Contents:
Why I am a Latter-day Saint
How has the Holy Ghost helped you?
What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?
How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?
Could you talk about your baptism?
Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?
Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?
Why do Latter-day Saints go on missions?
How has attending Church services helped you?
What have you done successfully to shield your family from unwanted influences?
Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.
Why/How do you share the gospel with your friends?
Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life?
How can your talents and gifts bless others?
How does making right choices help us make more right choices?
How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?
What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?
How has The Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?
What is hope and what do you hope for?
Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.
Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?
What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?
How I live my faith
Why I am a Latter-day Saint
My faith is what helps me to walk with a smile on my face. It helps guide me in the choices I have to make every day.
Growing up, we read from the scriptures, including The Book of Mormon, and prayed daily as a family. We went to church weekly, and helped serve our neighbors family and friends. When I moved out of the home, I kept doing that because I knew it was true. It helped strengthen my testimony that the teachings of the church as found in The Book of Mormon are true, and that I really could find power to do good by repenting of my sins, and leaning upon The Lord.
It’s good to have a solid foundation where I know God loves me, and that He speaks to me through prayer, parents, and teachings of the modern-day prophet.
I believe the church is true, and that God founded it as He did in Christ’s time. I’m not afraid to face the future because I know God will guide me every step of the way. I know this church is true.
I have studied about this and I have felt the witness of the Spirit that these accounts are true as I do and pray. The church is where just about all the blessings in my life come from. The Spirit continues to testify to me that he was Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that his successors are as well.
My grandpa read the Joseph Smith pamphlet and knew it was true. From his choice I’ve had the gospel in my life.
How has the Holy Ghost helped you?
After being baptized, I received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by one holding the Priesthood authority of God (Acts 8:15-17). Since that special day, I have had a great need for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. I believe my ability to remember the importance of daily scripture study is from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. When I pray, I am filled with ideas on how to live more peaceably, and to be a better influence on those around me. I also feel comfort and the presence of The Lord. I know these are from the Holy Ghost. As a missionary, I prayerfully determine who I should see and where I should go, and miracles happen because of it. For example, I felt like a particular door we walked past that we should talk to them. We did, and found the person there was in great need of our help. That strengthened my faith that God knows His children and will take care of them. When I’m in a situation where I would otherwise react impatiently, The Holy Ghost whispers to me to love one another as Jesus loves me. I know that I’ve received answers to my prayers day to day in the bigger and smaller matters of my life. I am confident that I will be guided all my days by the influence of the Holy Ghost so long as I am faithful to the commandments of The Lord which I covenanted with Him to obey when I was baptized.
What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?
I write them letters encouraging them to be faithful when I have to be away. I’m always trying to improve so I can be a greater light for my family, and I’m always trying to learn more about and better live the gospel of Jesus Christ so the light I hold up can be Jesus Christ. I try to live within my means, not complain, led by example with patience and love, and I keep my family in my prayers every day.
How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to God?
I love the Book of Mormon! I remember mother reading it to us every night growing up. I could always feel the power of that wonderful book, and recognize the importance of it as we read from its pages. Growing older, the Book of Mormon because a serious topic of study as I lived on my own and needed to know how to follow Jesus Christ. I remember having heard the stories of Book of Mormon prophets who had overcome their challenges, and that empowered me with the faith that with God’s help I could likewise overcome by challenges. I learned from the Book of Mormon that God loves all of His children, and they can always come home to Him no matter what.
On my mission, the Book of Mormon has been helping me understand the doctrine of Christ so I can teach that to others. Understanding the workings of God in ancient America as well as ancient Jerusalem have helped me to understand God’s plan of salvation for us His children. I find often very specific messages from The Lord to me as I read the Book of Mormon daily. I read all the scriptures, but the Book of Mormon is a particular treasure to me. Knowing that it is true by The Holy Ghost allows me to know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of The Lord in our day, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is The Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth preparatory to the second coming of The Messiah. This is an anchor to my soul, knowing that there is a living prophet on the earth. Knowing that what I hear at church is the word of The Lord.
Reading of the faithful accounts of Book of Mormon prophets inspires me to render more faithful service to The Lord, and then I work more closely associated with The Lord as I serve His children.
Think about your everyday activities. What are things you act upon each day where you cannot see the end results? How does faith move you to action?
