A testimony

I don't really know if a blog post is an appropriate forum for the bearing of testimony, but I feel a need to write out my testimony. And I would like to share it with each of you.

I spent my Sunday sick of the sofa--which was a blessing in disguise in several ways. I watched The Testaments. An amazing film put out by the church that teaches of the Savior's ministry upon this earth. I learned something new watching that film today. Except it wasn't new, it was something I had known all along and needed to be reminded of. The Savior knows each of us. In every moment of our lives, he knows us. For some reason, this founding gospel principle struck me with such clarity today. As we progress through life, the Savior is right along side of us. He felt our joys; he felt our sorrows; he felt every heart ache of mine; he felt my confusion; he felt my worry; he felt every emotion.

And the beauty of this doctrine is that even when I wandered far from my Heavenly Father and his teachings and I felt completely alone, so in the dark--even then I was not alone. The Savior was standing by, patiently waiting for me to come home. Isn't that incredible? We have a Savior--He loves us. So much so that he did die for us all that time ago.

The doctrine of the atonement is truly empowering, but that doctrine takes faith. Something I have learned a lot about in the last few days.

Several weeks ago, I was prompted to study the New Testament. I have loved every chapter. I have learned so much. I'd like to share an insight from Matthew 17.

Starting at verse 14 through 21:

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and and saying, Lord have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus part, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Now, I have read these verses several times in the last few weeks. And each time I learn something new--but let me share just one lesson tonight. A lesson on faith.

There is an incredible power in faith--even that of just a mustard seed. Before this week, I used to think that "faith as a grain of mustard seed" was easily attained. It's not that simple. We can move the Mountains in our lives with this amount of faith--we can cast out our own demons. Yet, it takes work to have the faith of a mustard seed. Great amounts of work-- it is attained only by "prayer and fasting." If we can gain this faith, the Savior promised "nothing shall be impossible unto you." But we must strive for it--we must pray and fast to obtain it.

When this faith is coupled with our understanding that we are never alone--that the Savior has already experienced our individual mortal experiences, what incredible tools in the kingdom shall we be--we will help our Heavenly Father in his work to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Mortality is hard--we can't do it alone, but we don't have have to do it alone.

I know my Savior lives. I know that he suffered in the garden and on the cross so that I never have to be alone. So that you never have to be alone. Let us act in accordance with that knowledge.

Have a blessed week everyone. You're in my prayers.