My Testimony

I recently visited some Church History sites and walked through the Sacred Grove and the Hill Cumorah. Pondering on the events that happened there, I thought it would be amazing to have seen the golden plates or the box where they’d been kept, or to have met Joseph Smith, or to have had angelic visitations. As wonderful as those things might be, they would not convince me any more than I am convinced now of the reality that God lives and that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to teach, preach, atone for my sins, and rise the third day.

I am also convinced that Joseph Smith saw and conversed with God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, as well as other heavenly messengers, that he translated an ancient record on gold plate through the power of God, and then restored the gospel of Jesus Christ that was on the earth when Jesus was in mortality.

I have questioned, doubted, pondered, studied, read, and otherwise exhausted my mind for answers and have found them in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know where I came from, why I am here, and where I want to go for eternity.

I love Jesus. Love that He loved me enough to suffer for my sins and my sorrows, heartaches, and pains. I love that He was willing to die for me. He had the power to take His life up again and to strike down all those who sought to torture and kill Him, but He didn’t. He willingly gave up His life for me. For all of us. But, even more, I love that He lives for me. That he beckons me to come unto Him. That He loves me despite my weaknesses, mistakes, and sheer ignorance. His arms are wide open for me. He is my Redeemer, my Savior, my Brother, my God.