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Valerie Finnegan: my conversion to the Mormon Church by staff
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Val John Jennings by staff
The Testimony of Val John Jennings
In the Book of Mormon, Jarom 1:4, we read: “And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.”
My stubbornness has been subdued by the love I have found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know I have felt the Spirit and, although, I have not seen angels, I am sure that I have been ministered to by them, even to the preservation of my life. I have been saved from serious injury and near death both in times of obedience and in times of disobedience. God isn’t finished with me yet.My testimony has grown over the years. I was born into a family that had pioneer ancestry on both sides.
My father didn’t join the church until after he met my mother and they were married in Reno, Nevada.
Many years later we were sealed as a family in the Manti temple. My mother was a great-grandaughter of John Doyle Lee and grandaughter of Joseph Leland Heywood, both noteable Mormon pioneers. She was a Prince. Her great-grandfather, George Prince was a convert from South Africa, having migrated there from England. His testimony is noteable and published. Her grandparents served as stake patriarchs and often gave testimony to the truths of the gospel.
My interest in genealogy began early as I thought I was kin to the Dalton Gang and Al Jennings, western outlaw. I later found out that the kinship wasn’t very close. My relatives had done a lot of genealogy and I read about my ancestors and was very impressed. It took me many years to find my connections, but I feel a special kinship to those who set the stage for the Restoration.
As a youth, I was raised by goodly parents and given every opportunity. I became an eagle scout, served a mission in the North Central States, married in the temple, and began to raise a family of seven wonderful children. I had a very righteous wife, but failed to cultivate the closeness that is needed to sustain our marriage, and later divorced. I have recently served as a senior missionary with my wife, Karla. We have a testimony of the value of the Career Workshop.
I feel I have always had a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. It has certainly been tested and grown over the years. My less than stellar journey through parenthood left us with disfunctional and troubled children. However, three of them are active, married in the temple, and serving faithfully. Karl, Kathy, and Donald served on missions.I have given a lot of reflection to the disinformation that others give regarding the church. My ancestor, John Doyle Lee, supposedly wrote a “Confessions” that tells of unrighteous acts by the church leaders. However, as it was published by others after his death, it is not possible to confirm what was his story and what was given as truth by those who try to destroy faith by publishing doubt. It has, however, given me a springboard to evaluate what I know from the Spirit of Truth and compare it to what is delivered by the agents of the “Author of Deceit”.
Joseph Smith said that his name would be had for good and evil throughout the world. That is true prophecy. He brought forth the Book of Mormon that is the word of God. The testimony comes from reading it. It brings into the heart and mind the desire to live righteously and teaches how to commune with the Holy Spirit. It delivers true testimony. It brings forth good fruit.
My testimony is born in the poetry I write. A few examples can be found at poetry.com and mormonwiki.com. The following are a sampling of what I have written:
A Godly Garden
A Walk in the Woods
Baptism
Boy Scout Basics
He Walked
Integrity
One Starlight Night
Returning HomeThis poem is written for this sharing of testimony. May it convey the Spirit to the reader!
My Testimony
I have a testimony.
Yes, I can say it’s true.
God has walked beside me
and helped to pull me through.Doubt and faith can not both share
the same invading space.
Faith is a gift of God, my friend.
With it your doubt erase.Faith, Repentance, Baptism,
They lead you to the gate.
Enter obediently into His arms.
Let Him there embrace.
The Holy Ghost is your friend.
He testifies of Christ.He calls upon our memory.
His counsel, there, is wise.Ask, Knock, Invite Him in.
Our Savior has come to stay.
We can know his will for us.He asks us all to pray.
I’ve asked my Heavenly Father.
Is there only one?
One way, one hope, one path?He answered, Yes, my son.
So did brother Joseph.
He saw them both, divine.
My testimony is my witness.
And yes, It’s truly mine!Val John Jennings is a published poet, genealogist, webmaster, scouter, grandparent and an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife, Karla, reside in Norfolk, Virginia.
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The First Generation by admin
Elder Paul B. Pieper
Of the Seventy
By being the first in your family to accept the gospel, you become the first generation, a chosen generation through which generations past, present, and future may be blessed.
Elder Paul B. PieperSeveral days ago, we were discussing talks during a family meal. Clarissa, our 13-year-old daughter, was preparing a sacrament meeting talk for our branch in Moscow and felt some anxiety. I reassured her that all would be well and released a little anxiety of my own by saying that at least she didn’t have to speak in front of thousands of people in general conference. Clarissa gave me some advice of her own: “It will be OK, Dad. Just pretend it’s a big branch.” Brothers and sisters, you are indeed a very large branch.
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Ott Dameron: becoming a member of the Mormon Church by staff
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Meg Radunich by staff
I am a twenty-one year old in my third year at Brigham Young University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in American history and a minor in Modern Dance. I spent the first eighteen years of my life growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, with my Mom and two older siblings. I have had the gospel my entire life. Most people in my school and community had limited interaction with Mormons and held little knowledge about the Mormon faith. I was the only example of a Mormon, and I took this responsibility seriously, as I lived the standards of the gospel throughout high school. My calling as a member missionary brought me great joy.Throughout high school, people often asked me why I was the way I was. Helping others, being a good friend, refraining from gossiping, striving to see the best in people, not judging, are sometimes the most effective way to do missionary work. Three years after graduation, I received an email from a high school friend, who was in my choir class. I barely knew this girl. During her college experience, she had a professor in one of her classes say something negative about the Mormon Church. has given me perspective. I know why I am here, where I am going, and what I need to be doing on Earth. Rooting myself in the gospel has allowed me to have greater patience with those in my life who have disappointed me. Through the atonement, I have learned that life isn’t about judging people or being judged.
My membership in the Mormon Church has saved me time. The commandments or “rules” of the church have given me freedom. The commandments have shown me how to live a productive and joyful life. I know that I have a clear purpose. The Church has influenced me to make wise decisions. I love it!
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Glenn Beck by staff
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Conviction wrought within my soul by staff
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the hope, love and happiness it brings into my life. Even when I am having the worst day ever, I can always rejoice in the fact that my Father in heaven loved me enough to send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to suffer and die for me and even more so that He rose again, overcoming death so that I can too return to my Heavenly Father. I know that He loves us. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ paid the debt we could not pay for ourselves. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth so that we can all know of this wonderful news. Heavenly Father is the literal father of our spirits. Jesus Christ is truly Jehovah, Savior and Redeemer. Joseph Smith truly was a prophet. The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is truly God’s church once again established and organized on the earth. This is my testimony, deeply embedded in the fleshy tables of my heart and within my soul, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
