I did it!!!

I survived the talk!!!!! I think it went pretty well. I had two wonderful people talk with me and there was a beautiful musical number and I was sandwiched between them all. I am glad it is over and hope it will be five years before it comes up again!

Testimony was an awesome topic and I love the comparisons the book of Mormon includes between Nephi and his rebellious brothers, Laman and Lemuel. Take a look at 1 Nephi 11:1-6



1 For it came to pass after I (Nephi) had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.

2 And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?

3 And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.

4 And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?

5 And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.

6 And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.


Then compare to 1Nephi 15:79


7 And they (Laman and Lemuel)said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.

8 And I (Nephi) said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?

9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.


Did they Desire, believe, ask or ponder? Are we like that?


Then I add the quote from President Gordon B Hinckley that I love and have done myself:


"Every Latter day Saint has the responsibility to know for himself or herself with a certainty beyond doubt that Jesus is the resurrected, living son of the living God."
We don't need to go about in blind obedience or wonder if what others say is true. We can know for ourselves if we follow the steps of Nephi in gaining a testimony of our own!