Testimony: How can you really know?

I gained my first witness that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true at a very young age. I was about three or four years old and one night as I was lying in bed, my mind started wandering and speculating and the thought occurred to me, "What if my parents and church leaders are wrong? What if there really is no life after death? What then? What if they're just mistaken?" The response was immediate. No sooner had I begun to mull over this possibility than I felt an overwhelming sense of peace engulf me. I felt the reassurance of the Holy Ghost testifying to me that I needn't worry about such a possibility because such is simply not the case. My parents and teachers are correct, there is a life after death and Christ is the Savior of all mankind. Since that time, my testimony has gone through numerous fluctuations as it has grown and developed, but its essence remains the same. I know of the truthfulness of the restored gospel.

Some may find my story remarkable or unbelievable. How could a child think such adult thoughts? More importantly, how could a child come to such a conclusion as I did? Some may scoff in disbelief that one can really know such things. I'd like to share another story. This is told by Elder Boyd K. Packer, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He says:

"I will tell you of an experience I had before I was a General Authority which affected me profoundly. I sat on a plane next to a professed atheist who pressed his disbelief in God so urgently that I bore my testimony to him. “You are wrong,” I said, “there is a God. I know He lives!”

He protested, “You don’t know. Nobody knows that! You can’t know it!” When I would not yield, the atheist, who was an attorney, asked perhaps the ultimate question on the subject of testimony. “All right,” he said in a sneering, condescending way, “you say you know. Tell me how you know.”

When I attempted to answer, even though I held advanced academic degrees, I was helpless to communicate. . . .

When I used the words Spirit and witness, the atheist responded, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” The words prayer, discernment, and faith, were equally meaningless to him. “You see,” he said, “you don’t really know. If you did, you would be able to tell me how you know" . . . .

Such an idea came into my mind and I said to the atheist, “Let me ask if you know what salt tastes like.”

“Of course I do,” was his reply.

“When did you taste salt last?”

“I just had dinner on the plane.”

“You just think you know what salt tastes like,” I said.

He insisted, “I know what salt tastes like as well as I know anything.”

“If I gave you a cup of salt and a cup of sugar and let you taste them both, could you tell the salt from the sugar?”

“Now you are getting juvenile,” was his reply. “Of course I could tell the difference. I know what salt tastes like. It is an everyday experience—I know it as well as I know anything.”

“Then,” I said, “assuming that I have never tasted salt, explain to me just what it tastes like.”

After some thought, he ventured, “Well-I-uh, it is not sweet and it is not sour.”

“You’ve told me what it isn’t, not what it is.”

After several attempts, of course, he could not do it. He could not convey, in words alone, so ordinary an experience as tasting salt. I bore testimony to him once again and said, “I know there is a God. You ridiculed that testimony and said that if I did know, I would be able to tell you exactly how I know. My friend, spiritually speaking, I have tasted salt. I am no more able to convey to you in words how this knowledge has come than you are to tell me what salt tastes like. But I say to you again, there is a God! He does live! And just because you don’t know, don’t try to tell me that I don’t know, for I do!”

The Holy Ghost testifies to the truthfulness of the gospel. The Holy Ghost can be recognized a number of ways, but let me highlight a few references from the Doctrine and Covenants.

Section 6: 22-23 says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?"

8:2 reads, "Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart."

And section 9 verses 7-8 explain, "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."

Everyone can know these things. If you earnestly desire to gain a testimony, be it of the Book of Mormon, the Restoration or whether the current prophetic counsel really applies to you personally, take the matter to the Lord in prayer. I know from my own experiences that God answers prayers. The Holy Ghost does testify of Truth. If you truly want to know, then study, ponder, research and pray in faith; act on that faith; believe that you will receive an answer to your prayer. It may be immediate or it may take years for you to realize that you have received a confirmation and a testimony, but your answer will come.

Suggested Reading:

Elder Boyd K. Packer, “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan 1983, 51

Prayer

I finished reading the Chronicles of Narnia series yesterday. I love those books; partly because it takes me back to my childhood, and mostly because C.S. Lewis has an impressive knack for putting Christianity onto paper without being overbearing or stiff.

Anyway, I was thinking about something Polly, Digory, and Fledge (a winged horse, who could eat grass--children can't) were discussing on their journey for the magical apple in The Magician's Nephew:

"Well, I do think someone might have arranged about our meals," said Digory.

