I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I joined back in 1964 after a long struggle with faith. I had loved the Savior ever since I could remember, but the church of my youth deserted me as it moved into the intellect movement of the 60's. Without spiritual guidance, I fell away. The Lord distinguished between the words of my mouth and the longing of my heart. He knew that I wanted to believe and so he sent a young woman who told me the story of the Restored Gospel. She bore her testimony of Jesus Christ and promised me that I could know for myself and have my own testimony.

Now forty-six years later I can only thank her from the bottom of my heart for introducing me to the church. Indeed I do have my own testimony. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, called to restore Christ's church to the earth. We have a prophet today who leads and guides us. I am so grateful for Latter-day scriptures that bear testimony of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It stands as another witness of the Savior and it's truths have touched my life in very personal ways.

I hope that my poetry reflects the growth of my testimony and my love for Jesus Christ.

Gethsemane

It was at a time when my best friend's son died that I had this experience of feeling such intense pain for someone else.  As I watched my friend and her husband, I felt so helpless.  There was nothing I could say or do that could ease that kind of pain.  It just hurt so much to watch them suffer.  And then I began to think about the Savior and how He feels our pains.  I have come to love the scripture in   Alma 7: 11-12 where it says: "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.  And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."  At a time when I had my own personal struggle, someone asked me, "Don't you know anyone who has gone through this and can give you some support?"  I instantly knew that it was the Savior who would understand my pain and would support me.  I turned my heart to Him.  I am grateful to know that He was there and that He understood what I was going through.  That has been the greatest source of strength in my life.




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