Testimony of Jennifer!

Jennifer is someone that came on Mormon.org to chat with the missionaries and we were privileged to have been able to talk to her. When Elder Spencer and I started talking to Jennifer, we could tell that she had been prepared by the Lord to receive His Gospel. After we talked to her on Mormon.org, we started teaching her over the phone. We also contacted the local missionaries so they could visit her. After several visits and lessons over the phone, Jennifer quickly gained a testimony of the Gospel and was later baptized. When ever we would talk to Jennifer she was always positive about everything. She was always happy and excited to learn more. I always love sharing the testimonies of those we teach; Jennifer was kind enough to share her amazing conversion story and testimony for us:

The story of my conversion really starts as an infant. I was born into a very catholic family as a rule all children were baptized as an infant. So as little as 3 months old I was catholic. I don't know what happened and why my family stopped practicing but that was all the religion that I had been a part of until I was a teenager. When I was a teenager I had a best friend who was a Christian and sometimes I would go to church with her. I never felt like that was something that I wanted or I could understand. 15 years would pass until I would step foot into another church. When I was 22 I got married and thought this was going to be the way my life was until I died. I thought I was going to live with this person and have a family but as most of you know life doesn't go according to how we plan. About 5 years into my marriage I wanted to start a family but I was alone in that thought, so I put those thoughts in the back of my head and said maybe one day. At that time I would frequently pass my local catholic church and think I wonder if there is something I'm missing in my life. I would often think about going but yet again I was alone in that thought. So again I pushed those thoughts to the back of my head.  March 12, 2010 on the day I turned 29 my husband walked out on and that would be the last day he would ever live in our house.

The Book Of Mormon Is True!

While serving my mission in the Referral Center I have been ask many times why I am a Member of this church, and why I believe in the book of Mormon.  There have been many people who have tried to convince me that this church isn’t true and that the book of Mormon isn’t true.  And ask me to give them some kind of evidence that it is all true. My answer to those people is simply that I know that the book of Mormon is true because I have read it and prayed to ask God if it was true. And I have received an answer and I know that it is true. I know that anyone who reads the book of Mormon with real intent, having faith in Christ can also come to know it is true. I love the powerful testimony of Elder Holland. I know that he was called of God to testify of Christ and the truthfulness of His Gospel and of the Book of Mormon.

 In the Introduction of the book of Mormon in the second to last paragraph is say’s: “We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, 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.”  I know that the book of Mormon is true!  I know that by reading it, it can change people’s lives, and it has, and it has and will help people come closer to Jesus Christ.

A Fresh New Start!

Since I have been here I have met a lot of great people and have been privileged to have been able to help teach them. One of those great people is Megan When I got to my mission Elder Spencer had already been teaching her and helping her understand the Gospel better. And I have been greatly privileged to have been able to help teach her. The people that we teach have always strengthened my testimony as they share their testimonies with us and there great stories of how they came to know of the church and the great faith that they have. Megan was recently baptized and is now a member of the church. I could try to tell about her conversion story but I think that it is better for her to tell it in her own words. She was kind enough to write out her testimony for us, but, before I would like to share my testimony also.

 I know that this church is true I know that the book of Mormon is true, and because I know that the book of Mormon is true I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints was restored back to this earth by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith. I know that we can come to know if these things are true by reading the book of Mormon and by praying and asking God if they are true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God that leads this church today.  And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. And now here is Megan’s testimony.

 As little as nine months ago, I would have described myself as a devout atheist.  Having been raised by my two young parents and an Irish Catholic grandmother, I had many confusing, conflicting, and harsh feelings surrounding religion, faith, and God.  Going to church was always seen as a chore that was saved for rare holidays where we were forced into it by our grandmother.  Most of what I knew of God, Christ, and religion had to do with guilt, constant sin, and feeling afraid.  Needless to say, I did not relate well to this and clung to both my logic, scientific inclination and my compassionate, humanistic feelings.  

Do Our Steps Match Up?

These past couple of weeks Elder Spencer has been teaching me how to put together a Rubik’s cube. There are many steps to putting a Rubik’s cube back together so that all the colors are matching up. As you are doing one of the steps if you make one wrong move and you keep going it can ruin the whole thing, so you have to stop and look at what step you did wrong and go back and fix it right away. And then keep going. If you don’t go back to fix what you have done wrong the problem can get bigger.  As I was learning how to put the Rubik’s cube together I would always mess up and have to stop and find out what I did wrong and fix it and then keep going to the next step and as I kept messing up a thought came to me of how putting the Rubik’s cube together is like Repenting. I know it is a weird way to think of it but let me explain.

The Blessings Keep Coming!