"I'm sure Aslan would have, if you'd asked him," said Fledge.

"Wouldn't he know without being asked?" said Polly.

"I've no doubt he would," said the Horse (still with his mouth full). "But I've a sort of idea he likes to be asked."

This concept is a difficult one for some to grasp. God knows everything and has all power, so why doesn't He give me what I desire, automatically? Why must I pray at all? The LDS Bible Dictionary puts it so plainly,

"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings."

Prayer also has a transformative effect on those who pray. It makes us humble and aligns our wills with God's. Did you ever wonder why we are so emphatic about praying in the name of Christ? (see John 16:23) When we say, "...in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen." it means, "This prayer is offered as if Jesus Christ were saying it. We are certain He would give it His stamp of approval." In a public prayer, when everyone else says, "Amen." they mean, "I agree with what has been said."

The more you pray, the more you'll feel the Holy Ghost silently, softly directing your prayers away from worldly desires (see 2 Nephi 32:8-9). With more effort and forethought invested in each prayer, your sights will be lifted beyond hopes and desires you thought possible. You will see that God has higher dreams for your end-goals than you ever did. You will find it easier and more intuitive to guess the mind of Christ, and knowing God means eternal life (see John 17:3).

Take a moment right now to speak to God. Go on. It isn't like you're in the middle of something. Tell Him who you are now and who you hope to become. Thank Him for the good circumstances you live in and the loving relationships you enjoy. Ask Him for help with a problem you face. Ask for advice. And tell Him you'll check in again soon.

...and remember to end it in the name of Jesus Christ.

Progression

In the Book of Mormon, God tells Nephi, the first contributor to the Book of Mormon “I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have” (2 Nephi 28:30). There are three points to take away from this: First, knowledge of God and how we should live, etc doesn’t come all at once, but a little at a time. Second, if we follow what has been given, we will receive more. Third, if we aren’t willing to follow God’s counsel and live by it, that which was given to us will be taken away.  I take this to mean that we will forget the knowledge of God that we had gained. 

Throughout my life there have been many things that I haven’t understood about my religion-- why I was asked to do this or not do that and so on, the answers were not immediately available.  However, as I have sought to understand, understanding has come.   For me, the Holy Ghost always confirms this understanding.  When this happens to me, it is an epiphany.  All of the cards fall into place and I understand the why.  

It is similar to climbing to the top of a peak, I cannot always see where the trail leads or what it will look like from the top.  However, once I reach the top I can see further than I ever could on the trail below and I can understand better where I am.  Furthermore, the view from the top is always worth the struggle.  I feel that it is the same with living God's commandments.  Sometimes it is hard to do what is right, but once I make up my mind that I am going to do it (choose to do it) the Holy Ghost always confirms that I have made the right choice.  These experiences with the Holy Ghost are always worth the effort, because I know that I am acting according to God's will and that is when the understanding comes,  "I can see for miles and miles." As I have moved from understanding to understanding my belief in God and his prophets has grown and so has my willingness to follow their counsel.  Thus, I know that there is always a why, there always has been and I know that there will continue to be an answer even if I don’t immediately understand.  

I want to illustrate this point with a personal example that may appear absurd to many of you.  During my first year of college I grew a magnificent beard.  It was thick and black and I loved it.  However, I felt that I should prepare myself to serve as a missionary for my church.  I knew that this would mean that I had to cut my beard and shave for two years.  Nevertheless, I vowed that the day that I returned from my missionary service would be the last day that I shaved for the rest of my life.  Begrudgingly I cut my beard and left for my mission.  

In the middle of this missionary service I was at a meeting with the president of our mission.  He was talking about our appearance and how it influences how others see us.  To paraphrase he said everyday it is possible to meet someone who might have a large impact on our lives therefore we should always look presentable so as to give them the best possible impression.  At that moment, the Holy Ghost filled my heart and I knew that I was being asked not to grow my beard again for this reason.  I understood the why.  This might appear silly, but the point is I had progressed in my understanding of why I was asked to keep myself clean-shaven. I am not saying that this applies to everyone else, but it applies to me and I am happy to follow this understanding that I have gained.