I pray, read the scriptures, serve others, teach the gospel, serve as a missionary free of charge, I give people the benefit of a doubt and do all I can for them. Faith moves me to act like this because I believe these things will bring them to God where all happiness is. I believe we can be together in God’s Kingdom if we help each other get there and eternally enjoy that.
Could you talk about your baptism?
I was 8, I remember my family was very happy, and I knew I was doing the right thing by being baptized. It was peaceful.
Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?
I pray when I wake up, at meals, when I go to bed, and before I do things for The Lord.
When I’m distressed I pray, then comfort and sometimes answers come.
Why do Latter-day Saints go on missions?
I went on a mission, so I’ve some good insight on this one. We love the message we’ve been blessed with, the fullness of the gospel. I would do anything to promote that to other people. It is the foundation of my soul, and I can attribute every blessing that has come to me in life to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The prophets of our day have long called all worthy young men to prepare to serve missions. They have and still do teach that missionary service is a Priesthood duty. Jeremiah 16:16 teaches us that The Lord will send missionaries, as well as teachings from the New Testament. The Book of Mormon has many accounts of great missionaries who taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ancient inhabitants of what is now known as the Americas.
When I learned that Jesus Christ had power to redeem me through prayerfully reading The Book of Mormon, I made every preparation necessary to serve a full-time mission. There is no message that has ever brought me greater joy!
We believe that the same church which existed primitively in New Testament times has been restored in its fullness through a living prophet Joseph Smith. That he prayed to find the true church and had a vision where he saw God the Father and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. They called him to be a prophet and gave him power and authority by sending angels to him. What a glorious message! There is a living prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
When we were baptized, we covenanted with God that we would “mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death… that ye may have eternal life.” See Mosiah 18:8-10 in The Book of Mormon.
The blessings of Abraham are ours only if we carry the gospel to all the families of the earth. This is our covenant with God.
How has attending Church services helped you?
My favorite part of Church services is when the sacramental bread and water are passed each Sunday. I remember the promises I have made with Jesus Christ, and what He has promised me in return. That gives me great things to look forward to, and calm my natural tenancies to crave the things of this world. I remember that Jesus Christ can and will forgive me as I try to follow Him as He has asked me to do. “Come follow me” He said. I moved some ten times in my teenage life, and making new friends has been important in every place. Church has helped me to find friends with the same values I have. Sunday school at church on Sundays has helped me to understand the doctrine, and that has changed my behavior more than the study of behavior has changed my behavior, just like the prophets said it would. Now I understand why the apostles met together on a weekly basis to eat bread in remembrance of Jesus Christ, and why it was so important to these people to be no more strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints. I remember in ancient America, from The Book of Mormon, that they spoke one with another concerning the welfare of their souls as they met once a week, I see just how strongly that can affect the rest of the week. I feel rejuvenated each week after attending church, and I don’t know how I would get through or enjoy the week without it. Growing up, attending the nursery and primary Sundays at Church services helped me learn scripture stories and develop a strong moral character from an early age. It helped me to know that we keep the Sabbath day holy by church attendance, and serving each other, yet resting from the week’s labors. My testimony has grown as I’ve had opportunities to teach the youth and others in church services, and I can never repay The Lord for that. It’s like the prophets say, you can’t give a bread crumb in The Kingdom of God without receiving a loaf of bread in return.
What have you done successfully to shield your family from unwanted influences?
We read the scriptures every night together, then we say a family prayer before we go to bed. We reserve Monday nights for family night, we call it Family Home Evening throughout the church. In Family Home Evening we spend time together, teach each other the gospel, and counsel together. In my family we go out of our way to plan camp-outs and picnics, so our lives are filled with wholesome things, and we have a lot of joy! We follow the prophet’s admonition to not watch ‘R’ rated films, to avoid violent video games, and any obscene material that will not allow the Spirit of The Lord to be in our home. We have yearly family reunions to keep close to our extended family, and build off of each others goodness. We value making the most of an education, and being where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there. I’m thankful my mother didn’t allow any of her 8 children to have sleepovers with anyone accept family, there is too much that could go wrong there. The Lord says he worketh not in darkness, I don’t see a need for young people to either. Mother taught us the gospel as we would drive in the car together, and vulgar music was never tolerated. I’m thankful mother never allowed us to have a personal computer or television in our homes growing up, that is another thing the prophets have warned us against. We have pictures of the Savior or a temple in our home in every room, that is another thing the prophets have urged us to do. Our home is a sanctuary from the storm. A holy place where we feel loved, belonging, safe, and The Lord’s Spirit. I’m thankful mother gave us chores to do each day that filled our time with good contributions to the family. She also made sure we had a bedtime, and tucked us in every night. Our family is full of culture and tradition that fill me up, and help me to not have the need for unwanted things to bring me happiness.
