My Spiritual Witness (Part Three)

One thing that I have learned over the past 20 years is that faith in ANYTHING is gained slowly through multiple experiences. This Last experience seemed to hit the nail on the head for me.

The story begins In Spencer, Iowa during my 2 year full-time mission. I had only recently arrived in Iowa after spending some time training Utah. I soon realized that I was asking people to read the Book of Mormon and pray and ask if it was true, but I had never done so. I took some time out of my morning study to do just that. I read the same scriptures I ask everyone else to read the Introduction, 3 Nephi 11, and Moroni 10:3-5 and then went into the bedroom to pray.

I got on my knees and began a very heartfelt prayer, or so I thought. I thanked God for what I had and asked with faith in God, a sincere heart, and real intent if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. Then I sat and waited for an answer, a feeling that it was true.

Then it happened, actually I guess it was nothing that happened. I felt like I didn't recognize my answer I confused and worried that I could not recognize the spirit. I was a missionary recognizing the spirit is an important part of every aspect of my day. Unfortunately it was time for me and my assigned missionary companion to plan for the day and study together.

We reviewed with each other what we both had studied. But to be honest I wasn't paying attention, I was thinking about my own worries and struggles. I then had a thought! As missionaries we are given a handbook called "Preach my Gospel" and in this handbook is a section about the spirit. There was a table in this section with scriptures on one side and things the spirit does for us on the other. I decided to go and start reading through these, maybe I could find an answer.

I started with the first one leading to a section of modern revelations called "Doctrine and Covenants". It continued with a few in the Book of Mormon, then I came to one that I almost skipped over. I already knew what this scripture in Alma 32:28 was, I didn't need to read it. But something told me that I should read it anyway.

As I read this scripture every line and every word was filled with new meaning and filled me with peace. I was so much as reading words on a page but being taught by an ancient volume of Holy script. No man could have written this and have had the same effect even with years of training, education, and all the resources in the world.

I end with my own personal witness that I now Know that the Book of Mormon is God's Word and Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.

My Spiritual Witness (Part 2)

My journey to find faith in God and a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and its prophet translator continues.

A few years later, also in high school, I began to think about the church I was a part of. How my thoughts started I don't really recall. Some might say it was just a random thought others would say it was planted there by being known to many as the root of all evil, the father of all lies, or Satan. My thought was "Am I in the right place? Do I believe? Could any of these rules that I am following REALLY make a difference or could I do whatever I want and it not make a difference in the end anyway?" Thats what I thought for quite some time.

I think a lot, if not most people, who are members would say at this point that they read the Book of Mormon and prayed. Thats not what I did, I continued to think that same question every so often for what seemed to me was weeks.

Luckily my parents were faithful members and had me go to church were I would at least sit quietly and text my friends. During one of these church meetings were I was not paying attention to the speaker is were I finally got the answer to my question.

It was a typical Sunday we went to church and sat down. After serving sacrament, or communion, the chosen speaker got up and began to recite his well prepared speech on the subject that was given to him. I did not pay much attention, as I often did, to the speaker or what he had to say. He ended his talk and instead of sitting back down he walked over to the piano that was behind him and sat down. This caught my attention, I wondered what he was going play. As he began to play I remembered the tune from my days as a little child in primary. It wasn't an ordinary tune out of the song book as the familiar tune drew to a close he began to play another familiar primary song. this continued through a few songs, all of which I new from primary.

As I listened and sang the songs quietly to myself a strange feeling came over me. This feeling was definitely heavenly, it was from God. It wasn't a voice or a feeling like lighting or thunder. it was just a quiet, warm feeling that could have only been felt if you were listening. The feeling said to me "You already know the answer to your question. You were taught the answers from your youth."

In conclusion, I realized that I needed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Because I felt God wanted me to be there.

My Spiritual Witness (Part One)

I thought I might share the story of my conversion this week.

I grew up in a loving home that did there very best to teach me the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I grew up in the church I went to primary and young men and a almost all the Wednesday night activities but it still didn't really sink in. Kind of amazing if you think about it how could someone be active in a church and still not know anything about the gospel of Jesus Christ??

It wasn't a HUGE event with a flashing, neon, Vegas style sign that gave me a "testimony". It was actually a series of small events over a period of about 5 or so years that accumulated in what we in the Mormon church call a testimony.

My first real spiritual experience was in high school during a particularly rough time. My grades were not so good and my parents were worried, I was lost. Luckily my parents made me go to an early morning seminary class before school started. One morning after one of these amazingly early spiritual classes we were all leaving out the door and on the chalkboard was really good chalk drawing of the savior with his arms out stretched with the scripture "Come unto me all ya that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest"

The peace and comfort that came over me was amazing. I knew that God and Jesus Christ were both there for me every step of the way.

Never Give Up

I kinda have short message this week. But anywho in church this week we talked a lot about faith (which is interesting because none of the lessons were on faith) and the gospel and how it blesses our lives. Kinda what we learn every week huh? We were talking about the abrahamic covenant and its blessings to all of mankind and ended with this scripte in
Psalms 23:4


"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."


