Conference tecrus::mormonism

    Lorenzo:
    
    You've had quite the experience in gaining your personal testimony
    in God.  What amazes me is how God has His individual plan for each
    of us, and we each have *unique* experiences to help us gain faith
    and trust in Him.  No other person will gain their testimony the
    way you received yours nor the way I have received mine.  Gaining
    a testimony is truly a personal and unique experience.
    
    At this point, I would like to share how I initially received my
    testimony of the truthfulness of this Church.  Please keep in mind
    that I am not trying to push my beliefs on anyone else - but merely
    trying to express how God "turned on the light bulb" for me so that
    I would be willing to accept the gospel into my life.
    
    I need to go back to one Sunday morning back when I was in the fourth
    grade.  Again, I was raised in the Church of the Nazarene, and my
    family, at that time, was very diligent in attending all services
    and activities.  I was in Sunday School with about 7-8 other kids.
    The classroom was somewhat dark - don't know why.  The topic of
    the lesson was the Trinity.  I can remember so clearly the drawing
    on the chalkboard - there was a triangle with God at the top, Jesus
    Christ on the left point, and the Holy Ghost on the right point.
    The teacher was explaining how these three beings were one.  I remember
    sitting there being *so* confused.  It just didn't make any sense
    to me.  Since I went to Nazarene Christian School during the week,
    my scriptural knowledge was probably greater than the average fourth
    grader.  I kept on thinking about when Christ was baptised, how
    the voice of the Father came from the clouds, and the Holy Spirit
    was in the form of a dove.  
    
    No one around me seemed to be having any trouble understanding this 
    concept . . . but I sure did.  I was too scared to "stand out" and say 
    that I didn't understand because everyone knew that "Tamara was the 
    smartest one" . . . so I kept silent.  I began to think about all the 
    adults in my church who believed in this concept, and I couldn't 
    understand how *anyone* could understand it - and I *knew* that when I 
    grew up, I still wouldn't understand it.
    
    That was experience number 1.  Let me explain experience number
    2 now.
    
    In sixth grade, I was sitting in class.  The first hour of each
    day in each class in each grade was spent in Bible study.  I remember
    learning about Adam and Eve.  My teacher kept on telling me bad they
    were because they had sinned, had eaten from the tree, etc.  Again,
    I was totally confused.  It just didn't make sense why God, or anyone,
    would use this story to begin the Bible.  To me at that time, the
    Bible had gotten off to a real bad start.  I *knew* that there
    something missing, but I didn't have any idea what it was.
    
    Well, when the Mormon missionaries began teaching me they talked to me
    about the concept of the Godhead and also the concept of the Fall.
    They didn't even have to explain everything to me.  I started putting
    all the pieces together myself - and I began explaining it to them.
    That night was such a rewarding experience for me.  Two more pieces
    of the puzzle of my life were put together.  
    
    With these two experiences, I was more willing to listen to the
    gospel, and I really had no extreme difficulty accepting it.  I
    *knew* then and I *know* now that God used these two experiences
    in grade school to help prepare me for the full gospel.  I never
    even thought that my confusion with these issues would one day be
    resolved - I had no idea.  
    
    I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father is preparing each
    of us in His own way and *time* to receive the fullness of the gospel.
    I don't think that everyone is going to accept it . . . and that's
    their choice.  But for me, I know that living the gospel gives me a 
    purpose and a love for life.  And for that, I am extremely grateful
    to my Heavenly Father.
    
    Tamara 

I wasn't quite sure where to put this. If it more properly belongs in
an established topic, the moderators should feel free to move it. 

I wrote this on the way back from a trip to the Washington DC Temple
last week. I wanted to share with you all something of what I felt,
and continue to feel. 

/kevin
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Dear
Father
in Heaven,

My contrite heart,
sounds like so much
but seems like so little.
                         
The Elders who taught me
said we begin each prayer
with a message of thanks -

For all that thou hast given,
For all that thou hast loved,
For all that thou hast blessed.

But there simply is no way, Father,
though I spend all my days in prayer,
that I can begin to thank you enough.

You have given me everything I ever had;
You have loved me when I deserved it not;
You have blessed me with family, and friends.

And now, Father, you have sent me the gospel
and I am blessed in ways I thought impossible.
How - oh Father, how - can I thank you enough?

I have no worthy gift I can offer thee Father,
to compare with all that thou hast given;
But thou hast whispered to me thy desire.

You asked me to serve as thy missionary,
to share the glorious Gospel light.
Why is it, Lord, that thou must ask me?

Nay, Lord, I should be asking thee.
This thy gospel is thy greatest gift
Bestowed for all thy children.

Now, as I proceed forth 
from thy Holy Temple,
returning from the Mount

endowed with power,
I feel thee near.
Help me, Lord.

In the Name of
Jesus Christ,
Amen

Hi!  I checked the directory of this conference & couldn't find any
note set aside for the purpose of bearing testimonies, so I thought 
I'd start one.


