A TESTIMONY of ACTION

If there’s one thing that I’ve found over this semester, it’s that the gospel of Jesus Christ is one that requires participation.  It’s one that will bring great joy and happiness, but it does not come by simply floating along, waiting for good things to come your way.  Faith requires action!  With my testimony, I may have great faith that the Atonement provides great blessings and offers eternal life for all that will be partakers of its redeeming grace, but unless I do my part to repent of my sins and change my ways, my knowledge and testimony is essentially useless.  Our testimonies of the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ should call us to action; they should call us to make changes in our lives to become better people, better disciples and followers of Jesus Christ.

With the thoughts and teachings that I have come across through my search for inspirational quotes, I have also come to develop ten action statements that I hope to improve upon in my life:

1.  I will treat my family as the eternal family that we hope to become.  I will remember their individual value and try to see them as the Lord sees them.
2. I will take full advantage of the principles of the Atonement and apply them in my life.  I will not let our Savior’s sacrifice be in vain; I will use this life to prepare to meet my Father in Heaven.
3.  I will remember that each trial that comes is an opportunity to better myself. Choice is sealed by action.  My agency is a gift from God, and I will remember that I am responsible for the results of my choices.
4.  I will use these precious years of childhood to instill important values in my children.  Motherhood is the most important role that I will ever have, and I need to make sure that the use of my time reflects that. 
5. If I can ever hope for forgiveness of my imperfections, I must first be willing to forgive the imperfections and mistakes of others, even when they cause me great hurt and pain. Our Savior does not ruminate, he lovingly and willingly forgives. I am trying to follow the example of the Savior, and as difficult as it may be, he makes it easier for me. In this aspect, He truly takes my yoke upon Him and makes my burden light. 
6.  I will follow Elder Eyring’s advice to husbands and wives to help my marriage stay strong, ““Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small.” 
7.  I will turn to my Father in Heaven in meaningful prayer both day and night.  I will remember to express gratitude, ask for needed help and guidance, and pray for others.
8.  I will sound the alarms and raise my guard, fortify my family, and protect our homes from the deadly disease of pornography.
9. I will only participate in activities that will invite the Holy Ghost as my constant companion.
10. I will show my gratitude to our forefathers by feasting upon the words of Christ.  I will take the time to read my scriptures each day.

SCRIPTURES: Feast Upon the Words of the Lord

It always amazes me to think of some of the challenges and trials that our forefathers have endured just so that I can read the words written in these books.  To think of the experiences that Nephi went through in retrieving the Brass Plates, or the time that Mormon took in abridging the plates, or the trials that Joseph Smith endured in translating those works, I start to think that I show so little gratitude for the scriptures that sit on my night stand.  “Sometimes it seems we take the scriptures too much for granted because we do not fully appreciate how rare a thing it is to possess them, and how blessed we are because we do have them. We seem to have settled so comfortably into our experiences in this world and become so accustomed to hearing the gospel taught among us that it is hard for us to imagine it could ever have been otherwise. . . (Spencer W. Kimball).”

Perhaps one way we can show gratitude for the inspired works that we are able to learn and grow from, is to truly feast upon the words of Christ.  M. Russell Ballard showed understanding for our busy schedules, but then said this: “I plead with you to make time for immersing yourselves in the scriptures… It will give increased success in your daily activities. It will bring increased alertness to your minds. It will give you comfort and rock-steady assurance when the storms of life descend upon you.” With those blessings available to us, it seems to me that we ought to make time for studying the words of the Lord, to truly feast upon those words that have been through so much in history to end up on those pages today.

HOLY GHOST: Open Your Heart and ‘Receive the Holy Ghost’

'For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.' (D&C 88:33) 

I love those four little words that are spoken so softly when one is confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Receive the Holy Ghost.” It is not a command, an order, or a demand. It is an invitation to take part of the comfort, light, and truth that can be obtained with the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost teaches of all light and truth—but he will not be an unwelcome or unsolicited guest. He is a perfect gentleman. The Holy Ghost will depart in any situation in which the Spirit of the Lord is not welcome. When we participate in undesirable situations or toy with temptation, we cannot expect the Spirit of the Lord to remain. “We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us” (David A. Bednar). With this unprecedented gift available for us, as members of the Lord’s church, we ought to do our part and make an increased effort to remain worthy of his companionship each and every day.

