Gaining and Keeping a Testimony

MINDY RAYE FRIEDMANChurch Magazines

A testimony generally comes slowly, over time, as you work to help it grow.
Maybe you were baptized when you were eight years old and youve been going to church your whole li e. Maybe you were !ust recently introduced to the "hurch. #erhaps you have a strong testimony o the $estoration o the gospel, or maybe youre not sure i you even know the %ook o Mormon is true. &n any case, everyone needs to constantly nourish and help his or her testimony to grow. 'o what are you supposed to do( )ere are some things to consider.

$evelation *sually "omes a +ittle at a Time

'ometimes we think we dont have a testimony or that it can grow only i we have a great spiritual miracle. More o ten, though, we receive revelation and spiritual knowledge only a little bit at a time. ,lder -avid A. %ednar o the .uorum o the Twelve Apostles compares revelation to the ways we e/perience light0

1A light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message rom God 2uickly, completely, and all at once. Many o us have e/perienced this pattern o revelation as we have been given answers to sincere prayers or been provided with needed direction or protection, according to Gods will and timing. 3 )owever, this pattern o revelation tends to be more rare than common.

1The gradual increase o light radiating rom the rising sun is like receiving a message rom God 4line upon line, precept upon precept 56 7ephi 6809:;. Most re2uently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. 3 This pattern o revelation tends to be more common than rare< 51The 'pirit o $evelation,< Ensignor Liahona, May 6:==, 88;.

The 'pirit &s the Key

&n order to strengthen testimony, it is important to be able to have the )oly Ghost with you and to listen to )is promptings. &t is hard, however, to hear the 'pirits whisperings when you are distracted by other things. ,lder $ichard G. 'cott o the .uorum o the Twelve Apostles has taught0 1The inspiring in luence o the )oly 'pirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, ear, or pride. >hen such in luences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate lavor o a grape while eating a !alape?o pepper. %oth lavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. &n like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings o the )oly 'pirit< 51To Ac2uire 'piritual Guidance,< Ensign or Liahona, 7ov. 6::@, 8;.

A Testimony "omes through Good "hoices

,lder 'cott has e/plained that 1a testimony is not emotion. &t is the very essence o character woven rom threads born o countless correct decisions. These choices are made with trusting aith in things that are believed and, at least initially, are not seen. A strong testimony gives peace, com ort, and assurance. &t generates the conviction that as the teachings o the 'avior are consistently obeyed, li e will be beauti ul, the uture will be secure, and there will be capacity to overcome the challenges that cross our path. A testimony grows rom understanding truth distilled rom prayer and the pondering o scriptural doctrine. &t is nurtured by living those truths with aith anchored in the secure con idence that the promised results will be obtained< 51The Trans orming #ower o Aaith and "haracter,< Ensign orLiahona, 7ov. 6:=:, BCDBE;.

Get Fut and -o 'omething

'ometimes in order or your testimony to grow, you have to go and do something. #resident -ieter A. *chtdor o the Airst #residency has taught0 1F ten, the answer to our prayer does not come while were on our knees but while were on our eet serving the +ord and serving those around us. 'el less acts o service and consecration re ine our spirits, remove the scales rom our spiritual eyes, and open the windows o heaven. %y becoming the answer to someones prayer, we o ten ind the answer to our own< 51>aiting on the $oad to -amascus,< Ensign or Liahona, May 6:==, GE;.

-ont Give *p
Hust because you eel like youre in a spiritual slump or that your testimony is weak, or even i you eel your testimony is strong, that doesnt mean you should stop trying to strengthen your testimony. Keep pressing orward. ,lder %ednar o ers these words o encouragement0 1& have talked with many individuals who 2uestion the strength o their personal testimony and underestimate their spiritual capacity because they do not receive re2uent, miraculous, or strong impressions. 3 & you have had similar thoughts or doubts, please know that you are 2uite normal. Hust keep pressing orward obediently and with aith in the 'avior. As you do so, you 4cannot go amiss 5-I" 8:09;< 51The 'pirit o $evelation,< Ensign or Liahona, May 6:==, 8@;.

A +arge Aire "omes rom 'mall Kindling

Jou may have heard a testimony compared to a burning ire be ore, but think about how a ire is built. & you try to light a big log, it probably wont catch ire. Jou have to have some sort o kindling, like smaller sticks or leaves, to get the ire going. +ikewise, small e/periences can kindle the ire o your testimony.

'ometimes people may put lighter luid on a log, which makes the lames become bright, but once the lighter luid is burned, the ire dies back down because it was the lighter luid and not the log burning. Jour testimony may sometimes be lamed by a strong spiritual e/perience, but that may not be enough to maintain a constantly burning testimony. ,ven i you have a nice ire burning, it will eventually die i you dont continue to put wood on it. &n like manner, you must continue to eed the ire o your testimony so that it doesnt smolder out.

Fne General Authoritys ,/perience

'ometimes you may think you are all alone in struggling with your testimony. The truth is that everyone must go through the same process, even General Authorities. )ere is one e/perience rom ,lder Hay ,. Hensen o the #residency o the 'eventy. 1As a young elder, & had been in the mission ield about one year, and while reading scriptures and words o the latterKday Apostles about revelation and the )oly Ghost, & had a stunning awakening. & did not have a testimony o my own, speci ically o the Aather and the 'on. & went on my mission living on the borrowed light o my wonder ul parents. 7ever doubting their words, & had not thought about seeking my own spiritual witness. Fn a Aebruary night in 'an Antonio, Te/as, in =@E6, & knew that & had to know or mysel . &n our small apartment & ound a place where & could 2uietly pray out loud, pleading, 4)eavenly Aather, are Jou there( & must know or mysel L

1'ometime later that night & came to know or mysel or the irst time in my li e that God and Hesus are real. & did not hear an audible voice nor see a heavenly being. & knew in the same way you too may have come to knowMwhich is 4by the unspeakable gi t o the )oly Ghost 5-I" =6=06E; and the spirit o revelation 5see -I" 80=D9; speaking peace to my mind 5see -I" E069; and assurances to my heart 5see Alma C80==;.

1Arom that e/perience & witnessed the results o Almas counsel to 4awake and arouse NmyO aculties 3 to NconductO an e/periment upon N)isO words 5Alma 9606G;. These words or seeds have grown into trees, indeed giant trees o testimony. The process continues with more e/periments upon the word, resulting in additional trees o testimony, now a veritable orest based on revelation through and by the )oly Ghost< 51The )oly Ghost and $evelation,< Ensign or Liahona, 7ov. 6:=:, GG;.

Jou 7eed Jour Fwn Testimony

1>e can rely on the aith and testimony o others only so long. ,ventually we must have our own strong and deeply placed oundation, or we will be unable to withstand the storms o li e, which will come< 5Thomas '. Monson, 1)ow Airm a Aoundation,<Ensign or Liahona, 7ov. 6::E, E6;. F icial >eb site o The "hurch o Hesus "hrist o +atterKday 'aints P 6:=9 &ntellectual $eserve, &nc. All $ights $eserved