Gaining A Powerful Testimony

Gaining A Powerful Testimony:

I’d Like to Share My…

Testimony

Travelimony

Preachimony

Lovimony/Thankimony

Elder Henry B. Eyring ( Ensign , Nov. 1996, 32)

“ Those who have prepared [to bear their testimony] won’t give sermons or exhortations or travel reports or try to entertain as they bear witness. Because they will have already expressed appreciation to people privately, they will have less need to do it publicly. Neither will they feel a need to use eloquent language nor to go on at length.”

Why is so Important to Gain a Testimony?

President Hinckley ( Ensign , Aug. 2000, 3)

“ There is nothing more important in all the world than to have in our hearts a testimony…of the reality of God the Eternal Father and His Son, the risen Lord, the Redeemer of the world.”

Revelation 12:11 (Page 1577) Read this verse and look for how the people overcame the devil.

Elder Richard G. Scott ( Ensign , Nov. 2001, 87)

“ Your personal security and happiness

depend upon the strength of your

testimony.”

Doctrine and Covenants 62:3 (Page 114) Read this verse and look for a blessing that comes from bearing testimony.

President Kimball ( Ensign , Oct. 1977, p. 5)

“ The Lord has told us that our sins will be forgiven more readily as we bring souls unto Christ and remain steadfast in bearing testimony to the world, and surely every one of us is looking for additional help in being forgiven of our sins.”

Why Gain a Testimony?

There is nothing more important in all the world than for us to have a testimony of the reality of God and Christ.

Testimonies help us resist the power of the devil.

Our personal security and happiness depend upon the strength of our testimonies.

Bearing testimony brings us additional help in obtaining forgiveness.

How Can I Gain or Strengthen my Testimony?

Gaining or Strengthening Your Testimony

Live the gospel.

Study the scriptures and pray to the Lord sincerely.

Share what you know with others

Read John 7:17 (Page 1338) and then fill in the blanks: If you _____ _____ ______ you will ____ ____ _____ Live the Gospel

Live the gospel.

If The Book of Mormon is True… Then Joseph Smith was a prophet. If Joseph Smith was a prophet… Then the church he started is true. If the church he started is true… Then it is led by a true prophet today.

Moroni 10:4-5

“ And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God , the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ , he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

“ And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

President Hinckley ( Ensign , June 1988, p. 6).

Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it…there will come [to you] a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.

Live the gospel.

Elder Robert D. Hales ( Ensign , Nov. 2003,)

“There is no greater way to strengthen our own testimony than to share our witness of Him with the world.”

Live the gospel.

Paper Rip

Gaining a Testimony: There will be Opposition

Read Doctrine and Covenants 10:33 and look for what the devil wants to do with your testimony.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 76:79 and look for why the devil doesn’t want you to have a strong testimony.

Satan Will Try to Weaken Our Testimonies

He tries to get us to stop doing the things that strengthen our testimony

He tempts us.

He tries to tell us that we don’t have a testimony.

In Hebrews 10:35-36 (page 1532) Paul gave advice to those who are thinking about giving up on what they know to be true. What is Paul’s advice?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland “Cast Not Away Your Confidence” http://speeches.byu.edu

I wish to encourage every one of you today regarding opposition that so often comes after enlightened decisions have been made, after moments of revelation and conviction have given us a peace and an assurance we thought we would never lose…

Don't lose your confidence. Don't forget how you once felt. Don't distrust the experience you had…Once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing.

If it was right when you prayed about it…it is right now…After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel his love and hear the word of the Lord, "go forward." Don't fear…With Paul, I say to all of you: Cast not away therefore your confidence.

Open Your Scriptures to 2 Timothy 1:7-8 (Page 1513)

“ God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power, and of love, and of a sound

mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed

of the testimony of our Lord”

(2 Tim. 1:7–8).

President Hinckley ( Ensign , Feb. 1996, 5)

“ I wish that every member of this church would put those words where he might see them every morning as he begins his day. They would give us the courage to speak up, they would give us the faith to try, they would strengthen our conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Joseph Smith—D&C 76:22-24

“ I know that God our Eternal Father lives…I know that Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son, the Redeemer of the world, who gave His life that we might have eternal life and who rules and reigns with His Father…I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet…I know that this Church is the work of God, presided over and directed by Jesus Christ…of these things I testify.

Strengthen Your Testimony

Study the scriptures and sincerely pray.

Live the gospel.

Share what you know with others.

Be valiant in your testimony.

Don’t cast away your confidence.

Post 2 Timothy 1:7-8 where you see it daily.

Study the testimonies of the prophets.

Elder Richard G. Scott ( Ensign , Nov. 2001, 87)

“ Honestly evaluate your personal testimony. Is it truly a sustaining power in your life, or is it more a hope that what you have learned is true? Does your testimony guide you to make correct decisions?”

Evaluate Your Testimony