My Testimony - 4/22/2012

It's been ten days too long since I have recorded my testimony. This week has been a busier, productive week than most. My husband and I have set goals to wake up earlier, so he could study more and so I could exercise more; overall to just be healthier, more motivated, and productive. I am very grateful that our prayers each night have been answered with strength and determination each following morning.

I believe that we can accomplish all things that are required of us through the help of our Heavenly Father. I have been promised this before in blessings, and I often try to remember Alma 26:12

12 Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God, for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. 

Along with this busy, productive week, filled with so much help, I went with the missionaries again to visit a teenager who is interested in the church. The missionaries asked me to share some of my feelings about the gospel and how I have seen God's blessings in my life. My main answer was that having the knowledge of His plan gives me comfort and strength to enjoy and endure this life through trying to learn what I can. The Plan of Salvation (or Happiness) gives me peace and hope. Life becomes so much less stressful and much more successful for me when I keep an eternal perspective - when I remember what the purpose of this life is. I really want people to know that they can experience this, too, and that if they already have that, it can be magnified. I want people to know they are worth more than the world might say they are worth. I want them to know that there is reason for everything. While we have our struggles in various forms, we do not to need to be further depleted of hope and strength because of ignorance of God's plan and His assistance. While we have those emotions and trials, we can know that our perspective can be reformed to improve our reactions if not our situations.

There are times when I think, "Why do I even care about other people and what they choose to do with their lives? Am I just wanting them to be like me? Do I have pride and think I'm the perfect one and I have everything right? Do I truly have the desire to improve other people's lives?" I'm sure I'm imperfect and think that I'm not at times. I'm sure there are times when I want people to fit my ideal. However, I am absolutely sure that I care about other people, though I might not being perfectly caring. I do want people to know they can be healed and find joy in this life just through knowing the purpose of it all. I don't want my loved ones to commit suicide just for not knowing that there is more to life than their immediate struggling.

I have a testimony that we have a loving Heavenly Father. He answers our prayers. He allows us to have opportunities to learn and grow. He comforts us through our obstacles and our mistakes. He forgives us for our sins. He is the perfect father.

I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.