What does Catherine believe in?

Some interesting things have been taking place in our home. In our stake, we have been given a charge to share our testimonies of the gospel. This past Sunday, we had two speakers talk about testimonies and sharing them. Jon is the Ward Mission Leader, and he has charged everyone in our ward to share our testimonies with friends or acquaintances who do not have the blessing of the gospel in their lives. My sister Sara recently returned from a full-time mission in Missouri and Kansas, and has encouraged us as a family to do the same thing.

I have been trying to think of a way that I could do this, as I am a stay at home mom, and I do not have any contact with non members here. I have read counsel from President Henry B. Eyring: "I've studied carefully and prayerfully some who are remarkably faithful and effective witnesses of the Savior and His Church.... There is no single pattern in what they do. There is no common technique.... Those who speak easily and often of the restored gospel prize what it has meant to them. They think of that great blessing often. It is the memory of the gift they have received which makes them eager for others to receive it." (General Conference, April 2003 - "A Child and a Disciple")

And of course, Elder M. Russell Ballard has taken a very public role of missionary work and sharing our testimonies. He is on the board organized by the church that has started the media blitz in various missions throughout the country, one of which is Las Vegas. He has encouraged us to use the media, namely the Internet, to share our testimonies and beliefs. I have thought about these things, and decided that this blog is a great opportunity for our family, and myself, to share what we believe in and have a testimony of.

It has taken me most of my life to become secure and sure of my place in this world, and that has come with my knowledge of who I am spiritually. My testimony has been molded and refined through my spiritual experiences and through hard lessons learned. Life is hard and can be very sad, but through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can find infinite and accute happiness that you cannot have any other way.

I know that I am a daughter of God and I know that He is very personally aware of me, my pains, my joys, everything in my life. At the lowest points in my life, I have reached out to Him in prayer, and He has always answered me. It hasn't always been in the timeframe or form that I wanted, but He has answered. Sometimes those answers come directly, most mostly my answers have come through others either by service or speech.

I have a testimony of tithing - of giving 10% of my income back to the Lord. He gives me 100% of everything in my life, why shouldn't I give back? And the blessings that have come to me and my family by doing this and having faith have been too numerous to count. It is amazing to me how when we exercise faith in the Lord, even when we think we cannot afford to pay tithing, our needs will be met! I know this!

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that principles taught in it are applicable to every generation that has lived on the earth. There are lessons taught, guidance given, and a clarity that you can receive when you study it. Jesus Christ did visit the Americas, and loves ALL his children.

I have a testimony of families and the eternal nature of them. God intended for us to have families - husband, wife, and children. And God intended for those families to be united far beyond this life. I am so thankful that we have temples on the earth today and that we can participate in ordinances that can bind us together forever. I cannot imagine eternity without my husband or my little girl. They are my joy in this life - "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy."

I have a testimony of living prophets. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, just as Gordon B. Hinckley was and Thomas S. Monson is. These men are selfless in everything they do. They receive inspiration and revelation directly from Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. They are called of and by God. They hold the priesthood - the power of God given to men to act in his name. This power can do amazing things from heal the sick, comfort the weary, and give guidance.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ. We are Christians. We love and strive to serve our fellow men. We are not perfect as individuals, but we strive to do the best we can every day. And that is what God asks of us - to do our very best each day to follow his commandments and come unto our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.