The Power Of A Testimony

So this past week Elder Martin and myself were out trying to visit this lady that use to be taught by missionaries. After many attempts we finally found her sitting outside. It was pretty awesome because she was rather rude to us at the beginning, she wouldn't shake my hand and was very unhappy to see us,

but we were very polite and just talked to her and found out she got offended by something a missionary had said to her. We simply bore testimony about the Savior and the importance of our message and it was incredible. She went from rude, to happy, to talk about Christ and wanted to continue learning. By the end of about 15 min of talking to her we asked if we could come back and teach her again, her reply was not what was expected from the first impression. She said, "Umm, well lets see. Today is Tuesday so how about Wednesday night?" Wow I didn't expect that. So we asked her to read from The Book of Mormon before tomorrow and she did and it was a wonderful experience.

But what was it that changed her heart? It couldn't be because were two really really really ridiculously good looking young men, could it? Nah, The only thing, power, or influence on earth that has the ability to change our hearts is THE SPIRIT. "...the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming" (Alma 16:16) 

What is a testimony? And how did this change her heart? It is a witness of what one knows to be true. For example one may say after receiving a personal experience pertaining to repentance, "I know that Christ forgives sin." It is a firm declaration of something that is true and right. This simple declaration of what is true invited the Holy Ghost. The reason for this is that the Spirit testifies or confirms things that are true. If things are true, the Spirit comes and hearts are changed. And not only others but our own as well. Sharing what we know with others not only helps them but strengthens our testimonies in the process.

If we don't have a testimony, how can we obtain one? We must first study it out in our minds what we want to know. Example, if we want to know if Joseph Smith is a prophet we must first know who he is and what it means to be a prophet. Or, if we want to know if Christ is our Savior we must first learn what that means and what makes it possible for him to save us. Then We must go to God, the author of all truth, "He who knoweth all things" and ask him in prayer if it is true and right. Then we must patiently wait for him to tell us. And we will know by the power of the Holy Ghost. "And by the power of the Holy Ghost [you] my know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5)

I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that God lives. Christ is our Lord and Savior. And that His church as been restored to the earth by a modern day prophet.