Elder Dube's talk was great!
My dear brothers and sisters, the covenant we made with the Lord when we were baptized, “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in”, is a lifelong commitment. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf counseled, “Those who have entered the waters of baptism and received the gift of the Holy Ghost have set their feet on the path of discipleship and are charged to follow steadily and fully in the footsteps of our Savior” .
“For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation” (D&C 58:2–3).
We too can look ahead and believe.
Elder Ochoa has always had great stories to tell! Do you remember in 2012 the story of the Young Men in South Africa- Thabiso and Tebello?
The story he relates from his childhood is timeless- showing the natural tendencies of boyhood (I was able to recognize those boyish traits in my own sons), and also the hand of a loving Father in Heaven for each of His children.
"As children we were just thinking about ourselves. We never thought about the loved ones who were desperately searching for us back home—if we had, we would have never delayed our journey in such a useless pursuit. And if we had been wiser, we would have looked at the sky, spotted the clouds forming, and accelerated our pace to stay ahead of the storm. Now that I have a little more experience, I always remind myself,
“Don’t forget to look up.
"My dear brothers and sisters, if you ever come across anything that causes you to question your testimony of the gospel, I plead with you to look up. Look to the Source of all wisdom and truth. Nourish your faith and testimony with the word of God. There are those in the world who seek to undermine your faith by mixing lies with half-truths. This is why it is absolutely critical that you remain constantly worthy of the Spirit. The companionship of the Holy Ghost is not just a pleasant convenience—it is essential to your spiritual survival."
" for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, the similarities we share outnumber the differences. ....the Church is the same no matter where you go. Down in the(Alaskan)cities of Valdez or Homer- or in other states or countries-it's the same. The same teachings, the same gospel. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, each of us has a unique journey. But we each follow a path to conversion, Make the same covenants, and strive to keep the same commandments. And for each of us, that path begins with gaining a testimony. We may not all gain a testimony in the same way, but we each Ned one. There is absolutely nothing in this world that will provide more comfort and happiness than a testimony of the truth.". "Gaining a Testimony-Alaskan Experiences" 2013
ReplyDeleteElder Wilford Andersen stated:" We all desire that our sins be forgiven, but as we strive for righteousness, we also long for something more. We, like Nephi long for a heart that shakes at the appearance of sin.(2Nephi4:31) and that not only submits to God's will, but also desires His will. We long for a cleansing and sanctification of our hearts, which changes our desires. When we yield our hearts to Christ by conforming to the principles and ordinances of His gospel-He changes us. He also heals us and sanctifies us.(Hel. 3:35). As a result we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. (Mos. 5:2). This the mighty change of heart experienced by the people of King Benjamin and by Alma the Younger. It occurs when we apply the doctrine of Christ and thereby become His sons and daughters. This rebirth is the essence of His gospel, for it prepares us to return to the presence of the Father."
ReplyDeleteElder David A Bednar stated in Oct. 2012:" knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. As evidence in Matthew 16:15-17,and the Savior's instruction, a testimony is personal knowledge of spiritual truth obtained by revealation . A testimony is a gift from God and is available to all His children. Any honest seeker of truth can obtain a testimony. Fundamental components of a testimony are knowing Heavenly Father lives and loves us, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that the fulness of the gospel has been restored on the earth in these latter days. Interestly, the mighty apostle, Peter, had a strong testimony of the Savior's divinity. Yet even Peter needed additional instruction from Jesus about the converting and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost and his obligation to serve faithfully. The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christentails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior's Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one's beliefs, heart and life to accept and conform to the will of God and includes a conscious committment to become a disciple of Christ. Conversion is an enlarging , a deepening and broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. Conversion is an offering of self, of love and loyalty we give God in gratitude for the gift of testimony."
ReplyDeleteHelaman 5:12: It is upon the Rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Sonof God, that ye must build your foundation, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall best upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is the sure foundation, a foundation whereon if built they cannot fall.
ReplyDeleteElder David A Bednar also stated that testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter days of storm and darkness and evil in which we are living. Testimony is important and necessary, but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we need.
ReplyDeleteIn the Book of Mormon class study guide 1991,states: In the Book of Mormon there are over 240 instantances of the word remember or forms of the word ( remembered, remembrance, or forget not). Think about why word remember is importat to the Lord's covenant people. President Spencer W. Kimball taught of the great importance that memory plays in our spirituality. When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, it could be remember. Because all of you have made covenants- you know what to do and you know how to do it-our greatest need is to remember. 1968
ReplyDeletePresident Gordon B. Hinckley emphasized the world's need to hear pure testimonies: "you recall that Alma gave up the judgement seat so that he might have time and strength for a greater work(Alma 4:19). For this reason, the world today needs the power of pure testimony. It needs the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if the world is to hear that gospel, there must be messengers to teach it." (Oct. 1987) "to bear testimony is to bear witness by the power of the Holy Ghost; to make a solemn declaration of truth of truth based on personal knowledge or belief. Clear declaration of truth makes a difference in people's lives.
ReplyDeleteElder Robert J Whetten (I believe was Adam's mission president) explained: "Conversion means consecrating your life to caring for and serving others who need your help and sharing your gifts and blessings. Every unselfish act of kindness and service increases your spirituality. God would use you to bless others. Your continued spiritual growth and eternal progress are very much wrapped up in your relationships- in how you treat others . Service to others is what the gospel and exalted life are all about. 2005
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