Please share your feelings/testimony of Joseph Smith.
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. That has been challenged by others and my own contemplating in the past- but I’ve come to know by the power of The Holy Ghost that he was who he says he was. He saw what he said he saw. He founded what he said he founded. Nothing can take that testimony away from me. I know the church he organized was under the direction of Jesus Christ The Promised Messiah, and that Jesus stands at the head of this His great church today. I know this church is true as sure as I know that I live, and I will live and if needs be, die for it. Joseph Smith wasn’t a perfect man, but he was called of God to do a great work, and establish the restitution of all things as spoken of in the New Testament. The kingdom which would roll forth and eventually fill the earth as prophesied in Daniel 2. Joseph Smith was called of God the same that Noah, Moses, Jesus Christ, Peter, and other holy prophets from the beginning of time have been called and commissioned of God, with the mandate to dispense the Everlasting Gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. I stand with Joseph Smith as he made the following declaration, “The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly nobly and independent till it has penetrated every nation, swept every country, visited every climb, and sounded in every ear. Till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and The Great Jehovah shall say, “The work is done.””
Praise to the man, Joseph Smith, who communed with Jehovah. Jesus anointed that prophet and seer.
The testimony of The Living Christ that I received when I read The Book of Mormon, which Joseph Smith claimed to translate into the English language by the gift and power of God, is so through and unmistakable, that I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the Living God.
Why/How do you share the gospel with your friends?
I like to invite my friends to meet with the missionaries, to read The Book of Mormon, to come to church, to do fun activities, and I like to be friends with everyone. No one deserves to be made fun of or to be left alone. I share the gospel with my friends because I know I can’t understand all of their trials, but there is one who can, that is Jesus Christ. It’s not that I don’t listen to and counsel with my friends, heaven forbid- but I know that if I can strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ, they will become much more independent, and have a greater level of peace and joy. I use The Book of Mormon as a primary tool in that effort because it mentions The Savior Jesus Christ about every 3 verses. I use the bible as well, but primarily The Book or Mormon. It is something most do not already have. It is something that helped me understand the doctrine of Christ in a simple yet profound way. I like to do service like tutoring in school or helping people move. Things that one can’t do all on their own very easily or at all. Christ came as he that serveth, what a better way to help people know about Jesus Christ than trying to be like Him.
Which of the Savior’s teachings have influenced you in your life?
“Jesus sayeth unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…” John 11:25-26
I reap several influential messages from these words of The Master. I’ve lost many loved ones, and knowing that we shall all live again brings me comfort that the world cannot afford.
As we believe in Christ, we will have a better quality of life and eternity. We won’t become stagnant, or unforgivable. We will progress growing brighter until the perfect day. We will be empowered to do good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. According to the scriptures, we will become as He is as we live His gospel. That is the miracle of Jesus Christ. He takes us imperfect beings, and makes us perfect through His grace divine. Perfection will not be reached in this life, but we are promised that it will eventually as we live His gospel.
Reinstated in The Book of Mormon, we hear the words of Jesus Christ again, speaking to the Nephites, His “other sheep… which are not of this fold…” (John 10:16) shortly after His resurrection, “Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” 3 Nephi 27: 20-22.
The Savior said in our day through the prophet Joseph Smith, that as we live faithfully the gospel, the same organization which exists among us here (families) will exist among us there in the Kingdom of God. That helps knowing that my family can be together forever.
How can your talents and gifts bless others?
The prophets teach us that the home is where we render the most important service.
I remember so many great things from my family growing up that have shaped who I am. I can use my gifts and talents to bless my family now, and pass on our traditions and beliefs. I can teach my family to work, like I learned from my family. One of my gifts is that I know this church is true. I can bless others with that by doing what we call home teaching. Every male member of the church is assigned several individuals or families to watch over and share a monthly message with. The Church publishes a magazine called the Ensign, in which the First Presidency of The Church conveys a message they want everyone to hear that month. We share this with the families we’re assigned to. This program makes it so that everyone in the church is watching over someone, and is being watched over by someone else. My children will need a testimony of their own, so I can read the scriptures with them daily and explain them. I can pray for them and with them and teach them to pray daily. In anything we’re involved in, what ever our interests be, doing so in an upright manner, setting a good example, will help bless others. Being a good example is one of the most effective ways to bless others.
