I grew up in the church. I never took the time to actually learn enough to know what a Testimony really is, nor much about the church. I was one rowdy kid. Full of mischief & unable to be quiet.
Elder Doug Bloomfield & Elder Craig Newbold bugged me constantly, when was I living in San Ysidro, CA. This was the Summer of 1975. Through their constant bugging,prayers, faith & knowledge, I became active, repented of my sins & was given a blessing by Bishop Charles Simpkins. I fell in love with doing what work for Heavenly Father as I could.
I began to read The Book Of Mormon, daily, with prayer & an open mind. It wasn't until Elder Bill Tuft was serving in our new ward, & my husband, Larry Bingham & I, were living on Mt Vernon St, in Lemon Grove area, that I gained a small testimony about its truthfulness. I was awakened in the middle of the wee morning hours. The spirit was so strong that I cried, not fully understanding why,I called Elder Tuft & his companion immediately. I think it was around 2:00 AM or close thereof. I cried & told them that I knew this book was a testament & history of Jesus Christ & the people living in America. I learned more that day & begun to see what had been before me all the time. I know without any shadow of doubt,that the book I had been reading for about 3 days,is true. I was reading in Alma about what he went through to repent of his sins. I related his experiences to much of my own. I suddenly felt so free & happy. I felt like jumping up & down & shouting what I had just been given to me. Everything was falling into place for me.
I knew, & still know, that Joseph Smith,Jr restored the church & gospel of Jesus Christ to this earth. My mind becomes more alert & listening to the prompting of the Gift of the Holy Ghost,a light fills my eyes,& radiates in my facial expressions & life. I am very bubbly & shine from within me that which is the " Light of Christ ".
In 1976-977, I kept reading every book I could by church authors. My 1st one was "The Miracle of Forgiveness " by Pres & Prophet Spencer Kimball. I couldn't stop learning & gaining this special gift I was being given. I was given another of Pres Spencer Kimball's books. It was titled " Faith Proceeds a Miracle ". I studied & filled my heart, mind & home with the aura of the beautiful Gift of the Holy Ghost daily. I was on fire with it so much so that I could not neglect the prompting to share my life & the gospel with everybody I saw & eventually met. I knew no stranger, especially when it pertained to the gospel & church. The spirit shined through me to everyone I was around. I started going with the missionaries to teach the gospel. More knowledge & some wisdom was given to me as I studied & prayed for more testimony of what I needed to learn.
Elder David Thomas was serving in the Imperial Beach Ward while my husband was studying with the elders. He went home then to BYU. He married & has quite a few kids. He is a dentist for children somewhere in Idaho. We went to a conference where Elder Paul H. Dunn was speaking. Elder Thomas showed me a scripture that explained we are here to edify each other.
I saw some people close to us signing with their hands. Unbeknownst to me, they were signing because they were deaf. As I watched them the spirit took over & tears filled my eyes. It was actually the very first time I had felt naything like it before. All of a sudden I felt very grateful I could see. These people were amazing. I sensed something rare & pure deep within my heart.
I went up to meet Elder Dunn in person. We shook hands. I told him what I was going through. He took me aside & said that, " Sis Bingham, you are a Child of God. You are doing exactly what he wants you to do. He loves you. He will answer your prayers, but not in your time, but his ". I thought that very strange at the time. Now I full comprehend what he was saying. I met Elder Dunn again in the temple in Salt Lake City when I went to work in the kitchen & cafeteria of the temple in 1977. He walked up to me & startled me a bit, but then when he shook my hand & pulled me into his arms. I knew I was in the perfect place. We talked for 5 minutes or so. He finally sat down, & when he was finished eating his lunch, he got up to leave & said , "You have brightened my day, Sis Bingham. You are a true testimony in yourself. Take care & pray every second of each day. With Faith, understanding will fill your soul & mind ". I never saw him again, although I worked there for about 3-4 months. He was amazing. I finally knew I was special, loved & needed in someone's life. I felt as if I was exactly where I belonged.
I am excited about sharing the gospel with everyone. I love my Heavenly Father & his Son, Jesus Christ. I love the gospel & all it has to offer us. I love all of our missionaries, especially our return missionaries & their beautiful families. I love & adore Pres R. L. Pitcher & his beautiful wife, Sandy. Thank all you missionaries who were in Brad's & my home, for the laughter, smiles, memories, & the spirit which you brought into our home. Thank you, Elder Anthony Mower,(you are number 2 in our books ) Elder Richie Bailey (for inviting us to your temple wedding & for putting up all our pictures so perfectly), Elders: James Thayn, Jeremy Robinson for the beautiful blessing you gave Brad, when you & Elder Mower helped us move from K St into our new apt on Elm St. Thank you Elder Glenn Stucki for blessing us with your love, happiness, & wonderful spirit. Thank you, Elder Scott Mains, for the beautiful blessing you gave Brad on Aug 12,2002. Thank you, all sister Missionaries, for your dedication to serving the Lord: Sis: Marie Dean/Johnson, Mary Williams/Dornbush, Jennie Burkhardt, Cara Zimmerman, Gardner. Thank you, Elder Senene, Elders: Jared Alsop, Harrison, Scott, Esquibel, Jon Sperry, Basil John Morris, , for Elder Anthony Mower who cut Brad's hair, T. J. Tidwell, Jeremy Culpepper, Logan Crockett, Kip Kugler, Bobby Johnston, Scoot Mortenson, Doug Black, Bill Tuft, Trevnor, Crandall, not sure what your first names are, Mark Gilbert, David Stuart, David Thomas, Craig Newbold, Joel Cranford, Doug Bloomfield, Ryan Adams, for getting us into this apt, especially for Elder Matt Rigby for his love, friendship & teaching me how to use a computer. Elders: Michael Vincent, Guenther, Cash, Brown, Chad Hadler. I cannot begin to finish the list of all the missionaries who blessed our home & lives just by being in it. We not only have beautful memories but tons of pictures of our missionaries. Thank you, Bobbette Mower, for your friendship, Jill & Dennis Thayn, for being a true friend & letting us stay with you when we visit St. George, Lind Tidwell, for making us the beautiful Omans scarf. For Bro & Sis Alsop.
