Why I Believe

Submitted by sstringh on Tue, 07/13/2010 - 00:05

It is a privilege for me to be able to share why I believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I believe because I have felt it change my life. When I live by the principles taught in this church, my life is full of joy. I have never been happier. I believe because I have read the Book of Mormon and can feel a change in my heart as I read.

Before I read the Book of Mormon all the way through for the first time, I was told to pay attention to my moods and what happened during the days when I read versus the days when I didn’t. And, to my surprise, there was a difference. I know that I am blessed because of this church.

In the Book of Mormon it says "And when ye shall receive these things [the Book of Mormon], I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moroni 10:4). I do not believe in this church because anyone else told me to, or because it was what I was taught as a child. I believe because I was told to ask and find out for myself if this is the true church. I read, knelt in prayer with a sincere heart and was given an answer. I know it may sound strange, and if you think that, then I would encourage you to do the same thing. Study, pray, and ask with a sincere heart. It is something that cannot fully be understood until you experience it yourself.

I believe that I have a Father in Heaven, who is God, who cares about me personally. I believe this because I can feel him near when I kneel in prayer and I have seen miracles happen around me when I have prayerfully pleaded for his help.

I believe in Jesus Christ. He is my savior. He made the ultimate sacrifice for me and for every other individual that ever lived on this earth to return to Heaven someday. He went through pain I cannot imagine, bleeding from every pore and dying on the cross even though he did nothing to deserve it. I know he did this out of love, to give us all a chance to repent of our sins and change our ways and enjoy the happiness that living according to Gods laws brings. I know every person can return to Heaven if he/she learns to rely on Christ. I feel very strongly that I can do anything if I rely on him and I am nothing without him.

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Our Father in Heaven Lives

Submitted by KCN on Sat, 05/22/2010 - 06:24

It is hard to express the joy, peace and comfort I have in the knowledge that our Heavenly Father lives and has a plan for each person on this earth.

We have not been left alone. Our Father in Heaven lives. He knows us. He has a plan for our salvation. Through the grace of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ and the atonement, He has prepared a way for us to return to Him. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us, they know our names, our strengths and limitations. They know our struggles, both spiritually and those of this world. In His infinite mercy, our Father has given us many gifts to help us to remember our divine nature as His sons and daughters: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the gift of revelation from the Holy Ghost, prophets, friends, and teachers.

I converted to the Church just over five years ago. I was not looking for a church, but I had a hope, deep inside my heart, that there was a God, and that He remember his children. Sitting in the back of a van crossing over the mountains, I could see the diffuse glow of the sunlight through the clouds settled over the peaks. I was sitting in silence, having just heard the testimony of one of my friends. Never had I felt such a strong impression of truth. Still in silence, I began to pray. I promised the Lord that if this was the His church, I would follow Him, wherever it may bring me. I looked over that mountain and I could feel the Spirit of the Lord with me. I felt assurance that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's church on earth. I cannot explain to you the feelings that come from the spirit of truth, but I can promise you, that when that assurance comes, you will know it, and you will not be able to deny it.

I went to my cabin that night and knelt down in prayer, again promising our Father in Heaven that if He told me the church was true, I would go and follow the Lord in His church. The next morning I woke, and sat on the steps outside with the Book of Mormon. Something was different. The Spirit of God was with me. I read with new eyes words that I had seen several times before, now with the revelation of the Holy Ghost to help me to understand the Lord's true message. The Book of Mormon was true, the church was true, and I was going to be part of the Lord's work here on earth.

I was baptized a short while later. It is the best decision I have made in my life. That one act of faith has not only blessed me, but my family, friends, and everyone I have come in contact with.

That was it. A knowledge of the Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ was all I had to start with. My testimony has grown to include a knowledge of the truthfulness of Joseph Smith and all the prophets of the Lord, the divine purpose and blessing of the temple, the blessings of the priesthood, and so much more. I now often feel the soft sure voice of the Spirit prompting me to understand and follow the word of the Lord.

I don't know who may read this, but my heart is full of love for you. Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. He loves you and sees promise in your future. Whatever path you may be on, take one moment; open your heart to our Heavenly Father. He knows you and is waiting to encompass you in His love and the assurance that He has not forgotten you.

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Brooke Svendsen: Why I Believe

Submitted by Brooke on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 23:32

There are many reasons why I believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. None of these reasons can be proven with any of the scientific methods known to man today. They come from faith, study, prayer, and from feelings deep within my heart. As I have sincerely prayed to my Heavenly Father, I have received answers and felt an incredible reassurance through the Spirit of God that I am His daughter and that He loves me.

I came from a good family and parents who encouraged me to use my mind and my heart. My parents taught me to know God and they helped me to understand that following God's commandments brings me happiness and will ultimately lead me toward eternal life. I have always been interested in forming a relationship with God and as a child I would think about things I learned from church and scripture and I would pray sincerely. I was baptized and made a promise with God that I would follow His commandments and be a witness for His Son for the rest of my life. Every decision I make now is influenced by my promise to my Heavenly Father. I genuinely want to do what I know is right in my life, and do what I have seen brings me and others happiness.

