My Testimony at Home

Since I'm no longer serving over the internet as a missionary full-time, it's been some time since I've been prompted to share my testimony online. When one of the new members of the church I helped sent me a request on Facebook to use the LDS App, I leaped on the reminder it was to share my testimony.

While I was a full-time missionary in the Referral Center, I calculated one afternoon that I shared testimony online over the internet or phone an average of every three minutes during the day. Fast Sunday is a perfect day to share my testimony, which is as follows:

I know that Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and

perfect Example. Only through following him can we become like him and return to live with our Father in heaven. Jesus Christ overcame death and sin through his birth into mortality, his perfect life, suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the

I know that he has blessed us with this life as an opportunity to build our abilities to become like Him and have true joy. He's given us our families as a great tool to help us do this. Family relationships provide the best environment to practice following Jesus Christ's example. It is my family who taught me to consider "what would Jesus do?"

I know that the Book of Mormon contains Christ's ancient directions for us, as does the Holy Bible.

I know that he has again chosen prophets and apostles, like he did in the Bible, to direct us towards him. Those prophets and apostles give inspired direction and modern scripture in our times, such as is in the Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and Official Declarations. God's words never cease.

I know this because I have done my best to serve Christ, and hope through his enabling grace to be able to do better each day. I'm glad for the help and invitation of those around me to follow Christ and hope to offer my help to them.

I offer this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

3 Ways to Know What's True

When teaching Jesus Christ's gospel as a missionary, I soon get the question "how do you know if it's true."  I've come to expect this question and know so well what it can lead to, that I'm rather disappointed if it doesn't come up on it's own.  I've found that these are the three basic things that everyone should be doing to start finding the truth about God's plan and his relationship to us.

3 Ways to know spiritual truth

• Study the doctrine in the Holy Bible and Book of Mormon, as well as the words of modern prophets.
• Live the commandments, to see how they improve and bless your life. John 7:17
• Pray in faith and ask God in the name of Christ, if the message is true. James 1:5-6

What's happened as you've tried these three things?  Can you think of anything else that has helped you to confirm the truth about God's plan for us?

For I am thy God.

Elder Meza asked me write this out for him last week.   For those who don't speak Spanish:

Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art myservant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I amthy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:9-10

Don't Forget What We're Celebrating

Tonight I will be reading Luke chapter 2 in the New Testament with the other missionaries I serve with.  I've this account from Mary's perspective many times this month, and many times in years before and love it.  I know that as we read it, our thoughts will be drawn to Jesus Christ and we will feel the Spirit.  Will you gather a group around and read it tonight as well?

Bible Beats Satan!

When you carry the Bible, Satan gets a headache. When you open it, he collapses.  When he sees you reading it, he faints. When he sees you are living what you read, he flees!! And when you are about to re-post this message, he will try and discourage you. I defeated him!

Order a free copy of the Bible at Mormon.org

"If the bible is the word of god, why wasnt it given to man the minute he was created, if god knew all things?" (sic)

Because since the beginning, God has revealed things little by little as the world at large is willing to listen to more of what he has to say. It is known historically, that the Bible was not given to us by God in one lump sum. Instead, starting with Adam, each prophet wrote things down, and they were compiled together by prophets and leaders that came later.