Thank you, Pres Marc Davis, Pres Paul Spring, for everything you did to help me prepare to go back to our temple. John & Roseann Vickery for your love & friendship. To Pres Jerry Washburn for everything you did to welcome me into your home, to Gene & Mary Kay Sorenson, for your love, friendship, Elders: Layne Pitcher,& for Jay Mitchell. If I did not list you, please, accept my humble apologies.
I know that our beautiful temples are a House Of God & learning. I know that the ordinances we do in them is of our Heavenly Father's will.
Back track a little. In April 6,1977,I was in the beautiful Salt Lake Temple with my husband & 3 kids. While we were waiting for our kids to be brought into the Sealing Room, Pres David Houston talked with me. He asked me to look into the mirrors & explain to him what I was seeing. While I was growing up I had a re-ocurring dream. I was on a tiny knoll encased/imprisoned/surrounded by tons of tin cans. There wasn't any ceiling. The sky was an endless darkness, no light, only rain, yet I didn't get wet. I tried to break out. I did everything I could to get out of there. I tried digging deeper & deeper. Nothing could tear them down or apart. I was doomed to die in that place. I was so afraid of my own shadow that I yelled at God to let me out. I felt like the walls of Jericho were falling down on me.
On April 6 th, 1977, as I looked into those beautiful forever mirrors, I saw the tin cans crumble,like ash. The Sun rose just a bit over the knoll I was sitting on. I saw my gr-grandparents,Grandpa Dan & Grandma Emma. They were smiling at me.
I had also had a dream the very night Grandpa Dan was buried. I saw him in all white clothing, he was walking away from me saying something I,as a young child, could not hear, or begin to understand. April 6, 1977, I knew what he had been telling me. I was fulfilling what my Grandpa Dan had told me that night. The thing is he was walking toward a very green place, with a beautiful waterfall & creek, full of flowers & a lot of people. People were actually happy, hugging & singing.
I saw a different kind of tree. I am not sure what this tree signifies, but I believe it has to do with my gift of being able to do successful searches & a lot of Genealogy. I have connected with so many relatives,living in various parts of the nation, together.
I know Jesus Christ had Joseph Smith,Jr being prepared to do his work & bring to pass the church & gospel of Christ back to earth.
I know this gospel we are taught, in our different meetings, is perfect & true. I am a happy person, full of vigor, good health, & a strong Faith. No matter what the adversary throws at me, I take it with a grain of salt & stay happy & positive. People who know me well, marvel at how positive I am & how bubbly I am. They often tell me they wish they could be more like, happy, carfree, positive. Never seeing the dark before the storm, just a rainbow & the Sun shining brightly over God's sacred ground.I find laughter is a great medicine.
Just when I think about throwing in the towel, doors open wide to me & more knowledge & wisdom fill me. I am actually now unafraid to open them & enter through them to where Heavenly Father wants me to go.
My husband, Brad, nick named me his " Sunshine " when we first met in June 1986. I know God wanted me to meet & fall in love with him. We have always been spiritually bonded since that beautful day, no matter where we are or where we need to be. We have been through many storms. We weather them together. I am usually the one who gets us a jump start in the right direction.
I was ex-communicated in July 1982. My husband, Brad & I became active in Jan 1995. He was baptized in March 1995. Within a few weeks he received the Aaronic Priesthood. The very next Sun he baptized his 1 st convert into our church. He went on to baptize 1,000's of people. He was the perfect baptizer. He is a very humble, meek man.
He obtained his Temple Recommend in 2002. We were Sealed in the San Diego Temple Sept 4, 2004.
I love doing missionary work for Heavenly Father. I cannot go without sharing it with everyone I see & meet.
I am corresponding with 2 men who are in prison. Through my testimony & sharing with them the gospel of Jesus Christ, they have started believing & praying. I know, It is just a jailhouse conversion. This is not true with these 2 men. I will not give up on them. I constantly make sure they know how precious God is in my life. I also tell them he loves them more than anyone else in our lifetime ever will or can. They have listened to me tell them what God is all about. They feel the Gift of the Holy Ghost through my letters & cards I send them. They, too, call me " Sunshine ".
I am so in love with Heavenly father & his Son,Jesus Christ. I trust them with everything I do & say. I give my all to them.
I know they guide me, protect me, & put people in my life so I can witness for him about his love for them. Yes, Heavenly Father is good.
I love writing poetry. It is going to be published sometime in June 2010 by Author House Publishers. My book is going to be titled " My Spiritual Awakening ". It will be listed for sale all over the world wide Internet.
May Heavenly Father answer all your prayers. May your heart be opened wide & feel his loving arms around you.
God Bless you !
In Jesus's name, Amen !
Sis " O "
San Diego 4 th Ward