I had never read the book of Mormon cover to cover until I had been out on my mission for about 3-4 months. After reading and praying about it I received a personal recollection that it was true. So that I have never questioned since that day the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon or of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I learned in several places in the scriptures that the way we receive a personal witness is through promptings from the Holy Ghost. And that whenever we ask for a specific witness or testimony of something, if we have prepared ourselves we come to know the truthfulness of the thing in question. I have had numerous impressions in my life of things that I have questioned in regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ and my personal life. One of those happened the first time I met Carol and I knew that was who I was suppose to marry.
While I was serving as the Elder Quorum President in the Pleasant Grove first ward in 1970, the Bishop asked us to contact every family in the ward who at one time had been given a temple recommend, but subsequently had not renewed it. Every Sunday as a presidency we would have our meeting, then we began to visit every family that the Bishop had listed. As we did so 90% of all of those members indicated the reason they had not renewed their temple recommend was because they were not full tithe payers. We had many great experiences with these people getting to know them and encouraging them by teaching them the principal of tithing. For example, one young returned missionary said that he got behind paying his tithing about a year before and so he was trying to catch up but it became harder and harder so we explained to him to forget about catching up and start paying a full tithing now because he had already forfeited previous blessings. He said that he had never thought of it that way .
I remember as a return missionary attending General Priesthood with my Father in my old Timpanogos Stake Center. He was a Bishop so he had to sit on the stand, and also my Seminary Principal from High school was sitting on the stand. When Harold B. Lee was speaking regarding the correlation program of the church I noticed my father on the stand had his eyes closed. And my seminary principal also had his eyes closed. However, the difference was when my father had his eyes closed he was asleep. When my Seminary principal had his eyes closed it was his form of concentration. Every new program that has come out since I was a missionary has been very easy to accept because of the testimony that I have of the truthfulness of this work. I have had the experience of receiving impressions regarding different people to be called to different church assignments. Also, for things in my own life. One example would be when my daughter Angie and I were on our way to my first treatment of radiation and chemo. Earlier that day I had an impression that it would not be necessary for me to wear a catheter, as the doctor had earlier indicated. On this appointment he confirmed my impression that I would not need to wear one. Some of the greatest blessings from receiving the impressions regarding truths of the gospel always come in the form of greater light and truth as I have studied the scriptures and new truths have opened to my mind. Generally speaking, the easiest way to receive impressions come from total and complete obedience. Also, we are told in the scriptures that these things will come when we are steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God. Outside of my family, my personal testimony is the strongest influence that directs me in decisions and things which will bring me piece of mind and complete joy.
It has been my experience in studying my patriarchal blessing and finding out that I am from the tribe of Ephraim that has truly helped me as I study to help me find out personally how I can help with the gathering of Israel and with spreading the gospel throughout the earth.
One of the things that I have observed in my later life is how important it is to developed a personal relationship with God our Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ through the media of personal prayer. I have learned that through this relationship when I live worthily I can expect personal promptings from the Holy Ghost for all personal requests on my part. Interestingly these promptings don’t always come when I expect or through the means that I would expect to receive them but generally these promptings come when I find quiet time to listen and observe those promptings that I receive which always come whether my request is for members of my family or people I administer to or answer to temple questions or to questions that I have after reading the scriptures. So, my personal testimony is that each of you find quiet time where you can meditate and make requests of your Heavenly Father which always come though the Holy Ghost or the Light of Christ.
The other thing that I have observe is how often I might receive personal revelation as it relates to questions which I have after reading the scriptures and those enlightening moments have been a real source of peace and love that I feel for my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and for my Eternal family. And more especially for the prompting that I feel about your Mother and Grandmother through these very special promptings. And I look forward to the time when she and I can be reunited eternally.
This is my Testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
