Last
Testimony
To Our Children,
Grandchildren, and Descendants: I feel that I should write my testimony
for you, although I know that I will not be able to be able to express
my feelings and knowledge fully.
I have not had a
vision, and no one has come to me from heaven or the spirit world to
give me this testimony, but I am absolutely sure and know that The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the only true Church on
the earth.
I know that we have
a loving Father in Heaven who hears and answers our prayers, and who
wants us all to return to his kingdom, the Celestial Kingdom, to live
with Him for all eternity. I know that His Son Jesus Christ was sent by
God the Father to create this earth so that we all could come here and
live in mortality in order to prepare ourselves for eternal progression
in His Kingdom. He was also sent to be born of Mary and live in
mortality to give us an example of a perfect life, to teach us the
Gospel, and to be crucified to atone for the sins of everyone in the
world and make it possible for us all to repent of our sins and become
worthy to return to His presence. When they were preparing the plan for
us, they said, “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do
all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." (P. of G.
Price, Abraham 3:25.)
They also said:
"For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39.)
I know that Joseph
Smith was a true Prophet of the Lord, and that he translated the Book
of Mormon from the gold plates delivered to him by Moroni. I know that
Joseph Smith received the priesthood conferred upon him by John the
Baptist, and the higher priesthood by Peter James and John. I know that
Joseph Smith's successors have all been the prophets of God.
How do I know this?
Because the Holy Ghost has borne witness to me that it is all true. I
have also had the witness of the Spirit that the Book of Mormon is
true, as well as our other Standard Works.
"Jesus answered
them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any
man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or whether I speak of myself." I have also tried to do this to be
worthy to have a valid testimony. (John 7:15-16.)
The priesthood is
another very potent evidence of the truthfulness of the work if the
Lord. I know that it is truly the power of God conferred upon man,
because I have functioned as one who has held it, and I have had many
spiritual experiences that have revealed its power. I have seen
miracles performed by the power of the priesthood. My counselors and I
once cast out an evil spirit from a young lady in Nuevo Casas Grandes.
This was a very strange experience, but we knew that we had the power
to do it.
Another very valid
evidence is the exceptionally outstanding quality and character of
those who the Lord has prepared to hold high offices in the Church. I
have become acquainted personally with all the prophets and presidents
of the Church since President Heber J. Grant, and I have received the
confirmation of the Spirit that they were true prophets. The Apostles
and other General Authorities have also been extraordinarily great men.
I know from
experience that the easiest and best way to live this mortal life, and
the way to have help and avoid many problems, is to live the gospel of
Jesus Christ and be active in His Church.
Jesus said: "Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30.)
The Apostle Paul
taught: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by
his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things
of God." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10.)
I have had many
problems in my daily affairs during my life, and also in the callings I
have had in the Church, but I have always received the inspiration as
to how to solve them. My life would have been much more difficult had I
not had these great blessings. God has heard and answered our prayers,
most of them in the affirmative, but to some he has said no. In the
Book of Mormon, The Lord told the Nephi who lived at the time of Christ
that he would have an answer to all his prayers because he knew he
would not ask for anything that was not good or right.
Now since all this
is true, it follows that living the gospel and serving our fellowmen
should be our main goals. Our goal should be to prepare ourselves to
live in the Celestial Kingdom for all eternity. To do this we must be
valiant in serving the Lord and in carrying out His purposes. We must
learn to repent of our sins and imperfections.
Joseph Smith
received a revelation for Martin Harris, but it applies to all of us:
"Therefore, I command you to repent--repent lest I smite you by the rod
of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be
sore--how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea and how
hard to bear you know not. For behold, I, God have suffered these
things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if
they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering
caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of
pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and
spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup--and shrink--"
(D&C 19:15-18.)
We have been
worried at times that some of you might be neglecting this part of your
goals: Your prayers, both family and secret, your home evenings and
teaching your children the gospel so they will have a strong testimony
and want to go on missions and be married in the temple, and keeping
the Sabbath Day holy. You will also be blessed if you pay a full
tithing.
We go to school for
12, 16, or more years to prepare for success in this life. The rewards
will be so much greater for the eternal phase of our existence, that we
should diligently prepare for it. The Church and the gospel are the
school and subject matter we must learn to practice to have a place in
the Celestial Kingdom. We receive enough help that we can be blissfully
happy while perfecting our lives in this great school.
The Celestial
Kingdom will permit us to be together as a family, with our loved ones.
If we are worthy of the highest rewards in it, we may also have spirit
children. We will have a body like that of Jesus Christ when he was
resurrected. Our progress will not be limited, but it will in the
lesser kingdoms. We hope that you all will work diligently to prepare
yourselves for all these blessings.
President Ezra Taft
Benson says in the December (1988) Ensign that we knew our Elder
Brother Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven very well when we were
with them in the spirit world. Our memory of that phase of our life is
veiled while we are here in mortality, but it will startle us when we
return to see how familiar their faces are to us. They love us, and God
has promised to give all that he has to those who are worthy to receive
it.
Happiness is a
question of attitude. We can be happy under any condition, if we have
the right attitude, especially if we do not center our thoughts on how
miserable we are, but think of what we can do for those who are around
us.
While at Logan in
School, I heard J. Golden Kimball talk about success in life. He
compared it to wheat. If we are smart enough to separate the wheat from
the chaff, we can eat wheat, if not, we will have to chew on the
chaff.
I am so very
grateful for all that Jesus Christ has done for me, and for His Church
and his gospel that have guided me and made my life worthwhile.