General Guidelines:
It would be nice if we could prepare ourselves before bearing our
testimonies.  Fasting, praying, contemplation would help to bring 
us and our testimonies in tune with the Spirit.

Think/pray before you write.

Don't knock other religions.

I would prefer to see replies to this note be the bearing of our 
testimonies.  

If you really must make a comment about a testimony, please start
another note rather than put your comments here.

Feel free to ber your testimony as often as you would like.
    

For non-members:
Once a month, generally the first Sunday of the month, we set 
aside a part of our Sacrament Meeting for the purpose of bearing 
our testimonies.  We prepare for this meeting by fasting & praying 
& reading the scriptures.  

In bearing our testimonies, we talk about our personal relationship 
with our Heavenly Father, our witness of a principle of the gospel,
or of God's work, or of the Spirit, etc.  

Because our testimonies are joyous, we want to share them with others.
Our testimonies are personal and something that are very special to us.
When we bear our testimonies, the words we speak/write are not adequate
enough to reflect the feelings that we feel inside or to describe our
love for our Saviour.  If you and I are both in tune with the Spirit,
you will understand what I am saying - even though my own vocabulary
may be inadequate to describe what I truly feel. The Holy Ghost will 
communicate to you exactly what I intended.  It is sort of like 
soul-to-soul communication.  We call this principle "teaching by the 
Spirit".  Others who are more eloquent than I can talk about this 
somewhere else.

If you happen to see a testimony which bears witness to the fact that
"I know this Church is true ..." please don't get offended.  We are
not knocking other religions.  It means that we have received a personal 
witness of the truthfulness of the gospel & of the church.  

  ** No offense is intended and none should be taken. **

Speaking for myself, I would be offended if someone started trying to
tear apart something which I hold very personal and sacred.  (I know
I shouldn't be offended, but I never said I was perfect).  Derogatory
comments should not appear in this note (or in the note regarding which
contains comments about this note).


Best Regards,

Frank

I would like to tell you about something that happened in the 
mid 60's when I was growing up in Baltimore, Maryland.

My sister, Bliss, (then around 6 years old) was playing with 
one of our neighbor's children in their back yard.  The neighbor's 
child was sitting on a swing and was being pushed by my sister.  
Bliss was distracted for a moment and the swing came back 
and hit her - hurting her rather badly.  She was rushed to the 
hospital, where they pronounced the verdict that her hip was 
completely shattered and she would never walk again.

My father sought out some of the best orthopedic surgeons in 
Baltimore.  All of the surgeons said that my sister would never
walk again and refused to operate, except for one who said that 
he would be willing to take the risk and try to reassemble the 
shattered hip.  But, even he said that my sister would never 
walk again.

My father, (an Elder in the Church) and the Bishop administered to
my sister before the operation.  They gave her a blessing that she
would walk again and would be able to play with other children.  

The (non-LDS) surgeon said that during the operation, he felt
as if someone else was with him and was guiding his hands.  
Slowly, the shattered fragments were re-assembled into a hip. 
Later, after seeing the results of his (assisted) work, he 
commented that "although I'm a good surgeon, I'm not that good".
 
Bliss started to heal and the surgeon said that if my sister 
would ever walk again, it would be with a severe limp.  Time 
went by and Bliss healed more rapidly than was expected.  
Soon she was able to walk - but with a very bad limp.  But my 
parents didn't lose faith.  Each day, Mom would take a book 
and put it on Bliss' head and try to see how far Bliss could 
walk without the book falling off.  Finally, my sister was able 
to walk again - without the help of crutches.  The blessing 
was fulfilled.  My sister was able to play with other children 
and could walk and run with NO trace of a limp.  My sister still
walks without a trace of a limp.  The only trace of the accident 
is a scar on her hip, the memory in our hearts, and our testimonies
that this modern-day miracle which was the work of God.

My sister is a personal witness of the power of God.  The surgeon 
(not a member) was also a witness of the power and glory of the 
Almighty.  

I know that my sister was healed by the power of God - through the
holy priesthood (which is the power to act in God's name).  She was
healed as a direct result of the blessing that my father and the Bishop  
gave to her.  

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen


Frank Willoughby

I've been thinking recently about the conditions my family is living under
compared to others that I observe, and I'm realizing the Lord has been generous
to us in blessing us.

We have a nice home, food, clothes.  We have very nice neighbors, and my
children have special friends with high standards (both LDS & non-LDS).  I've
had a good job during my 26 years of marriage; we aren't wealthy, but we've
lived comfortably.  We've had no serious illness or problems of any kind.  All
four of my kids are developing into fine adults, and we have good communication
and friendship with them.  We have a long way to go in developing a Celestial
family, but in comparison to the world in general, I think we've come a long
way towards that goal.

