My name is Cynthia(Errickson)Butcher.This is my experience and testimony of Jesus Christ.
I was going to Brigham Young University the Fall of 1981. I was also working from 3am to 7am at the Fine Arts building cleaning crew on campus. I took a class this semester called "The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ". After working that morning, I went to my classes I remember our teacher challenged us to ask for a testimony of Jesus Christ in our prayers. I thought about it, I had been raised most of my life in the Church, but I had also gone to church with my cousins at times to their Bible school and knew they believed Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost were one being. I knew that we believed that Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost were 3 distinct beings, but I hadn't made a concerted effort to know. I was relying on my parents and leaders testimonies. I hadn't been real faithful in my praying up to then, I wondered to whom was I praying. It was a kind of fuzzy area in my mind. On the way to my campus apartment I pictured a place that I could use to pray for this challenge. There was a large patio area and across the path a little one where our ward had had barbeques, there is a building there now. It had large bushes surrounding most of one side. There were cement seats on the sides of the patio; they were almost like shelves. I went to the smaller patio but a couple was there talking so I went to the larger patio and found this secluded spot where the bushes covered most of it from view. I sat down and poured out my heart to Heavenly Father. I knew that I could ask in faith with real intent, like I'd learned Joseph Smith did in the Sacred Grove, and I believed I would receive an answer. I asked Heavenly Father, "Who was I praying to?" I felt such a strong, crisp, and clear answer to my prayer testify that God was real, that Jesus Christ lived here on earth, He is the Son of the Father; that I was praying to Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. That Jesus was my advocate to the Father, that He brought our prayers unto God. That Jesus Christ was my Savior, and Redeemer of the world. It was so clear so sharp it was if a knife had cut through all the fuzzy mist, I knew! I knew for myself that God lives, that Jesus lives, that He is my Savior, and They loved me, the Holy Ghost testified of this to me. They work together as a team; a Godhead. I cried with such gratitude in my heart for this sacred witness. It all made sense now; it was all clear. It changed me; I wanted to live for and serve Them. I want you to know knowing this didn't make me perfect all at once. I'm still working on it but, it gives me strength and joy and hope and peace to keep on going to keep on building myself and the kingdom of God on this earth. I write this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