I believe that every man searching for truth in life can find it. In fact, for a long time I have thought about how each of us at one point in time really desires to know the purpose or meaning of life. We want to know if there is something greater than us or if everything is ultimately up to us, imperfect humans.

God, since the beginning of time, has given us knowledge about Him and His plan for us here on earth. He has chosen prophets to guide us and to help us know what we should do. They teach us more about Jesus Christ and how through Him we can return to our Father in Heaven. As I have read the words of the prophets in scripture, or heard their words today, I feel in my heart and mind their teachings are true. In a confusing world, the gospel makes sense and brings me peace. I know most of my confidence and fulfillment in life comes from knowing God still speaks to man and that He cares for me individually. All of us at times feel lost, but Heavenly Father sent His Son to save all of us.

I know Jesus Christ is our Savior. I have felt strengthened in my trials of life and felt cleansed from my sins and shortcomings through His atonement. I have also felt Christ’s love for me and for all of God’s children as I try to serve others as He would. Through Jesus Christ, I know all of us will live again. I know as I come unto Him and obey His commandments, I feel more happiness than by any other way.

One of the most important reasons I believe in God and Jesus Christ, is because I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While there are many churches on the earth today, I know that it is Jesus Christ’s church. In 1820, God once again called a prophet named Joseph Smith and gave him the power to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ. Today I know we have a prophet of God. I know this church has Christ’s power and authority in order to live His gospel that includes faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and following all the commandments until the end of our lives.

Every decision I make in my life is influenced by my belief in God. It is who I am. I know I am a daughter of God. I desire to follow Jesus Christ. I want the happiness, peace, and love that are promised and that I have felt as I have come unto Him. I also want to share everyone to share in that happiness and truth.

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Purpose in Life

Submitted by brentcolson on Tue, 03/23/2010 - 14:35

My life has been pretty great. I grew up with a very stable and loving family and have so far been lucky enough to not encounter any real devastation in life. That isn't to say that life has been easy for me, in fact, it is to that point to which I want to share my beliefs - that everyday life can be so difficult and changing, that without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will not find happiness.

Lately I have been trying to figure out what I am going to do for the rest of my life. It is a common crossroad, one that every person goes though, but I had not anticipated the difficulty of the task until I was faced with it. Up to this point, I've had a plan that I could follow - Graduate high school? Check. Go on a church mission for two years? Check. Graduate College? Check. Figure out what to do from here? Hmmm... There are so many paths that I could choose, so many options (Should I go back to school? Should I stay in Boston? What industry should I work in?), it has been really hard to commit to one and move forward. I have been feeling trapped, alone, and not sure what to do next. The peace and happiness of having direction in my life had begun to slip away and it was horrible.

I have been praying a lot about my situation, trying to find happiness and direction again, and my prayers were answered through the words of one of the 12 living Apostles of the mormon church. His name is Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and he gave a talk entitled “The Way of the Disciple.” Speaking on finding happiness, he said,

“We live in a time when many worry about their livelihood. They are concerned about the future and doubt their ability to resolve the challenges that confront them. Many have experienced personal misfortune and sadness. They hunger for meaning and purpose in life.
Because there is such great interest in these issues, the world is not bashful in offering numerous new answers to every problem we face. People run from one new idea to the next, hoping to find something that will answer the burning questions of their souls. They attend seminars and buy books, CDs, and other products. They get caught up in the excitement of looking for something new. But inevitably, the flame of each new theory fades, only to be replaced by another “new and improved” solution that promises to do what the others before could not.
It’s not that these worldly options don’t contain elements of truth—many of them do. Nevertheless, they all fall short of the lasting change we seek in our lives. After the excitement wears off, the hollowness remains as we look for the next new idea to unlock the secrets of happiness.
In contrast, the gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to all of our problems. The gospel is not a secret. It is not complicated or hidden. It can unlock the door to true happiness. It is not someone’s theory or proposition. It does not come from man at all. It springs from the pure and everlasting waters of the Creator of the universe, who knows truths we cannot even begin to comprehend. And with that knowledge, He has given us the gospel—a divine gift, the ultimate formula for happiness and success.”

This was an answer to my prayers. I will find happiness and the answers to my questions as I worked more diligently to follow Christ. I know this is true because I am trying my best to do it and I have already felt much more purpose and guidance. I have not figured everything out yet, but I am much closer, and I have peace.

I know that Christ died for our sins so that we can be forgiven of them. I know that God is our Father and wants us to return and live with him. I know that His teachings give us happiness in this life if we learn of them and follow them.

Elder Uchtdorf concludes his talk by saying, “I invite you to start where you are and come to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Walk…in the way of the Lord. I testify that the Lord will bless your life, endow you with knowledge and joy beyond comprehension, and distill upon you the supernal gifts of the Spirit. It is always the right time to walk in His way. It is never too late.”

It has to come from God

Submitted by colin2328 on Fri, 03/26/2010 - 19:15

There are many reasons for why I believe in the church. I love the church and know it has blessed my life and that of my family immensely. There are many things that make sense to me about it, and some things that don't. But, ultimately, my testimony comes from God. I have had many experiences that spiritually confirmed to me that the claim of the church is correct: that Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was one of his prophets, and this church is true. I have prayed about it multiple times, and have felt an undeniable witness from the source of truth. I love my Lord and my God.