Intro
Good morning brothers and sisters. I am Elder Hall. I am from Draper Utah - a town south of Salt Lake City. I have been serving in your ward for couple months now and have met some of the greatest people here. The work in Alma, Georgia is slow but it is also steady. The effort to find on a daily can be frustrating but we, as missionaries, are prayerful and try to never pass up an opportunity to bear our testimony.
A testimony is a spiritual witness, given by the Holy Ghost, of the truthfulness of the gospel. When we bear testimony, we declare to others what we know to be true by the power of the Spirit.
I am grateful for this opportunity to speak today and to share some thoughts, a few personal experiences, and most importantly - to bear testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I.
I have been asked to speak about the importance of having our own testimony especially as a missionary.
Growing up I KNEW I was supposed to serve a mission. My family has talked about me going on a mission since I was little. So I assumed when I turned 18, the decision to serve would be easy. But that was not the case. My senior year of high school was a roller coaster of “yes I’m going” to “no I’m not going” and back and forth.
I was focusing on all the negatives in my life. Such as losing our high school state championship in football for the second year in a row. I wasn’t doing well in school and my friends were starting to move away.
I had settled on “no I’m not going on a mission. I’m going to work and go to school”. I got a job and started getting registered for school.
However I noticed I was significantly less happy. It felt like I wasn’t completely whole - like something was missing. I felt lonely and empty. This lead to me distancing myself from the spirit.
Mid spring, I met with my Bishop. We discussed receiving the Melchizedek priesthood and getting my patriarchal blessing.
II. Patriarchal Blessing
I got my recommend to receive my patriarchal blessing. When I called our Patriarch, his first opening wasn’t until June 4th. That was almost FOUR months I had to wait. Those months of waiting were long and miserable for me.
Finally the day in June arrived. I was excited to see what my blessing would say about possibly a wife or any “future telling” things. But I was most interested to see what it had to say about serving a mission. At this time I had decided I was not going on a mission. I figured that if my blessing didn’t say anything about a mission that it was God letting me know He accepted my decision. I received my blessing and to my surprise it had nothing to say about me serving a mission. However something felt off.
The following Saturday the patriarch called and asked if he could hand deliver the transcript of my blessing. Something he said he had only done once before. When he came to my house he told me that all week he felt as if he had left a very important part of my blessing out. He also encouraged me to pray to know that this “new part” was from the Lord.
Once he left, I opened my blessing and on first glance I saw the line saying “you will be called as a missionary”.
I still waited 6 weeks before meeting with my bishop to tell him I was ready to serve. During those six weeks I knew what I needed to do. I felt it in my heart and in my mind but I doubted myself. Did I know enough to go and preach this gospel? More importantly, did I have a testimony that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that the gospel is true?
III.
As members of our faith we are encouraged to share the gospel - to bear testimony of the things we know are true.
I know, we as full-time missionaries plead with and put a lot of pressure on the members of our wards and branches to help us with missionary work by referring your friends, family, neighbors, even co-workers.
President David O McKay said “Every member a missionary” meaning that members of the Church should look for opportunities to bear their testimonies and share the gospel with others.
I don’t think it is uncommon to feel the way I did. I felt inadequate - Whether preparing to serve a full time mission or as members trying to follow the prophets counsel to share the gospel, when it comes to bearing our testimony we doubt ourselves.
I grew up going to church every Sunday, graduating from seminary, attending the temple with friends. My parents both served missions and spoke about gospel doctrine in our home often. But I had taken for granted the need to know for myself if what I had been taught was true.
IV.
When it comes to gospel truths, there are some who are blessed with BLIND FAITH. My mom has blind faith. She doesn’t question doctrine. She’s obedient and doesn’t hesitate sharing her testimony.
In the Doctrine and Covenants section 46 we read:
- To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. . . . (My mom)
- To others it is given to believe on THEIR words.
I didn’t have BLIND FAITH, but I didn’t question the gospel either. I believed my parents when they bore testimony. I acted with BORROWED LIGHT.
Elder Henry D. Taylor said;
“The spiritual gift “to believe on their words” can be like borrowing a flame to light a spiritual fire, to ignite our own testimonies.”
There is great value in believing the words of others, but borrowed light can expire.
Heber C. Kimball, warned the Saints in 1856 that many trials would come to test their faith; that the time would come that no man or woman would be able to endure on borrowed light. Each must gain a personal knowledge of the truth and be guided by the light within himself.
After my stake patriarch delivered my blessing, I knew I needed to serve a mission. I basically received a personal telegram straight from God answering my prayers. How could I deny that? But I also knew I needed to KNOW with assurance that what I was going to go and preach was true.
President Boyd K Packer said;
“Oh, if I could teach you this one principle! A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it. Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that “leap of faith”…
Even though my testimony was small, I knew I had to take that “leap of faith”.
President Packer continued saying: “to speak out, is the test of your faith”
I was ready to “speak out.” My papers went in a few weeks later. While waiting for my call, I received my endowment, started reading the Book of Mormon, I focused on gospel principles and engaged in church conversations. Because of this my testimony begin to grow. The closer I drew to my Heavenly Father the more I KNEW without a doubt that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that the gospel is true.
V.
A testimony does not require a sermon. We stand on our feet and say what we know. The words are simple and the expression comes from the heart. A testimony born in simple phrases is enough. It is the spirit that testifies, not the words.
My desire to serve a mission grew because of a strong conviction that this is truly the Lord’s work. That conviction is called a testimony. It is the driving force that results in righteous deeds and positive actions.
I received my call on September 5, 2023. My life has changed. My testimony continues to grow. Missions are hard but I have never felt better or been happier.
Conclusion:
President Russell M. Nelson has proclaimed:
“You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness. . . . Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.”
Every member of the Church is entitled to know that God, our Heavenly Father lives. He is also entitled to know that our elder brother, Jesus Christ, is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and that he has opened the door for us, that we, through our individual acts, may receive salvation and exaltation and dwell once again in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
I KNOW our Heavenly Father is aware of each one of us. He wants us to KNOW for ourselves the truthfulness of this gospel. He will do whatever it takes to help us build and strengthen our testimonies just as he did with me.
I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