I am grateful to God for his love to me.  I'm grateful to the Savior for his
sacrifice in performing his atonement, and for his example to me of how I
should live my life.  I know that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ.  I
know that I am a child of God and am, therefore, important.

Allen

    
    	Four years ago I was in a very bleak period of my life. I was
    	having problems in just about every area, with job, friends,
    	relatives, attitude toward people in general. I saw no point
    	in anything, and was pretty much going through the motions 
    	in life - "playing out the string", to borrow a phrase from
    	the sports world. I was an agnostic - I felt that *if* there
    	was a God, He was probably hostile and malevolent just like 
    	everything else. I was serving a sentence in a penitentiary called
    	Earth, for a crime that I (felt I) not only did not commit,
    	but did not know the nature of.
    
    	My dispair at my situation had reached a nadir. One night I
    	was driving home from my sister's house, thinking unspeakable
    	thoughts about myself, life, and God. Then the moment that
    	changed my life forever happened. In an instant, I became 
    	aware  that I was deeply and profoundly loved, my evil
    	thoughts notwithstanding. I was forgiven I was precious!
    	The very keys to my prison were within my heart ("the kingdom
    	of Heaven is within you"!). I realized that the architecture 
    	of my prison was *exactly* as I would design if I wanted
    	someone to suffer! 
    
    	God had not imprisoned my, my own heart, my own thoughts, had,
    	and now God was summoning me out!
    
    	In an instant, my tears of dispair were transformed into tears
    	of joy, my heart's moans into many songs of triumph. I regard this
    	incident as a revelation from God, communicated to me by the very
    	Holy Spirit. This was not in the form of someone speaking a series
    	of sentences to me, but rather an awareness that came upon me with
    	a sensation like the pop of one's ears while traveling in an airplane.
    
    	It was given to me at this time that, over the years, I would begin
    	to encounter spiritual concepts that would aid in my understanding.
    	I would be given the opportunity to study many of man's religions,
    	at my own pace and as the conditions of my life allowed. many
    	sacred writings would be encountered by me on my spiritual path.
    	In each I would find truths, which would announce themselves to
    	me like the ringing of a bell which I would be unable to ignore.
    
    	Start with the Bible. Pay special attention to the part that's
    	printed in red. In times of discouragement, or fear, or
    	anxiousness, Call upon Jesus Christ. Call into your awareness
    	a mental image of the Master, picture Him standing next to 
    	you, on your right, and you will be comforted. He has always
    	loved you, and always will, and his love has the power of
    	the Universe. Nothing is impossible, except that which you 
    	believe to be so. Notice the vibrant world of Life around
    	you, and how everything in Nature tries to be perfect. Even
    	a dandelion, which Man regards as a conteemptuous weed, tries
    	to be the best dandelion it can be. Let this then be your
    	religion, the constant striving for impeccability. Your heart
    	knows the way. Simply seek it. Notice the correlation between the
    	disappointments and upheavals in your life with the  disharmonious
    	thoughts and attitudes you allow your heart to harbor. You will
    	find a one-to-one relationship! The kingdom of Heaven is within!
    
    	
    	This is what has happened to me, and over the years there have
    	been more "pops" of revelation which have ever guided me upward. 
    	There are many who would read the above and since it doesn't 
    	map one-to-one with their religious beliefs, conclude that the
    	whole thing (or parts of it) are from Satan. To those I can only
    	say, the burden of proof is on you. 
    
    	May all of you have a blessed, beautiful day!
    
    	Neal/B
    	
    
    
    	

    Neal,
    
    I can very much understand what you are saying relative to the "pop"
    you experienced when in the depths of despair.  I, too, once suffered
    almost 6 months of debilitating despair, despondency and depression. In
    one 9 month period  I lost 2 parents and a child.  I felt as if I were
    being punished, and felt very vulnerable.  After much suffering
    and withdrawal into myself, I went to the Washington Temple and while
    there  meditated and contemplated my situation.  Like you, I received a
    personal revelation in which I learned that I was a prisoner in the
    very prison I had created.  Moreoever I learned that I was also my own
    jailor with the power to keep me prisoner or set me free.  It was shown
    to me that the Lord had in no way created this state, but that I was
    responsible for my situation.
    
    When I learned these personal truths, I determined to set myself free
    and like  you, I felt a wonderful feeling of liberation and
    renewal, a sense of having come out of darkness into light, of being
    forgiven, valued and loved.  
    
    So, yes, I do understand what you are saying.  The Lord works with each
    and every one of us to custom tailor those things we need to learn and
    experience for our spiritual growth and development.  I would encourage
    you to keep up the search, the study, the questioning, the faith in the
    Lord. I love the following Book of Mormon passage about the experience
    you and I have had.
    
    	For every  thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to
    believe in Christ is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ;
    wherefore ye may know with a perfect knoewledge it is of God.
    
    	But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in
    Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with aperfect
    knowledge it is of the devil.
    
    				Moroni 7: 16-17
    
    Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
    
Paul