I bear testimony of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. All those things we read about them in the scripture are true. I’ve received a witness of this fact. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, our Advocate with the Father.

I desire to bear a testimony of Jesus Christ based on my own personal experiences, from my own book of scripture as it were. It gives me great joy to ponder and reflect upon the blessings the Lord has, in his condescension’s, brought to pass in my life.

As a boy I’d learned at church that if one were born in the covenant you were the elect of God. I wasn’t born into the covenant, my mother was inactive and my dad wasn’t a member-so I concluded I wasn’t elect. I loved my mother and dad with and overflowing love and it tore me up inside to experience the pain that came to our family. When I was in the 8th grade my dad left mother, so based on what I’d  learned at church I assumed in the honesty of my heart I must have messed up real bad in the pre-existents or else my prayers for my family would have been answered differently-therefore I stopped attending church.

Years later, as a 19 year soldier at Fort Bliss , over forty years ago,  I felt a stirring in my soul; I decided to read the Book of Mormon and test the promise made by the prophet Moroni. Within days after making this decision, before I even opened the Book of Mormon, the Lord left the 99 and as it were and my journey back to activity in the Lord’s church began. The Lord gave me a spiritual experience which taught me powerfully that there are two powers in the universe-the power of Godliness and the power of satan. This experience was given to me as an invitation to return to God.

The Savior taught:

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing… Luke 15:4-5

This scripture was fulfilled in my behalf; I learned what it is like to be carried on the Saviors shoulders. I came to know something of his unconditional love. The Lord nurtured me and led me by my hand, as it were. When I read the Book of Mormon for the first time, it was a daily spiritual feast for several months. It was an awesome experience.

In those days of spiritual refreshing He raised up friends, helped me overcome challenges, provided opportunities, and showed great compassion and kindness. He is a true Friend. I love the Lord because he loved me first. I am awed by undeserved blessings that have come to me. When I’ve sought him diligently, with lowliness of heart, I was given dreams and visions that comforted my soul and taught me wondrous things. I learned that I wasn’t a second class member of his church. On several occasions unseen ministering spirits have been sent in answer to my prayers. When experiencing a severe trial, when I thought my heart would break, the comforter spent the night with me and my pain was turned to joy.  I do not have words to describe these experiences. When I’ve plead for mercy he forgave me and sent fire and the Holy Ghost as I partook of the sacrament.

I had supposed, because of what I learned at church, that these kinds of experiences were reserved for those the Lord called to important positions in his church, that is a false tradition had among us, I’ve learned the Lord is no respecter of persons and that he gives his gifts for the benefit of those who love him and keep all his commandments, and him that seeketh so to do…D&C 46:9.  I’ve learned that mighty prayer is the primary means to obtaining things of the spirit.

I don’t want to create the impression I have an open channel to the Lord anytime I want it. There have been many times I have sought guidance on very important issues, and it was has though the heaven were sealed to me. I have just accepted these experiences and moved on and done the best I could.

Most often I have received answers to prayers by the whisperings of the spirit that come into my heart and mind. I must emphasize that these things have come to me because of the Lord’s condescension’s and not of any special worthiness in me, the Lord has given me these experiences and I bear testimony of the Lord’s grace because I want to be an instrument in his hands to increase faith, refresh testimonies, and increase hope in the promises we have as covenant followers of Christ.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me ….

Listen to the words of our Savior Jesus Christ,

HEARKEN, O ye people of my church, to whom the kingdom has been given; hearken ye and give ear to him who laid the foundation of the earth, who made the heavens and all the hosts thereof, and by whom all things were made which live, and move, and have a being.

And again I say, hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you; in an hour when ye think not the summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not saved.

Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him-

Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life. D&C 45:1-5.

It is my fervent desire to come unto Christ and be perfected in him and receive everlasting life.


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