I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church on the earth. I know that the priesthood keys and the organization of Christ's true church have been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that through Joseph Smith's humble beginnings he knew and understood that he lacked the wisdom to know the things of his hearts desire, and he took it upon himself to ask God what is was that he should do concerning religion. I know with a surety that God hears and answers our prayers. It may not always be in the time or the way in which we wanted, but it's always in a way which will be beneficial to our spiritual progression. I know that our Heavenly Father knows each and everyone of us personally, by name. He knows the true desire of our hearts, and only wants whats best for each of us. I know that we are never given a trial that is too much for us to handle. I know that it's what we do when we are presented with a trial that can bring us closer or farther away from our Heavenly Father. He wants us to succeed, and make it through this probationary period here on earth where we don't have the opportunity to be with him and remember our experiences with him in the pre-earth life, so that we can eventually return to him, and dwell among him someday in the Celestial Kingdom. I know that through the sealing powers in the temple, that families can be together forever. I know that the work that we do in the temple is essential so that every person can have the opportunity to return to our Father in heaven, even if they did not have the opportunity to do so while they were here on this earth. I know that Christ performed the atonement so that we could be forgiven of all of our short comings. I know that if we remember to keep Christ in our hearts at all times, and remember him as we are presented with the opportunity to do wrong, and then upon the thought of him remember to chose the right, we will be blessed always for choosing the better path. I know however that when we do chose to do wrong, that we can always repent, and be made clean of our sins, and that all of our sins, no matter what, can be forgiven with time. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know that when I read it I can feel the spirit confirming its truthfulness to me. I know that there is no way, at all that Joseph Smith could have possibly made up the Book of Mormon. No man would ever die for a book that was made up. He would not have just let the people at Carthage Jail kill him if he was lying, he would have denied its authenticity and returned to his family. But the book is true, and he gave all that he had so that us members of the church (and future members to come) could have the full truth and knowledge of the gospel. I know that the Book of Mormon goes hand in hand with the Bible and that the scriptures in each book support the words of the other. I know that missionary works is the only way in which we can bring new members into the church. It was through the loving testimony of a dear friend that I was able to come to the knowledge and understanding of these things within the short time that I have been a member of this church. My hope is that this testimony will reach to the heart of someone else who reads it, and that they to will be able to come to the understanding that these things that I have shared are true. I love my Heavenly Father, and his son, Jesus Christ, and I leave this testimony in His name, Amen.

It is a privilege for me to be able to share why I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was raised by wonderful good parents in a home that tried to follow the teachings of this Church. I grew up being taught and raised by its teachings. My parents set great examples of faithfully serving in the Church and trying to fulfill their assignments and callings.

My testimony really began during my childhood and became stronger as I have grown up. When I was a child, our Church bordered the Brigham Young University Stadium parking lot and Canyon Road. It was torn down years ago and a new building sits there today. I feel like my testimony really developed there in that building. In the Chapel, behind the choir seats were 3 paintings…a large center one with two smaller ones on each side. The center painting was of the Sacred Grove, a place I know that Joseph Smith knelt and asked in prayer “which church to join?” I know that his prayer was answered and he was visited by God our Father and his son Jesus Christ. This was the beginning of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in our latter day. As I would look at these paintings of the place where Joseph received this vision my belief in the Gospel started.

A second experience from my youth that influenced my testimony was when I was only 7 years old. A close girlfriend and I were asked to sing “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer” in sacrament meeting. We sang the first two verses as a duet and then the audience joined in for the last two verses. I won’t forget the feeling I had that day—as my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith and receiving the first vision were true.

A third experience I had as an adult woman. I was serving in our church as our Ward Young Women President, working with our youth ages 12-18. I read an article in the newspaper about a stained glass artist Tom Holdman who was creating the stained glass windows for the Palmyra New York Temple. At that time he was relatively unknown. I felt strong impressions that I should call him and ask if I could bring our group of Young Women over to his studio to view the windows before they were shipped to New York.
I had a powerful conversation with Tom who has stutterer’s disease and it took a long time to get even a few words out of him. Because I was his first phone call (he later received hundreds) and because my impressions were so strong, he invited us over. We took the group over to American Fork. He shared his very spiritual experience of creating the First Vision in stained glass and how it came about. Then he had us actually clean the windows using a strong solution and little brushes to clean off the excess glue. I was SO nervous with our 12-18 year olds HOLDING these precious temple windows, but it was an amazing experience that I will never forget, and to hear Tom’s testimony—so hard to speak—each word taking so long. It was another time that my testimony was deeply touched and strengthened by the First Vision.

As I have continued to grow up and learn about the Gospel I have been guided and directed in my life by continuing to serve in this wonderful Church that I know is true. I know that my Heavenly Father lives and loves me and I can speak to him in prayer and He has answered my prayers. I know that He sent His son Jesus Christ to Earth to teach us all the way to live our lives and then he sacrificed his life in our behalf and atoned for all of our sins. Because of Christ’s atonement each of us can be forgiven for our weaknesses and be cleansed. Because of the restoration of the Gospel on the Earth today through the prophet Joseph Smith we have the blessing of the Priesthood restored to the Earth and Temples. I know we have a living Prophet and Apostles guiding our Church on the Earth today. We have the opportunity to be sealed to our families for all eternity. Through the Priesthood, we can receive personal Patriarchal blessings to help us in this life. My own Patriarchal blessing really strengthened my testimony of the Gospel. I know that Joseph Smith received by revelation, a book of ancient scripture, the Book of Mormon to guide us now in our lives. I am grateful also for the Bible and its teachings to apply to my life.

This testimony I have received of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is very important to me and guides the decisions I make in my life. I am grateful for it, cherish it, and hope to be able to share it with others.