How does making right choices help us make more right choices?
It’s like a song we sing in Church, “Choose the right let the consequence follow.” Jesus taught the Nephites, “Be thou perfect, even as I or your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” In The Book of Mormon Jesus Christ teaches, “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for it they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” Ether 12:27.
How has your knowledge of the Plan of Happiness changed/benefited your life?
I discovered there was a Redeemer prepared, from the foundation of the earth, who could help me overcome all things, for He already had. I’m not perfect, but hopeful for that day, and enjoying life, living Christ’s teachings.
What has helped develop greater harmony in your home?
We sing a hymn and that helps a lot. Grandpa would speak up and the patriarch of the home since dad was elsewhere, and there would come peace. It was given to my brother and I to “one divide, and the other choose” said mother, when it came to chores and chocolate. He helped me with my homework, we played games together, and prayed and studied the scriptures daily as a family. My mother told us stories about our family history, those legacies of faith hope and charity. These things helped us know who we are, and helped us to act our part. Going to church on Sundays would always bring a sweet Spirit into our home. I remember every Sunday morning I would wake up to gospel music playing, and usually a treat mother had prepared. Looking back, the daily chores we were assigned by mother brought us closer together as a family. My brother and I had to live by the same rules. Mother never forced us to do anything, yet certain privileges were revoked upon naughtiness, and certain blessings revoked as well. Mother often sang us to sleep. Our older siblings played with us, and their visits were ever awaited. We served in the church together and grew closer there. Those blessings carried over into our home. We did fun wholesome recreational activities together, we had gardens, and always a project to work on in the home or the yard. Mother liked to give us gifts like rabbits, chicks, and other animals. Mother always had a dinner she made for us but never forced us to eat it. We got to take care of grandpa and abide in service. Grandpa taught us his life lessons he learned which blessed us richly. Our Home teachers in the Church coming to see us monthly and sometimes more always brought a spirit of love and peace. Scout leaders, young men’s leaders, and countless other volunteer leaders in the church helped us in uncountable ways. They cared for us as their own. I have such a great debt to repay all my life for such blessings.
How has The Book of Mormon helped you understand the purpose of life?
In The Book of Mormon, I read as soon as I moved away from home, about how this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God. As I read that, I felt like I lived in heaven long ago, and that the right thing, and the happy thing, for me to do in this life, would be to be good, and to raise a good family, and help others. I read about how Jesus is the promised Redeemer, and that helped me see that I can learn from my mistakes and not be condemned for them as I pick myself up and pray for God’s help.
What is hope and what do you hope for?
Hope is a longing for the brighter day, an acceptation of the way things need to be in order for that day to come. A trust that a taste of it will be granted today.
I hope to be with my family eternally. That when I die, I can hear the words of my King Jesus Christ saying, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter ye into the rest of thy Lord.” “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
I hope for those I train to live good lives. Someday that hope will entail the children I’ll have. I hope that I can live true to the faith for which martyrs like Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith have perished, true to the truth which my fathers have cherished.
I hope to follow the pathway of discipleship following Jesus Christ until I become like Him by His grace.
I hope for world peace, and have faith that it will come. I have charity for the world to help bring that to pass, and I’ll ever serve my brothers and sisters anywhere and anyone.
I hope to answer well to the prophets of old, of how I have done with their words. An ancient American prophet Nephi said in the record called The Book of Mormon, “…you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness. And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.” 2 Nephi 33:11.
My hope is like Moroni’s, an ancient prophet whose writings are contained in The Book of Mormon, “I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.” Moroni 10:34.
With this hope, I can do it. I know, like Nephi, the ancient American prophet, that the Lord will provide the way for me to obey him 1 Nephi 3:7.
Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.
I feel the restoration of the Gospel, as individuals take it in, it will be the restoration of themselves. Of their hope and joy! Of their childhood dreams and testimonies that no one could take away! I have a testimony that the gospel has been restored as it was fully here when Jesus taught, so is it now, and not a part is missing, and it is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
No organization which does good is of evil, I mean merely to say that there is more, there is a fullness of truth available. Bring what treasured truths you have and come and see if we can add to them.