PORNOGRAPHY: The Deadly Carrier

I think one of Satan’s greatest traps is found in the deception that something isn't quite as bad as it seems.  This snare is one that has entrapped thousands and thousands of good people over the history of time, and it continues to work over and over again.  The prophets and leaders of the Church shout from the roof tops to avoid the dangers of pornography, that it “is like a raging storm, destroying individuals and families, utterly ruining what was once wholesome and beautiful” (Gordon B. Hinckley).  It is time that we stop listening to the condoning and justifying voice of the world that spreads a message of the innocence, meaninglessness, and harmlessness of engaging in pornographic materials, and instead heed the voice of warning of the prophets of the Lord.  Just as a rattlesnake is not known for its soothing rattling sound, but rather its deadly bite, pornography is not simply books, movies, and reading material, it has a toxic, venomous, and lethal nature to it.  The warning of the prophets is not one that should be cast aside as old-fashioned or out-dated.  Rather, we should sound the alarms and raise our guard against it, fortify our families, and protect our homes from the deadly disease of pornography.

PRAYER: Your Personal Key to Heaven

I have often found that the key to staying close to the Lord is through meaningful and sincere prayer. Indeed, with any relationship that you want to grow, it is done through meaningful and sincere communication. Also, as with any parent-child relationship, our Father in Heaven is invested in our lives, and he cares about each and every one of us. He, just like any father, wants us to pick up our end of the phone and call Him every now and then—not just to demand gifts, but also to express gratitude, ask for guidance, and share concerns. “Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil.” (Boyd K. Packer) Our Father in Heaven is constantly there, waiting with open arms for us. 

President Packer has also said, “No matter who you are or what you may have done, you can always pray.” We need not heed the voice in our head that tells us that we are not worthy to approach our Father in Heaven in prayer—these thoughts are not from above. It is the devil that “teacheth not a man to pray” (2 Nephi 32:8). Let us remember that our Father in Heaven desires to hear from His children, regardless of what we have done, we can and should always pray for guidance and help from our loving Father.

MARRIAGE: “Eternal Love, Eternal Marriage, Eternal Increase!”

One relationship that I hold dear to my heart is that of my marriage. I thank my Father in Heaven daily for my husband, Freddy, and all the wonderful things that make him who he is. In fact, I even keep a running list of all the things that I love about him. I do this, in opposition to the example that my own parents (now divorced) gave to me: they would often have running lists of each other’s strengths and weaknesses—but of course, the weaknesses list often went a mile longer that the strengths ever did! Early on I noticed the hurt that can come from dwelling on each other’s imperfections. Elder Eyring said as counsel to husbands and wives, “Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small.” I try to remind myself each day to see the good in my spouse and be grateful for all the little things that he does.

We’re all on a journey to perfection, and we’re headed there together. With our spouse by our side we can reach that goal of eternal increase by fostering and cultivating our eternal marriage today. Marriages do not simply sprout love overnight; they must be nourished and cared for each and every day. It does not have to be work or hard labor; if you care for a garden each and every day, the weeds simply won’t have a chance to grow, and you’ll never have to spend a whole day out in the awful, hot sun pulling weeds. Similarly, with marriage, weeds do not grow overnight; they grow with day after day of not being tended. Be watchful of your marriage and do not let the weeds take over your garden!

FORGIVENESS: One of the Sweetest Fruits of the Gospel

President Monson teaches us to forgive others when he said, “It doesn’t really matter what the issue was. It cannot and should not be left to injure. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.” In my life, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to practice the principle of forgiveness for others. While it’s not at all easy, and the hurt still remains, it’s important to be able to continually move forward.

The one thing that helps me to move forward rather than ruminate in the past is this: our Savior does not ruminate, he lovingly and willingly forgives. I am trying to follow the example of the Savior, and as difficult as it may be, he makes it easier for me. In this aspect, He truly takes my yoke upon Him and makes my burden light.

If I can ever hope for forgiveness of my imperfections, I must first be willing to forgive the imperfections and mistakes of others, even when they cause me great hurt and pain. Our Father in Heaven has made this clear, that it is not an option, but it is required for us to forgive others. However, He has also provided His Son’s Atonement to make all things fair in the end. Whatever injustices exist in this life, all will be taken care of eventually. I need to have faith in this principle and trust the Lord when He speaks. “The Savior is able and eager to forgive our sins…” (Neil L. Andersen) we too need to strive to forgive others, regardless of the details, and trust in the Lord’s promises.

