Testifying, Testifying and More Testifying!!!!

      This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to testify of the truthfulness of the gospel many times. Though the opportunity to testify for Elder Muirhead and I come on a weekly basis, this past week gave me the most opportunities since I arrived in Ireland! I came to realize a long time ago, that only you can grow your testimony. Each of us must develop our own personal testimony. Once found, even as small as it may be, we must then share it. I have always loved that statement that President Boyd K. Packard stated years ago, that to have your testimony grow, you literally must give it away!!! That is so true!

     I must confess that there has been times in my life that I have had moments of religious confusion that has slowed my development of my testimony in that certain area. I think most of us reading this blog can agree, as I am sure the I am not the only one who has felt those feelings. Religion can be a very hard subject, especially when you can't see clearly or find the right path. I can certainly relate to that and can show you an example with the following photograph that is so related. This, we have seen on corners too many times!

Honestly, which way???? 

     These are the corners here in Ireland that I like to steer clear of! Right???? Too many pointers only add more confusion for me. Not good! Remembering the fact from my mission in Palmyra, New York, where nothing was a coincidence as to the restoration of the gospel, my weekly gospel research this week took me to an amazing talk given one year ago by President Nelson, one that I never even knew about until last week. Boy, I sure needed to listen to that talk. It's one of the best talks ever given by President Nelson, especially when he talks about taking charge of your testimony and giving it cause to grow. When he said that, it was just what I needed to hear before this week of consistent testifying began for me. If you would like to listen to the talk it is entitled "Choices For Eternity" and can be found in the LDS Library or on YouTube with this link:

https://youtu.be/myIjdiwJ7mI

     So what allowed me to testify so much more this past week? Well, I had 3 gospel teaching lessons that I taught this week, participated in our weekly district missionary counsel meeting, sat in with the young elders on 2 missionary lessons with friends, made a lunch and shared a short gospel lesson with our young elders, then, I taught teach the Relief Society lesson on Sunday in my branch and put together this blog. What an awesome list of accomplishments!!! I love it!

     On Monday, at YSA FHE, we had 8 (that's right!) missionaries, 2 friends from Brazil and 2 friends from Bolivia. I taught the lesson from the New Testament Come Follow Me about the parable of the talents. None of our own regular YSAs were able to come that evening. One of our YSA that comes often speaks Portuguese and the other YSA that also comes regularly, speaks Spanish. With both of them not there, and 10 non-bilingual missionaries....it was quite the trick to get the message across to all! Our well prepared missionaries all pulled out their phones and found ways to translate the message across. Thank heavens!!! We ended that evening by sharing our personal talents. I shared a few of my photographs, Adda, from Bolivia, danced a favorite cultural dance (with music) and others just spoke about their personal talents. The meeting ended with me bearing testimony of the many gifts of talents that God has given to each of us and the need to use those talents in His service. It really turned out to be a great evening together!

     On Tuesday, Elder and I picked up the Galway sisters from the train station and drove them over to the church for a meeting. Then we turned around and drove back to the train station to also pick up the Sligo sisters. We all love gathering together once a transfer to share our thoughts, feelings, experiences and knowledge with one another. During the meeting, I found myself several times bearing testimony of Jesus Christ, the gospel and, of course, missionary work! After we drove the sisters back to the train station, we rushed back to the church to help teach Colette, one of our friends. This meeting gave me the opportunity to testify to her of what I know to be true. By the end of the lesson, the young elders asked her if she would commit to being baptized. She answered that she wanted to know a little more about the church and read a little further in the Book of Mormon before she would feel comfortable making that change. We were sooooooo excited! That evening, we joined our branch leadership counsel in a bi-monthly meeting to get informed and discuss branch business.

     We also got to go to Sister Smirnovs' flat and help her with her medical training. She is literally down to her last few weeks of basic training and has already applied to go to EMT school. If all goes well, she will know by mid April if she gets accepted. Enrollment is very limited. She's got what it takes! I'm so proud of her!

     On Wednesday, we attended the weekly English class with the young elders, 2 branch members and the Bolivian sisters. After the class, a missionary lesson was given to the sisters and, again, I was able to testify. The lesson that night was most near and dear to my heart, that of family history and FamilySearch. I told all in that meeting about my personal experiences while at the Preston Temple one month prior and the spiritual feelings I felt for both of my grandparents, Ann and William. I also told them what President Holland expressed once when he stated that heaven wouldn't be heaven without his wife or his children beside him. Both sisters immediately turned to each other and smiled at each other. The crowning gift to all who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ is that families can be together forever. I testified that that. is. absolutely. true!

     Thursday, I spent the day putting together lesson plans for the next few days that I would have of teaching others. I couldn't help but feel so much gratitude for the many opportunities I have here in Ireland to teach. And as I teach, I get to testify! Thursday was also a day that prayers petitioned here on our own behalf were finally answered. We had had a stressful month of financial worry and had prayed that we could be delivered from it. We saw the Lord's hand, once again, in our lives and His mercy was given on our behalf. He has been so very kind to us in so many ways. I count my many blessings....201,358 and counting!!!!

