Testimony

D&C 63:2 (I always think of this scripture when I share my testimony)
Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you.

I bore my testimony yesterday in Sacrament meeting and I’m feeling compelled today to write it down. So, since I don’t keep a journal (bad me!) I guess it gets written here for you all to read (and a few blurkers).

Last week was a standard regular week. Nothing different happened to indicate that something deeply personal and overwhelmingly spiritual would occur. It was a normal Thursday; I got up, went to work, came home, ate dinner, ran an errand. Voila!! Done, right? Uh, no.

My errand was to drop something off at a friend’s house and get on home. I dropped off what I needed to and hung out for a little bit, but it was late so I started making my way to the door. I say “started” because anyone who knows me knows that I can carry on a “doorway conversation” for as long as you’ll let me!! :)

Our conversation was of a personal nature, but still nothing to indicate that it was about to turn into this huge spiritual moment. There was a slight pause at one point and while I stood there, a thought popped into my mind that it was the right time to share with her something that I had been wanting to tell her.

I will remember the conversation that followed as being one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. I shared my thought with my friend and she in turn shared some things with me and from that point on, I could feel the spirit in the room. It was as though as we stood there the spirit was between us and the words we spoke flowed through him to our ears, bringing with it compassion and understanding.

I’ve always known that Heavenly Father loves me, but sometimes it’s not as clear as it is at other times and I am thankful that experiences like the one I had that normal Thursday night bring back to me a remembrance. He loves each and every one of us and the hardships and trials that we have in this life can be used for our growth and make us fit for his presence.

As a closing, I'd like to share something my friend said to me in an email the next day.

“[H]ow many of the Pioneers really WERE hurt or afflicted [while out on the trail]? I wonder if any of them thought to themselves, "How can I be fit for Zion? What use will I be?" How do you think Brigham Young would have answered them? Or Heavenly Father? I think they would tell those Pioneers that every willing heart is needed in Zion, and that we all serve to the fullness of our capacity, however limited that capacity may sometimes be. So...we have a hardship that is our own, we are engaged in a battle, we fight and pray and are winning. And Heavenly Father still wants us to serve in Zion, to fellowship. When I think of that, it helps me to put aside any doubts…that Satan constantly tries to sneak into my heart.”