I would like to share my testimony with you.  The gospel, as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is true and real.  It provides understanding and perspective to me as I live my life.  Without this understanding, I know I could not be truly happy.

Heavenly Father is literally the Father of our spirits.  He loves us.  He has a plan for us to share the life and blessings that he enjoys.  This plan was presented to us long before any of us was born.  The plan is also called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. He died for me and was resurrected so that I could live again. He also died for each of you.  Without him, our Father's plan could not bring us joy, for he provides the way for us to be cleansed from sin and all imperfection.  He showed us the way and told us what we must do so that we may return to our Father's presence.  I am very grateful for this plan and for my Heavenly Father and my Savior for helping me and loving me so much.

I am grateful for prophets and apostles who lead this church.  I know that they are men who are called of God.  They are not perfect, but they are yet instruments in the hands of God and are performing a mighty work.  I know the President Hinckley is a prophet today, called by God to lead us back to Heavenly Father. I know that the talks given in the last General Conference are true and we should mold our lives to the things taught in them. I am grateful for the inspiration and blessings they have brought into my life. 

I know that Joseph Smith talked with God and was a true prophet. I know that the things he restored, including the gospel, the priesthood and its ordinances, and great doctrines, are all true and from God. I am thankful for Joseph Smith for his work in restoring the gospel to the earth and translating the Book of Mormon.

I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and the closeness to the Spirit that I feel when I read and ponder its words.  The Book of Mormon is true.  I know that reading the Book of Mormon will bring us closer to Jesus Christ.  I also know that the Bible is true, that the Doctrine and Covenants is true, and that the Pearl of Great Price is true.   I love to study the scriptures and it blesses my life.

I have a strong testimony in prayer and repentance and forgiveness.  Sin is real, but so is the cleansing power of Christ's Atonement.  I am very grateful for the opportunity Jesus gives me to try again, to change, and to turn back to him.  One scripture I love says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)  I believe it.  The Lord does not lie.

I know that obeying the commandments of God will bring happiness. Commandments do not control or manipulate us. God does not seek to dominate us. Those are the characteristics of sin and Satan. Making correct choices gives us great blessings, happiness, peace of mind, and true freedom.

I want to bear my testimony that the temple truly is the House of the Lord. The truths we learn, the covenants we make, the inspiration and peace we feel, and the blessings we are promised all bring great joy to me. When we go there in the right frame of mind, we will receive inspiration to understand the things of God. It is a place of peace, truth, and revelation. It is a place to make sacred covenants with God and to learn about our Savior’s sacrifice to save us from sin and death. It is the place for building eternal families. The temple is the right place to marry, for there we make covenants allowing us to keep our spouse and children for eternity.  Our family relationships can outlast death.  The things we learn there guide us to righteous living and following the Savior with more love and courage. Every ordinance that we participate in within the temple teaches us about the type of person we should become—more loving, more selfless, more pure, more Christ-like, and ultimately more happy people. The ordinances we receive in the temple are essential to our salvation, but they are only effective because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can receive the greatest blessing from God—life in the Celestial kingdom with our families. 

Some of you who have read John's testimony may have wondered how I felt about my problematic pregnancies.  I would like to say that I feel humble, yet determined as I consider the choices we have made regarding children.  I am glad that I know what the Lord's servants have said about birth control and abortion.  I am grateful that the Lord comforted and strengthened me that I can say that I would rather die than disobey these important doctrines.  John could not and would not inflict his opinion of the matter on me.  I have my own testimony of the truthfulness of the teachings of the prophets and apostles.  I know that the things I have learned are true and I have learned to rely upon the Lord.  I want to know and do the Lord's will and I am willing to submit to him.  He knows infinitely better than I do whether and when we should have children and when I should die.  I pray that I will follow his plan for me and that before I am taken from this world, I will be able to prepare for eternity, having completed my work and done all I could to repent and perfect myself.

There are many specific parts of the gospel that I have come to love and understand more fully.  You can read parts of my testimony throughout the many pages of this site.  In spite of all of this, I am only a human being, struggling, trying to do what is right, and sometimes failing.  If you were to meet me, you would come to know that I am not perfect, but I sincerely love and want to follow my Savior.

I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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