MOTHERHOOD: The Real Builders of Nations

“I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and 

more eternal than that of motherhood.” –M. Russell Ballard 

As a mother of a two-year-old son, I am constantly reminded of my role as a parent. I am also reminded of the magnitude of my calling, and sometimes I feel like I might not be strong enough for the course ahead. But one of my favorite quotes is found in a talk by President Boyd K. Packer. He gave me such relief when he said, "Live the gospel, and you're going to be all right." Similarly, President Hinckley said to the women and mothers of the world, "...Do the very best you can." Sometimes the challenges we face seem all but overwhelming and it takes everything I've got to make it through the day alive. But these words of encouragement remind me the work I'm doing as a mother is the work of angels-- every single moment of it is important, and our work here and now affects generations to come. I recognize that as a mother, the recognition and appreciation may not come from the world, but rather will come when I am able to see my children living valiant lives, making righteous choices, and being a light of truth to those around them. My work in the home is more important than any other role that I may have in this life, and I know that with my Savior by my side to guide and direct me, I will be able to teach my children in love and righteousness.

AGENCY: We Hold the Power!

All too often we hear of people that have committed crimes, taken part in acts of infidelity, or made mistakes for which they blame their actions on others. They say that they were forced into committing errors, that they had no choice in the matter. I simply and blatantly disagree with that notion. Our Father in Heaven gave us moral agency so that we would always be able to make our own decisions. And as a price for that agency, he gave His only begotten son’s life to ensure that we would have that moral agency. However, with great power comes great responsibility and for our choices—whether good or bad—we will be held accountable.

Sometimes we hear those that complain about their own challenges and temptations. President Boyd K. Packer talked about this when he said, "Everyone is tested. One might think it is unfair to be singled out and subjected to a particular temptation, but this is the purpose of mortal life---to be tested. And the answer is the same for everyone: we must, and we can, resist temptations of any kind." (Boyd K. Packer, "Guided by the Holy Spirit," April 2011, http://www.lds.org) President Packer reminds us that we need not complain or feel slighted in our challenges; instead we need to recognize our opportunity for growth in each and every trial. Our Father in Heaven has promised that he will not test us above that which we are able to overcome, and when we turn to Him for guidance and assistance, we simply cannot fail.

ATONEMENT: The Supreme Act of Forgiveness

When I look forward to the day when I will stand at that great judgment bar with my Father in Heaven, I know we will review all of days of earthly life. At that time, I hope that there aren’t any sins, great or small, that have been ‘swept under the rug’ to be dealt with at a later time. The time to deal with those issues is now. We have been given the greatest gift in the history of mankind, our Father in Heaven gave His only begotten son’s life as a sacrifice for our sins, that we might be able to return to live with Him one day. With that offer on the table, I can’t possibly imagine not wanting to take advantage of that opportunity and return to our Father in Heaven as spotless as possible.

Another wonderful thing to consider is the magnitude of the great Atonement. Elder Quentin L. Cook provided comfort to us all when he said, “One of the reasons for the terrible loss of life on the Titanic is that there were not enough lifeboats. Regardless of the trials we face in this life, the Savior’s Atonement provides lifeboats for everyone. For those who think the trials they face are unfair, the Atonement covers all of the unfairness of life.” (Elder Quentin L. Cook, October 2011, “The Songs They Could Not Sing”) What an amazing act of love, that which the Savior would do for us, we simply could not do for ourselves. I will show my gratitude for His death by living my life in His footsteps, and when I make a mistake, I will use the lifeboat that he has provided to help bring me safely home.

FAMILY: "If heaven is nothing more than this, it will be good enough for me!"

"If heaven is nothing more than this, 
it will be good enough for me!"

             This quote by Marvin K. Jensen is exactly what I feel when spending time with my family.  I absolutely love my husband and my little boy, Nathan.  During times that we share together, fully engaged with one another, that I understand why the family is the central unit of our Heavenly Father’s Great Plan of Happiness.  For truly, these times are when we find the most joy. 

             I look forward to the future, when we will have more children and see our family grow together.  I hope to see, one day, each of my children sealed in the Holy Temple for time and all eternity with their chosen companions.  If I want to see these dreams become a reality, it is my obligation to take advantage of the time I have now with my family.  I need to teach my children truth and righteousness; I need to help them develop a love for their Savior and a desire to please Him.  President Eyring said, “Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family. They are important because the family has the opportunity at the start of a child’s life to put feet firmly on the path home.”  How accurate is that statement!  The goal of family life is to send our children to their true home, that is, their heavenly home.  With the help and love of the Savior, I will be able to instill deeply rooted values of love, trust, honesty, faith, forgiveness, charity, and virtue, that our children may be able to return to their Father in Heaven one day.