Testimony

I am hesitant to write this post because I don't want to offend anyone or lead them to think that I don't respect their thoughts, feelings and where ever they may be with their own beliefs. 

But I feel I need to share what has been weighing heavily on my mind this morning.  I also realize my little blog doesn't get much traffic and the friends who I refer to in this post may not ever see what I have to say anyway.  But my hope if they do, is that we can continue to be friends and continue to respect each other despite our differing views on the Mormon Church.

 

This morning as I was doing my usual routine of viewing face book and seeing what my friends on the west coast had posted while I was sleeping, I came across one of the posts that says your friend has posted a comment on someone or a group page comment.  You know the one's I'm talking about right?  Anyway it was a comment on a page that was not really anti Mormon, but a group that exposes the "real" history of Mormonism. And it made me sad.

 

I have read some of these blogs before. In fact I found myself following a few of the links this morning.  I have struggled with my testimony before.  I have questioned things.  I have prayed my guts out for answers.  I have stayed home from church because I just couldn't put on the happy church going face that day.  I have been there wondering where God was in my hour of need. I understand wanting to know if it's all true or if we are just blindly following?

 

As I have stewed about what I read from this friend this morning and thought about other times I have seen or read posts from other friends who have decided Mormonism isn't for them any more,  I felt I needed to share my testimony of what I, Queen M, believe. 

 

I KNOW God lives!!  I KNOW his son, Jesus Christ, lives too and died for each and every one of us.  I know that the church isn't perfect.  I know everything in the church doesn't always seem balanced and fair.  But I still believe.  I believe in a perfect God with a perfect plan.  But that we as mortals, screw it up sometimes.  I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true.  Just as I know the other books of scripture to be true.  I believe in trials.  Gut wrenching, wish you could die trials of the spirit so you didn't have to keep enduring, trials that in turn cause us to look to the Savior and turn the burden over to him and in turn become more like him.  I believe in tithing.  I have seen the blessings in my life over and over again of being a full tithe payer.  I know the power of prayer, and I also know I should use it more than I do.  I know Joseph Smith was a prophet.  I also know he was a man, who wasn't perfect, just as I'm not, but who tried his very best to do what the lord wanted him to.  I know we have a living prophet today and living apostles who give us divine guidance and council.  But most importantly I believe in the power and influence of the Holy Ghost and that it is up to me to be living the kind of life that allows me to have it as my constant companion.  And then act when I am given impressions.  Because when I listen, it is Heavenly Father speaking only to me and giving me the guidance or testimony that I seek.

 

I know I am a Daughter of God, who is pleased with me, my life, and can't wait to have me back home someday.