We always are learning throughout life, right? Allow yourself to study this, and see if it is not from God. You can know it is by the power of The Holy Ghost as you study it and ask your Father in Heaven concerning its validity. He will let you know it is His church, then you can hold to it and grow throughout your life exponentially by following the guidance of a living prophet, an authorized representative of Jesus Christ who speaks with Him face to face as did the prophets of old like Moses (Exodus 33:11) and Peter. I would hope that all would have an open heart to this message. If it is true, and I testify that it is, then there is a way that it will fit to the needs of every one of our Heavenly Father’s children, including you, my brother/sister of our Father in heaven who created us, and anxiously awaits our return to his presence in heaven, and to see us grow and learn more of his plan for us day by day.
The beautiful thing about this message is that it is true, and God will back it up with The Holy Ghost if it is true. The Holy Ghost is a personage of the Godhead, a member without flesh and bones as the other 2 of the godhead have, so he can dwell inside of you, and bring those special unexplainable feelings that come to you as you study this message, that hint to you, ‘it’s true!’.
The best part is that Jesus Christ explains anew how he loves us.
Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?
The missions of the church are three-fold: To preach the gospel, to perfect the saints, and to redeem the dead.
[when in the mission field full time I wrote:] I’m on a full-time mission preaching the gospel. My purpose on my full-time mission is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
I spend some of my mission teaching people who have fallen away or need strengthening.
I’ve been able to go home teaching monthly since I was 14 to teach members of my local congregation the prophet’s monthly message to help perfect the saints.
I’ve been attending the temple since I was 12 to redeem the dead by performing proxy baptisms for them (See 1 Corinthians 15:29). This gives them who have died without the opportunity to be baptized the opportunity to receive that ordinance.
In the future when I am not on a full-time mission I’ll raise a righteous family, continue to share the gospel, and continue to redeem the dead through doing temple work for my ancestors who lived at times when the fullness of the gospel was not available to them.
What blessings have come through your faith in Jesus Christ?
Positivity, hope, charity, direction, daily inspiration, an understanding of where I came before this life, the purpose of life, and where I will go after I die. I’ve come closer to my family, and learned what kind of friend to be. I’ve found forgiveness for my sins, and felt alleviated because of that.
My faith in Jesus Christ brought me out on a full-time mission, that has been a blessing to me because I’ve had the joy of helping others fix their families and enjoy life by teaching them the gospel and inviting them to live it.
As I do what Jesus said to by keeping one day of 7 holy, I feel peace and comfort throughout the week.
As I do as Jesus said by paying one tenth of my wages to tithing, and giving offerings, I have never had want for food, and have always had sufficient for my needs.
As I refrain from contention as Jesus taught to, what I think are issues fall away and I’m able to become a better person and live a happier life.
As I live chaste as Jesus taught to, I have more self-confidence and a clearer look on how to raise a family, and brighter hope for a united and happy family of my own in the future.
As I don’t steal and be wise living within my means as Jesus taught, I learn to use my resources better and am happier.
As I don’t covet other people or things as Jesus taught, I learn that there is available joy in hoping for heaven, and I can get through even the toughest situations like having to stand alone when no one will live up to the standard Jesus Christ calls me to.
As I pray to God the Father in the name of Christ as Jesus taught, I feel direction, comfort, peace, hope, and solice just to name a few.
As I “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”, “all things” are “added unto me.” Matthew 6:33.
I would be lost without my faith in Jesus Christ. Before I had it I was. Now that I have it, I’m found. In this, The Lord’s church, I trust He will guide me through prophets all through my life.
How I live my faith
I’ve lived my faith by reading the scriptures and learning to believe Jesus Christ can redeem me, repenting of my sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I am learning God’s plan for me from the scriptures, and from going to Sunday services at church. I’ve had the opportunity to teach and serve in the church full time. I’ll raise my children, teach them from the scriptures daily, help them enjoy living a righteous life, and seek to be a good influence on others in the work place and the community as I serve there. I’ll continue to make the most of an education so I can further bless my family church community and the world. In my home is where I’ll do the most good. I keep a daily journal to recognize the hand of the Lord in my day to day life.
