How can I know what is true?

 

In the world today there seems to be an endless supply of different answers to every questions. In the midst of this confusion we may find ourselves asking, "How can I know what is true?" The first source for answers to which we should always turn is our Heavenly Father. In James 1:5 we are directed, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbaideth not; and it shall be given him." Joseph Smith, following this divine counsel, sought God in prayer to discover the truth about which church was true. In response to his prayer he received a glorious vision of the Father and the Son that ushered in the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Priesthood authority necessary to establish His church on the earth again. Just as Joseph Smith, we can receive answers to our prayers as well. By sincerely asking God in faith, we are able to receive answers and understand what is truth. Another way to discern what is from God is given to us by Christ Himself in John 7:17. Speaking of His Father He states, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." The method is also described by the Book of Mormon prophet Alma when he said, "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words (Alma 32:27)." Both of these instructions invite us to do the same thing, live the commandment we are given and judge with the help of the Holy Ghost if it is true. I have followed this counsel many times in my life and discovered the truth for myself. When I live the law of tithing, for example, I pay attention to blessings, happiness, and increased presence of the Holy Ghost that comes as I live in accordance to that law. From these evidences I realize that yes, tithing is ordained of God and yes I will grow closer to Him as I obey it. I invite everyone to follow these courses of action to discover what teachings in the world are true. I promise that as you do so you will become more receptive to the Spirit as you seek its guidance and look for the answers to your prayers. The truth is out there and it can be found in the words of the ancient prophets contained in scripture and the words of a modern day prophet. As we live the words they teach listen to their counsel we will discover that they do in fact speak in behalf of God Himself. I know this to be true because I have prayed and acted on the words of Thomas S. Monson, current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and prophet in these days. Of these things I leave my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

How Can I Draw Closer to Jesus Christ?

As the Easter Season approaches our thoughts are often turned to the Savior and His sacrifice for us. Many of us may have asked ourselves, "What can I do to draw myself closer to Him?" In John 14:15 Jesus Christ Himself tells us what we need to do, it reads, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Only seven small words but in them are contained the invitation of Christ, keep my commandments. We may then wonder, "what are the commandments we are to keep?" On this subject the scriptures are full of instruction given to prophets anciently. From the Ten Commandments to the Sermon on the Mount the Bible is full of Christ's instructions to those who wish to be called His disciples. In John 13:34 we read, "A new commandment I give unto you , That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Loving God and your neighbor was always a central theme in the teachings of Jesus Christ. We show this love in a multitude of ways. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a man shows love toward his neighbor by physically saving him from suffering and nursing him back to health. We may also show our love through words spoken to those who are emotionally or spiritually hurt. By showing this love we draw nearer to Christ as we obey his commandment. In the Book of Mormon the Lord gave further commandments regarding his people. They were told to have faith in Him, repent, be baptized in His name, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 27:19-20). By doing these things, we are able to use His sacrifice in our lives. We are able to receive the cleansing power of His Atonement that allows us to be free from guilt, sorrow, and anger. Thus cleansed from these and our sins, we are able to once again enter the presence of our Heavenly Father and live with Him forever. What an amazing promise! The Savior waits with outstretched arms to all those who will seek his will and do it. I promise that as we follow the example and commandments of the Savior we will be able to stand by His side and traverse life's difficulties under His protective care. I have experienced His love and guidance in my life and I know that you can as well.

Understanding Who We Are

I believe that we are all guilty at one point or another of forgetting who we are and the divine potential that we hold. As missionaries one of the first things we teach people is our relationship to God. That he is literally the Father of our spirits is such an amazing concept that I think too often we fail the realize it's full significance. When we come to fully understand this parent-child relationship we come to better understand his plan for us. We realize that daily prayer is not an annoyance but the means by which we are able to communicate with our Father who longs so much to hear from us. We understand that the commands spoken through His prophets are not a list of restrictions but rather the instruction of a loving parent who is able to see the results of our choices much better than we ourselves can. We also come to realize that any feelings of worthlessness are not necessary for a son or daughter of God. We will respect our bodies more, cultivate our talents more, and increase our love for those around us. We will finally see that we are not the ugly duckling the world has declared we are but rather we are the spectacular children of God. When we realize our true identity and our divine potential we will finally realize who we really are.