You’ve Always Had a Testimony

Woman in red sweater with her hands clasped, praying

If you have doubts about your gospel knowledge or testimony, remember that you knew the truth before this life—you just have to remember it. In a recently published article in the New Era, Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the First Quorum of the Seventy tells us how we can gain more… Continue reading

The First Vision Goes Global

an image of a close up of a number of wooden letters

Want the whole story? Differing accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision are now available in 10 languages. Contrary to popular belief, the First Vision account included in the scriptures is not the only version available. At least four accounts were written by Joseph Smith or recorded at his request. Five more… Continue reading

Instruments of Revelation: Translating the Book of Mormon

scriptures

The translation of the Book of Mormon was a miracle of modern revelation. When most of us hear the word translation, we think of bilingual dictionaries, conjugation charts, and Google Translate. If we need to verify that something is translated correctly, we might ask a native speaker or someone who… Continue reading

Doubting My Doubts

an image of a man sitting on a tree stump in a park

As I struggled to gain a testimony of the gospel, a general conference talk helped me put my doubts into perspective. “I’m just not sure if I believe in the Church anymore,” I said as I kept my eyes fixed on the distant waters of Utah Lake. I saw Niel… Continue reading

Coming to Know the Savior

Jesus with a child

We know how we can learn about Jesus Christ, but how can we come to know him?   Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, but he is also our personal Savior. I struggled with this distinction for most of my adolescence. I learned about the Savior—who he was,… Continue reading

Hope: A Journey to Faith

an image of a person walking down a road with a mountain in the background

Sometimes it can take seconds to gain faith in certain aspects of the gospel, but what if it takes twenty years? For twenty years, I didn’t have a testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet. During these years, I served in numerous callings and even went on a mission. Despite… Continue reading

Choose to Believe: Faith Is a Choice, Not a Happenstance

an image of a woman in a hat standing in a corn field

We often think of a testimony as a burning flame we have to feel in our hearts. In reality, the base of our testimony is simply choosing to believe.  Faith is frequently described as a feeling that suddenly overcomes someone after a spiritual experience. While spiritual experiences can greatly strengthen… Continue reading

Ways to Prevent a Casual Testimony

Helping to build a home

With the difficulties of COVID-19, it’s important to find ways to keep your testimony strong. Let’s look at some ways to strengthen it! Many people in the world were hit hard by the effects of COVID-19, both physically and spiritually. With social distancing and other restrictions, temples have been closed… Continue reading

Be Still, My Soul

an image of a man standing on the beach at sunset

As life’s trials rock us, we can feel peace and love through songs of the heart. I came to know this truth more clearly than ever before as I grieved my mother’s death. The choice to serve a mission can be a hard decision for many young adults. I left… Continue reading

Are You Really There?

an image of a woman sitting on a bench with her hands folded over her knees

The world confuses us about our relationship with God. But a simple children’s song reminds us to send our questions heavenward. “So, do you believe in God or not?” My friend Jane was the kind of person to dig deep into a person’s soul, and tonight my brother was the specimen… Continue reading