The gospel does not make our lives any easier, in fact at times it may make it harder. But what it does do is give us peace, comfort, and a sturdy foundation so that when our lives are in turmoil we don't have to fear and we can have peace in knowing that all things will work out for our good.

To finish off my message a great video by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The Parable of the Kite

There once lived a girl, so faithful and true,
With so much potential, so much she could do.
Her favorite pastime was spent in the park-
Flying her kite, from dusk until dark.
Her father had built it, a bright, sturdy frame,
It seemed to hold up when the strong whirlwinds came.
It had a long tail, and what joy it could bring,
As it flew through the air, tightly held by the string.
Her father had warned her, to hold on quite tight,
The trial of the wind could put up a big fight.
This daughter grew restless, just watching it fly,
She wanted to see it see it soar deep in the sky.
One day she decided that it wasn't fair,
To punish the kite, and to hold back the air,
The kite deserved more than the same point of view,
if she just let it go, it could fly away too.
Because she was struggling-life was so hard,
She longed for the freedom to let down her guard.
Rules and commandments were causing such strife,
They just held her back, there was much more to life!
In just a brief instant, she cut off the string,
she took a deep breath as the air caught the wing.
It spiraled; it turned and quite soon she had found
Her precious kite mangled and crushed on the ground.
She then heard her father, his voice calm and true,
My child these commandments are given FOR you
to help you and guide you and keep you a flight,
Just as the string has preserved your invaluable kite.
I love you. I need you. Your precious to me.
If you keep my commandments, they help make you free!
Free to fly high, free from the sorrow,
Free to awake without guilt for tomorrow.
My daughter, please know that I'm sending my love,
I'll guide you; I'll hold you with strength from above.
As I hold your sting, I won't let you down,
I promise, in heaven, that you'll get your crown!
-Stacy Schofield Hair

At one point in my life I remember thinking the exact same thing. But I guess it was more "that seems like a lot of fun, I wish I could go and do that." But its really the same thing isn't it? it starts out that way, then we decide to try it once. Then we decide its okay every now and then. And soon our lives are spiraling out of control, like the kite in the poem. Think about it, at some point in all of are lives don't we think at least once, "I want to do that" or "all these commandments are keeping me from having fun".

I remember meeting a man who I was told used to be a very good christian. No smoking, no drinking, shared the love of christ with every one. He had a family and a son. When I hade met him he was divorced, homeless, addicted to alchohol, always drunk, and in and out of jail. I found it hard to believe he was anything different.

Yes, that is an extreme example, but it certainly shows the point of how our lives can spiral out of control if we stop following the commandments our father in heaven has given us

When you stop and think about how all the commandments bless our lives it puts a new meaning on the scripture in ST. John 8:32

"Ye shall know the truth,and the truth shall make you free."

It Starts With you

I was reflecting on one of my favorite stories from the New Testament this week, St. Matthew 22:36-39, and how this can solve the most deadly disease known, pride. But first I would like to share a few details about this story.

According to my studies, the group of people involved were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. At this time it was popular to wear Phylacteries, Amulets fastened on the forehead, or on the left arm. They were small strips of parchment inscribed with texts and enclosed in leather cases. This was according to the mosaic law. Whats becomes interesting is what is written on the phylacteries. “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deut. 6:5.

If you remember the story a Lawyer came and asked Jesus a question “tempting him”. “Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” The masters answer was genius and simple, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

For years the ruling class of the Jews had been trying to figure out which of all there rules were the greatest. And then in an instant it was shown to them that the greatest commandment had been written on there foreheads the entire time. What is a joke? Irony? Humiliation? No, it was only to try and teach the stubborn Jews at the time to forget there pride and worship there God that was right in front of them.

So what can we learn from this? The answer is simple in order to solve all of our problems it has to start with ourselves. If we learn to follow these two greatest commandments our many if not all of our problems would just simply vanish.

Check out this Video from Nickelback If Everyone Cared

"How Great Thou Art"

A Member of my new ward this week played a lovely rendition of “How Great Thou Art” on the cello this week in church. I decided to read the words as I listened to the music. I was really inspired by the words they helped me understand what it means to be truly great.

The first verse talks about the wonders in the universe. Have you ever had the opportunity to gaze into the heavens and see ALL the stars? I mean all of them, like go out away from the lights and the city and see the seemingly countless stars. His works are truly endless and the chorus to “How Great Thou Art” really says it perfectly “how great thou art”.

The Second verse talks about the beauties of the earth that we are so blessed to live on. Although smaller but they are nonetheless just as grand. Next time your out and have the chance take a look at the world and life around you.

The next verse took a different approach on the word great. So far great has been things like grand and amazing and Awe inspiring, you know grand. I like the first verse “And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in”. As I thought about this verse and what it means to me I was flooded with emotion, gratitude, love, Faith, etc. The God who gave us everything that we have, humbled himself more than any of us ever have, and gave his life for those who would at some point reject him in some way or another.

To finish up my thought, the last verse talks about his wondrous second coming. How great a day to finally meet our Savior and King in GREAT glory once again. Next time you have some quiet time amidst your hectic schedule running kids and whoever else around the wold take some time to ponder on the Savior and his great sacrifice and what it means to you.