Joseph's testimony, your testimony, my testimony

Growing up my favorite testimonies were the funny ones:  When a young boy announced that his mom was having a baby- information that as I recall wasn't supposed to be shared and the best part, that he'd learned how she got the baby got in there and that's just gross.  And my all time most memorable, the sister who was recalling a mission experience where she dropped a peeled, boiled egg on a floor covered in cat hair and the woman of the house popped it in and out of her mouth to clean it off for the sister, who, to be polite, ate it- I should mention I was 5 when I heard that story, it's stuck in my head for almost 40 years (Yes, I just gave a hint to my age.) I'm sure she related it to something spiritual but I don't remember that part.

When I was still young, sometime in elementary, a friend (who I thought was THE coolest around) bore her testimony and really cried, hard.  She couldn't stop even after she'd sat down.  I'd seen ladies cry at the pulpit but not kids.  I remember wondering if something was wrong.  My mom told me that my friend just really felt the spirit, she was crying because she was happy.  I remember thinking I, too, wanted that experience someday.

And I have had it.  I've had that feeling when I've born my testimony and when I've had spiritual experiences.  And a few times I've had that feeling when I have heard others bare their testimonies - that feeling when you feel the spirit, felt that persons passion, love and conviction and get tingly, a testimony where the spirit isn't just in the room but seems to be all through you, where love, joy and peace overwhelm you and all your desires become Christ centered.  I've been fortunate enough to have felt it twice in a week.  The most interesting part?  They were both memorized lines from Joseph Smith's first vision.  These are lines I've heard many times but but in both instances they weren't just borrowed lines, they came from the barer's heart.

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me... When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other- This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

The first time occasion was when we were sitting in on a discussion with sweet Makenzie and one of the missionaries, Elder Bloomfield softly spoke those same words then humbly let us know that he believed them to be true.  That feeling poured through me and I couldn't stop the tears.  Their words (Joseph Smith's and Elder Bloomfield's) moved me and I am grateful.  There was no doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith was a true prophet who as a young boy desiring to know which church to join, did as the scriptures say and prayed to our Father in heaven about what to do.  I also knew in that moment that our Father and His son answered Joseph's prayer in person.


The second time I heard this was this past Sunday.  A sweet Sister in our ward said that when in the mission training center she and her husand were challenged to memorize those lines from Joseph Smith's account so that they could share it with investigators.  She then recited it to us, with quiet feeling.  And the spirit was strong.  I wasn't the only one who felt it.  The spirit testified to me in that moment  those same things that I'd felt one week prior.  It's significant that Joseph's question was of such importance that for the first time our Father didn't just send his Son but they came together.

I've decided I must memorize those words.  I hope someday the time will be right that I can share them with someone and that Joseph's words will effect them in the same way they did me.

Can you say GOLDEN?

A couple weeks ago McKenna was in class and a girl named Makenzie asked if she could talk to her in the hallway.  Worried she'd done something wrong she agreed.  What came out of Makenzie's mouth surprised McKenna, but in a good way.  She asked why McKenna makes different choices than the other kids?  Mainly the choice not to have a boyfriend- something she's had the opportunity of more than once this school year.  Then Makenzie wanted to know what makes our church different than others?  McKenna was nervous to answer the questions.  She said she wasn't sure what to say.  She rattled off some things that were correct but without confidence.  She came home and told us about it and said Makenzie wants to know more.  We gave her some ideas to better answer the questions she'd already asked and reminded McKenna that after she was baptized she was given the Holy Ghost and that he's there for her, she just needs to feel for him then listen.  We reminded her that Heavenly Father loves Makenzie too and wants her to know more about the gospel because he wants her to live happily and return to him as well.  By bedtime her confidence was boosted.

The next day McKenna came home and said the conversation went much better and she wanted to come to church with us.  A few days later she couldn't find McKenna but got the number of my other daughter, Neicia, and asked if she could come hang out at our home. Neicia was already at the seminary building so Makenzie went there to meet her.  Neicia introduced her to Brother G. and he and Neicia answered more of Makenzie's questions.  Neicia gave her a Book of Mormon so she could read it for herself.  Then they came home and marked scriptures that Neicia knew would be specific to her...(Neicia has prepared herself for this.  She has over 80 scriptures memorized- often she's our scripture go-to girl.)  Later McKenna came home with the girl next door.  I heard the most beautiful sound.  McKenna yelled up the stairs, "Makenzie, Alexis and I are going next door, would you like to come?"  Makenzie replied, "No, I'm reading the Book of Mormon!"

Fast forward 2 weeks.  Makenzie is amazing.  Not only because she's loving the Book of Mormon, can tell the Plan of Salvation in detail, and is excited to be recognizing the spirit, but because she exudes sunshine.  The happiness is bubbling out of her, she's receiving answers to her questions.  She reminds me of Joseph Smith.  She's just a few months older than he was when he knelt in that sacred grove to pray.  Like him her desire to know where she came from, why she's here and where she's going is enormous.  She too has checked out other churches but nothing been right.  Yesterday, I picked her up and on the way to church I explained that church was going to be a little different than last week because it was fast and testimony meeting.  I explained what our day and meeting would be like.  After the 3rd testimony was borne she jumped up and went to the pulpit and bore the most beautiful testimony.  She said that she knew the gospel was true, that she's so happy to have found friends in my girls who have been so willing to share it with her.  She was grateful for the missionaries for answering so many of her questions and that she is happy to be finding Christ.  Yesterday afternoon was her 4th missionary discussion.  My husband gave the opening prayer.  When he was done she asked if we'd teach her to pray and if she could say the closing prayer as she has some things she'd like to talk to the Lord about.  As the missionaries were teaching her she kept excitedly saying things like, "Oh!  I just read that," or "that's like Nephi!"  My 12 year old said she thinks Makenzie already knows more than she does.  Her spirit in our home has been overwhelming and wonderful.  She's a truly remarkable, faithful girl who is anxious to be a member of the church.   How blessed we have been to be a part of this, to know her, and to feel of her spirit and of Heavenly Father's as he seems to be wherever she is.  I'm also overwhelmed with joy to see my own girls testimonies growing, as they are sharing what they know to be true and are also being touched by Makenzie in return.


I LOVE Comments!...Don't be shy.