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"It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study."
I had the opportunity to write Bree an letter that will be given to her this week at school during the Senior Breakfast. (Thanks to those of you who also took time to write her letters also!) This caused me to reflect on how well I had taught and prepared Bree for the life opportunities that lie ahead for her. This quote from President Monson's talk summarized the advice I would want to give to Bree as she heads into this new phase of her life. I don't feel like I've done a very good job as a parent with respect to teaching my children the how and why of the gospel so that they have strong testimonies of their own- but I see that the rest of my siblings are learning from my poor example and have made this a priority with their kids. Good job guys!
ReplyDeleteTestimony is knowledge based. Add to that the Spirit and we start to get a firm, fixed foundation testimony. Without it there is no commitment. Commitment is the action end of testimony. I know many who have professed a testimony, but lacked the commitment to act. Why? Look at President Monson's words. It involves some "DOING." Even after we get that firm testimony it takes continual effort to keep it alive.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard President Monson this time it was like he was telling us his last words. I don't know how long he will live. It was scary to have him go in the hospital on Sunday night after conference. But like Lehi wanted to tell his children the things of most worth to them, President Monson wanted us to each know the things that he thought would be of most worthy to us. If we have a testimony then all things fall into place. Without a testimony nothing in this church makes sense. At testimony is needed for the troubled times ahead. That is why we take each kid to the sacred grove to feel the spirit and walk where Joseph walked. To see where he had his vision and to see where the church was organized. We hope we are helping to set a few blocks in the foundation of each of their testimonies. The world is only going to get more wicked, and Satan's influences will get stronger. We need to protect ourselves with our testimonies. President Monson tells us us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. What great blessing could a parent leave his children.
ReplyDeleteI know I have a strong testimony and I know the Book of Mormon is true and I know i love the book so much and I try to bear my testimony every fast and testimony meeting and I love to testify of our Savior Jesus Christ and I love him so much . I know that my testimony is growing so much more now since Mom and Dad are on their mission now and I know Heavenly Father is watching over me and I have my family and I have my ward family that is looking out for me right now too ! I want to issue you all a challenge for next month to bear our testimonies in church and I know we will be blessed by doing it too ! Those are my thoughts for this week !
ReplyDeleteFrom Mariah Sparrow
Jen, Great choice. We actually watched President Monson's talk for our FHE. We asked the kids to tell us what President Monson asked us to do. The thing that stood out to the kids was his invitation to read the Book If Mormon. We have not been reading the Book of Mormon as a family. We have been reading the New Testament Scripture reader. Something that we still wanted to continue. We came up with a different plan. We decided to use the Book of Mormon Doctrinal Mastery Scriptures. Each week we will focus on one scripture and basically have a mind doctrinal mastery session every day in the morning with the kids. It has been fun to challenge them to remember the scripture everyday we recite it. So fitting to have 1 Nephi 3:7 "I will go and do."
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