Finally, we shouldn’t criticize or judge others if they do not see things or live their life the way we do.  Perhaps they haven’t progressed in understanding the way we have or maybe they are beyond us in understanding God and his mysteries.  In the context of progression if we judge others we are saying that we know best and that we are better than others.  We should have charity for all people regardless of the choices they make or the lives they live.  God loves all of his children and we should do the same and leave the judging up to God, because only he knows our thoughts, desires and intents.  Furthermore, he is the only one who truly knows where we are on the path of progression

Fundamentally

Of all the many topics and teachings in the church, I have been most impressed with the simplicity and the all encompassing power of the most fundamental points of the gospel. A month or two back, a post in this blog quoted the Articles of Faith as a summary of our beliefs and I would like to focus on the fourth: “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” These topics can be handled individually for specific treatment but I would like here just to cover them as they relate to each other and how they relate to personal life.

Faith is the beginning. It is by faith that we act. It is a belief in that which is not seen. A most basic but firm belief impels us to seek after the object of our faith. Faith centered in Christ compels us to believe in His existence, words, example, sacrifice and love. As in any true belief, faith causes one to act. I believe that what Christ taught can be applied for my benefit therefore I employ my ability to follow those teachings because I believe in Him. I can be improved by doing those things which he taught. If it is a true principle, then I will be blessed. Naturally, as I perceive the blessings, my faith will increase because I saw the effect of my decision to follow. Action increases faith and faith results in action, but decisions keep the cycle going.

Of course, there are always times when one fails to obey and distances himself from God. That distance does not have to be permanent. There is a manner for everyone to be reconciled with God through repentance. Denoting a change in thought and action, repentance is essentially the ability to change our lives from misery to happiness by relinquishing one’s grasp on harmful activities that damage the body and the spirit. It can be a harsh process, to be sure, to discard habits or control actions but it is at its very core a wonderful blessing allowing us to grow closer to God and thus become happier.

This heartfelt change of body and soul allows healing, forgiveness and growth. It is completed in baptism. As an external ordinance, baptism is a symbolic sign of our dedication to follow Christ. Complete immersion suggests to the mind the death and burial of our former sins followed by a rebirth and resurrection as a disciple of Christ, just as Christ also died and rose again on the third day. Here in baptism, a sacred covenant or promise is made with the Lord where receiving the Holy Ghost is conditional upon compliance to the promise.

By taking upon us the name of Christ, keeping His commandments, and always remembering Him, we fulfill our part and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost serves as our constant companion, guide, comforter, and purifier of the repentant soul. Wherein baptism washes us clean with water, the Holy Ghost purifies us as with fire and Christ mends our broken heart and soul.

This is a continual process of exercising our faith by repenting then qualifying for the covenant of baptism and the healing power of the Holy Ghost. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ in its specific sense, that all may come to Him and receive help. It is the manner of happiness that God intended for us and it is only possible through the power of the atonement and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
Doctrine and Covenants 14:7

What Do Mormons Believe? - The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is remarkable. Even if you don't believe it, you have to respect it for its position in American literature and its influence on society.

The book is filled with amazing histories, noble people, and fascinating doctrinal insights, but the aspects I've thought about most are two promises, one at the beginning, and one at the end:

1) From the Introduction :

"[The Book of Mormon] puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come."
(emphasis added)

It isn't just about some far away pearly gate. We can have peace now. And those who read the book do feel peace. It isn't a conspicuous leap into serenity. It's gradual, so you have to pay careful attention.

I recall one particular week I got busy and every single morning I overlooked my usual study of the Book of Mormon. By Friday I was in a notably sour mood, and when I went to give a friend some spiritual advice nothing came. I couldn't think. The well I was used to drawing from had gone dry.

2) From Moroni 10:3-5

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, 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.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Countless sermons have been given, dissecting every word of these three verses, but I just want to point out the obvious:

• This book claims to be scripture; it claims that holy prophets transcribed it under God's inspiration.
• God knows whether this claim is true or false.
• It matters to Him: if it's false he'll want to warn you against it; if it's true he'll want you to read it.
• He will wait for it to become important enough for you to ask Him yourself.
• He will give you the answer by the power of the Holy Ghost.

This promise has stood against the test of my experience. For two solid years I introduced hundreds of strangers to the book and pointed them to this promise. A large proportion did not read it at all, and fewer people prayed about it. But out of every single person who did pray, 100% told me that they felt the answer was yes.

You can find out too. Get a copy for yourself. You can order a free copy online here, or read the entirety of it online here. You can even download mp3's of the book on tape here.