     On Friday, another Book pf Mormon study class was held. Though our numbers were few this week, we still all felt the spirit and committed in become better disciples of Jesus Christ. This week's lesson was 2 Nephi chapters 25-26. In both of these 2 chapters, Nephi, not only testifies, but he also prophecies of the future of his people and teaches us pure truth of the only way under heaven that man can be saved. He does this to convince all that Jesus really is the Christ. Wherefore, Nephi tells us, that the righteous believers talked of Christ, rejoiced in Him, preached and prophesied of Him so that all their children would know how and where to look for a remission of their sins. Nephi also plainly shows by comparison priestcraft v.s. priesthood and warns that the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. We must be ever so careful.

Study time for Book of Mormon lesson!

     Saturday was a fun day for me. We had invited the young missionaries over for lunch that day. Last Monday, our newest elder, Elder Giugliarelli, from Italy, made a meal for the district. All the young elders and sisters were just raving about his cooking abilities. So knowing that I could never compare with his abilities, though he did tell me that the most important ingredient he uses every time he cooks is LOVE (very Italian!), I decided to try something totally different and if it didn't work out right, at least I could blame it on the recipe! I decided to make the good ol' American comfort meal of grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade hearty tomato soup. I felt good about my choice because I have had LOTS of practice making grilled cheese sandwiches with my many children and the soup.....well, let's just say that a few of my daughters are pretty proud of their mother for even attempting it the first time ever!

I chopped up tomatoes for ever, it seemed! Crazy!

The finished project. Even Elder Guiurelli had seconds on the soup! I felt very proud

Here is a photo of the 4 of us missionaries

     After our lunch, I taught a short lesson to the elders, especially Elder Guiurelli, about our first mission in Palmyra, New York, and showed the special items from that mission that I brought with me here to Ireland. I know that the young missionaries were very happy that someone else was teaching a lesson of importance to them. At the end, I again bore my testimony of the restoration of the gospel and of Joseph Smith. After we concluded, the missionaries left our flat to go and "harvest" door to door.

     Just before 5 pm that same day, Elder Muirhead and I and the missionaries met again at the chapel to show the monthly branch movie. This month, "17 Miracles" was selected. We had 7 in attendance, which was wonderful. We also had a 18th miracle happen that night. I had previously downloaded the movie onto my laptop. When I was setting up the movie on the big screen, I also connected to the branch's internet to ensure connection. We started the movie and about half way though, the movie froze. We tried several different ways for 15 minutes to restart the internet and the movie, but nothing worked.

     Elder Giugliarelli asked me one more time to go through the process of turning off my laptop, turning it back on again and re-starting the branch's Wi-Fi. I had just done that without success, but I followed his encouragement and did it again. I was just ready to apologize and send everyone home for the evening. Believe it or not, Elder Giugliarelli called the right play, because on that attempt, everything turned back on and we were able to finish the movie! Amazing! That movie was certainly made under inspiration, as everyone there walked away with a renewal of faith and a commitment to never give up! What a testimony builder that experience was for me.

     Sunday morning, we all lost one hour of sleep, as Ireland had their daylight savings day. I got up early as I had been asked to teach the Relief Society lesson that day. I taught Jeffery Hollands' October 2022 General Conference talk entitled, "Lifted Up Upon The Cross". The lesson went well and many participated in a discussion. We even had a visitor from Indiana who had some great insights. Of course, at the end of all missionary lessons, we are taught to testify, invite and promise and that is exactly what I did. In doing so, I felt the spirit and knew that the Lord approved of the words that were said.

     Knowing that we can all grow our testimonies better, I'd like to offer some ideas to help ours grow and strengthen "A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. As members of the Church, we have the sacred opportunity and responsibility to obtain our own testimonies. If we seek a testimony through study, prayer, and living the gospel, the Holy Ghost will help us know for ourselves that the gospel is true." It is only by the Holy Ghost that this precious personal addition can be given to us. 

     Here are the 5 foundational items of knowledge one needs to start a personal testimony

1. Knowing Heavenly Father lives and loves His children.
2. Jesus Christ lives and is the Son of God. He carried out the infinite Atonement.
3. Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel.
4. The Church is led by a living prophet today.
5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth.

  President Eyring has said,“Testimony requires the nurturing by the prayer of faith, the hungering for the word of God in the scriptures, and the obedience to the truth we have received." As a warning, President Monson once said, "“Unless the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith. When firmly planted, your testimony of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will influence all that you do throughout your life.”

     You can strengthen your testimony by striving to always be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Obedience to God's commandments makes us valiant in our testimonies, and that in turn makes our testimonies even stronger and ready for God's kingdom to return to earth. You can also strengthen your testimony by sharing it.

     There are many general conference talks available to aid anyone who either wants to grow their testimony or learn how to strengthen it. Take the time needed to do what you feel is best. A testimony is a sure witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ that comes by revelation through the Holy Ghost. It is one of a member’s most precious possessions. A testimony isn’t something that, once acquired, remains forever the same. Like a muscle, it gains strength when used—or shared—and weakens when it is allowed to languish. Having a firm testimony of Heavenly Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, of the Restoration of the Gospel, including Joseph Smith as God's prophet and of all today's living prophets will keep one on the covenant path, helping them in times of trouble or tough decisions and is within the capacity of every person. 

May God bless us as we strive to make having a testimony the most important to us individually. "There is no greater way to strengthen our own testimony than to share our witness of Him with the world. As we do, our families will be strengthened, our wards, stakes, and communities will be filled with peace and love, and, ultimately, the earth will be prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. I testify of these things and do so in the name of Jesus Christ.