.
Teaching and learning in the gospel is one eternal round. The more we humble ourselves to be teachable, the better prepared we will be to then teach others. Every doctrine and principle in the gospel that we humbly learn and allow the Holy Ghost to witness to us as truth, then becomes a part of our testimony. A testimony is something that we know to be true. As we humble ourselves to allow the Holy Ghost to lead and guide us, the stronger and deeper out testimony of the gospel becomes. Each new principle and doctrine that we accept as truth and then begin manifesting within our lives, will be added to our testimony. Surely, as we progress in the gospel, there will come a time where we can look back and see with amazement at how deep and how strong our testimony has become throughout our life and our gospel learning.
If the worth of a soul is great in the sight of God, then how sacred does that make the teaching within our homes, our wards, and our Church?
I have a true testimony that teaching and learning the gospel is the greatest calling we will ever have upon this earth.
This is my testimony in the name if Jesus Christ, amen.
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tanya: My husband and I joined the churc … by tanya
My husband and I joined the church in 2004. I truly don’t know how we made it through life before joining. Our daughter married an inactive member in 2002. My son in-law’s father gave her a BOM. She called the missionaries and later was baptized. She sent the missionaries to us and well you know the rest. I know with all my heart that this is the true church and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. It took a while to gain a testimony, but if you read your scriptures and continue to go church and pray i testify to you it will grow, mine has. I am so very thankful for the temple and what it gives to me and how I always feel the presence of HF, JC and the Spirit there. We were sealed together as man and wife and then sealed to our daughter in 2006. Tanya
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tanya: When I visit the temple, I…don … by tanya
When I visit the temple, I…don’t want to leave. When we visited the Nauvoo temple last year, I felt the spirit so strongly, I feel Christ and HF when we visit the temple. convert of four years Tanya
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Chang Kil: Faith only comes after sweat by Chang Kil
Faith only comes after sweat
Faith comes from action. Believing in something relies on action.
President Brigham Young said that inspiration only comes after sweat. This means that we must strive to excel in our work. Thus, when we do our best in our callings, our faith grows. Faith really is a seed. It grows well when it has appropriate nutrients. These nutrients are our efforts.
Our first effort must be to strive to know and love our Heavenly Father.
The Lord is saying “you already know me.” God does not change whether we love Him or not. But there is a change in us. This change is to be purified and to be born again.D&C 88:63 says:
“Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you “
This is the way. When filled with God’s love, we can do and see and understand things that we could not otherwise do or see or understand.A few years ago, when I was a young missionary, I served in a small country. It was a great opportunity for me because the place I usually lived in was a huge city. Because it was so small, there wasn’t even any sister missionaries in my area, so there were few investigators. Also, my mission had a special rule that elders couldn’t teach woman and sisters could not teach man. For this reason, I and my companion had special permission to teach women. However, we discussed it and decided not to teach sisters. Sometimes missionary can have temptations about girls and we didn’t want to make trouble and wanted to work hard. So we decided to proselyte to only men.
We worked really hard. We ran every day. We did do our best every single day. I remember that every night before I fall sleep, I pray to God with a tired body. “Father, I did do my best today just like yesterday. I love you. I want to work harder than today by showing my love tomorrow.”
I taught English twice a week at the church. Because I really didn’t have time to have dinner, I went to the bread store which is right next to the church. There was a young woman who worked at the store.
One night, as I lay down after my prayer just like the other day, I felt strongly to talk to that young woman about the church. I thought “hmm, This must be some kind of strong temptation. However, I will not be tempted. I will stay worthy for 2 years!’ and I fell asleep.
The next morning, when I prayed to open the day, I felt same feeling. I thought again it must be a really strong temptation. I got the feeling a third time when I read Book of Mormon in the morning. So my companion and I discussed this. And we decided to go to meet to her and try to share the gospel.
Because I had never experienced proselyting to a girl, I was shy and afraid. But I got up courage to talk to her.
‘We are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We want to introduce the good news that the God who loves you wants you to know Him.’
I was surprised at her response. She said,
‘I’ve been waiting.’
When she was 13 years old, she had had a discussion with sister missionaries. But her family had moved away. Even though she was not a member, she remembered the black name tag.
She recognized the missionaries but she couldn’t talk to them. And nobody introduced the gospel to her. I made an appointment to meet the next day at the church.
The next day, I heard some surprising news from her. The day we talked to her was her last day to work at that place. Also, she had planned to move away a week later. But she delayed her moving for her baptism. Isn’t it surprising? This is our faith. This is the Lord’s work.
After I returned from my mission, I became a MTC teacher in Korea. I taught gospel to missionaries who would serve in Korea. I had the privilege to teach one sister missionary who was baptized by me. Can you guess who she was? It was her: the same girl we taught in that little area. A few months ago, I heard she returned with honor.
I have learned some interesting things from this experience.
1. I would not have had inspiration if I didn’t work hard like I did.
2. I felt the inspiration several times, specifically when I prayed and read scriptures.
3. The 3 inspirations were not voices, but they were small and silent feelings.
Blessings require effort and sacrifice.
Prayer fulfills our sacrifices. It results in miracles. Miracles bring conviction. Conviction strengthens our faith.
Brothers and sisters, the time to serve a calling is limited. And time is passing very quickly.
I pray that we will live worthily and work hard to strengthen our faith and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. -
Giuseppe Martinengo: before being Mormon – video by Giuseppe Martinengo