”Because I Have Been Given Much” is one of My favorite Hymns.  When I sing this song or read the words, it reminds me of everything that the Lord has blessed me with. I love the first part of the song. “Because I have been given much I too must give; Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.” I was born with spinabifida and so I have had to have a lot of surgeries and see a lot of doctors. And the Lord has blessed me so much as I have gone through everything. And He continues to bless me, I know that I have been given much and because I have been given much I too must give.   And I know that the way that I can give back to the lord is by serving Him and by teaching others about Him.  And I know that as I serve Him that He will continue to bless me. This past couple of weeks He has blessed me so much, He has bless us with great people that we were able to find and teach.

One of the blessings that we had is Elder Spencer and I, were able to move to some apartments. It was a big change from living in the MTC to moving out of the MTC, in D&C 82:3, It say’s “For of him unto whom much is given much is required.” Living in the apartments has been a great blessing and since we have been living in the apartments we have had more responsibilities like cleaning the dishes, vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom.  I am so grateful for all the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me and that He continues to give me. I know that as we always try to repent and try to become like Jesus Christ, we will be blessed! 

Never Give Up!

This past week in the referral center has been an amazing week. Elder Spencer and I have found some amazing people to teach.  As I have been talking to these great people I have been thinking about how we should never give up in life even when things are going bad and you feel like all hope is gone. I know that there have been times in my life when I felt that all hope was gone and that I couldn’t keep going , but with the help of Jesus Christ I could keep going and He made it possible for me to keep going, and help me through the hard times I was going through.  A great example of never giving up is Abinadi from the book of Mormon. Abinadi was sent from God to teach the people of King Noah. And King Noah was mad because Abinadi was telling his people that they needed to repent.  King Noah told his priests to kill Abinadi so they threw Abinadi into jail.  After spending three days in prison, Abinadi was brought to King Noah. The King told Abinadi to take back what he had said against him and his people. King Noah said that if he did not deny all he had said, he would be killed. Abinadi was willing to die then take back what he had said because he knew that he had spoken the truth.  King Noah ordered his priests to kill Abinadi. They tied him up, whipped him, and burned him to death.

 What a great example of never giving up! Even though he knew that the king would kill him for not denying all that he had said he didn’t deny it He would rather die. Because he knew that it was the truth.  Another great and perfect example of never giving up is from our Savior Jesus Christ He came to this earth and died for us. At any moment he could have said that He didn’t want to do it anymore and he could have stopped what he was doing. But he didn’t He kept going. And I am so great full that He did! I am so grateful for what He did for me.  Elder Bednar came to the MTC a couple of weeks ago and talk to all the missionaries in a devotional and talked about being Preach My Gospel missionaries and told us what we needed to be doing to be Preach my gospel missionaries. And at the end he said “you can do this!” even though you are going through a hard time, even though you feel like giving up. You can do this! I know that as we go through those hard times that our Savior Jesus Christ can help us though our hard times, because He knows what we are going through. I know that this church is true I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to serve a mission and teach others about Our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Elder Spencer, Like a Rock!

Elder Spencer in the Referral Center

I have been serving in the Referral Center now for two days, I love serving here I love the elders who I serve with they are all great examples to me. My companion is Elder Spencer he is a great example to me also of what a good hard working missionary should be like. I hope to someday be as good of a missionary as he is. While here in the Referral Center I have talked to people from all over the world and I have felt Our heavenly Fathers love for all of his Children I know that he loves all of His Children. And He wants all of His Children to Come unto Him and Learn of Him, and follow Him. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to teach others about Him and His Gospel.

Elder Spencer and I in the Referral Center.

 In Helaman 5:12 It say’s  “And now my sons remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ,  the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”  I know that if we come unto Christ and learn of Him, and follow Him, and if we build our foundations on Christ the Son of God we cannot and will not fall. I know that This Gospel is true I know that our Heavenly Father and our savior Jesus Christ love all of us and they want us to follow them. 

Starting My Mission: Trained Again

I just finished my training in the mtc it was a really good experience for me. Before I came to the mtc for the training I had spent about six months coming to the referral center and working with the full time elders here. It was a great experience for me. When I got to the mtc I didn’t think that I would have to do the three week training because I had already been working in the referral center for so long. I thought that I already know everything that I needed to know to serve a mission.  So when I got to the mtc  and they told me that I was going to be in training for three weeks I was kind of sad about it, I didn’t know why I had to do the training if I had already been coming for six months. But the Lord knew that I needed the training He knew what I needed.

 And as I started my mtc training I began to realize that I knew very little, and that I needed a lot more training. During these past three weeks I have learned so much. I have learned things that I thought I already knew. I learned a lot from my teachers and from everyone in my district. The lord humbled me and taught me that I needed more training. I know that Our heavenly father and Jesus Christ know each one of us, he knows our weaknesses and he knows our strengths.

  In Ether 12:27 it says.  “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 if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”  I know that this scripture is true. I know that if we humble ourselves and have faith in Christ He will make our weaknesses become strong.  I’m so thankful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission. I know that this church is true and that Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored it back to this earth through Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that we can come closer to Our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ by reading it.