I know that Jesus Christ lives. That He is real. That He knows me and loves me. Not because I have seen Him with my eyes, but because I have felt His forgiveness, His comfort, His guidance, the power of His atonement, and His love. I’ve seen evidence of His reality thorough the joy I feel when following Him, living the gospel, and keeping His commandments. Many times, but especially over the last two years I’ve seen evidence of His love for me and others as I’ve been directed to visit or serve someone at just the right time.
The core of my testimony is from reading and studying The Book of Mormon. I’ve read and prayed to know if it is true many times. Every time I’ve felt the warm assurance from through the Holy Ghost that it is true. Although I have doubts at times and wonder how all will be made right, I come back to the peace and strength I feel as I study The Book of Mormon. If The Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith is a prophet. He saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. He translated The Book of Mormon. Ordinances, covenants, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ were restored through Joseph Smith. As I’ve studied more of Joseph’s life and the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’ve come to appreciate how the Lord uses imperfect people to accomplish His work. This gives me hope that the Lord can use me to serve Him and that as I do, I will become the woman He wants me to be.
I love being a woman. I’m grateful to be a mom and wife and for the gift of giving birth and the innate need to love and nurture my children.
I’m grateful for the great Plan of Happiness and that I can understand my place in the plan as I attend the temple. I love learning about my ancestors, discovering a relative who needs temple ordinances done, and then attending the temple and doing vicarious work for them. I love the peace and direction I receive when I attend the temple.
There are many things I do not understand. I wish there was no sorrow, war, terrorism, corrupt governments, greed, abuse, injustice, trials that are too heavy to bear. As I search and wrestle to understand, I’ve come to know that we came to this earth to make choices, that we fought in heaven for the ability to choose, and that God will not take away our agency. There are things I cannot understand now, but through the atonement and the power of grace, all will be made right.
I’m grateful to live during the restoration of the gospel and the fulness of times. President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on earth today. He leads and guides this church. Because of this fulness of knowledge, we can hear, read, watch, listen to, and study the word of God every day. I know that as I study every day, I have peace, joy, and an increased understanding of my Savior and the restored gospel.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.