Today Sara shared her thoughts today on lifelong conversion and how we need to continue to advance on principles of truth.
She began by posting pictures of two metaphors President Snow used in his teachings; a sailing ship and pickles.
"We should be men and women of faith and power as well as good works" - President Snow
President Snow joined the church in the early days of the church, following the conversion of his two sisters. He stated that he joined because it felt reasonable and made sense. After his baptism, as he began to study, he realized that he had not had a spiritual conversion that the course he had chosen was right. He often prayed in a particular quiet place, and one day he felt too discouraged to pray. He did so and he received an undeniable, unmistakable revelation of the reality of the gospel.
"No language can describe the instantaneous transition from a dense cloud of mental and spiritual darkness into a refulgence of light and knowledge, as it was at that time imparted to my understanding. I then received a perfect knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and of the restoration of the Holy Priesthood, and the fulness of the gospel... As long as memory continues and reason shall assert its throne, I never can permit the powerful testimony and knowledge that was communicated to me to remain silent.” - President Snow
We all need to gain a testimony individually but it is just a starting point as followers of Christ.
What is it that we really need to know for ourselves for our knowledge of the gospel? Sisters shared their ideas including: Belief in God and Jesus Christ, Christ as our Redeemer, continual revelation, that the gospel is true otherwise we are wasting our time, plan of salvation, Book of Mormon and the restoration.
We can bear testimony in many ways: public, small groups, in a letter. Have you born testimony in a way that it can be preserved? This is just a starting point, we need to "grow to be better," "exert ourselves" and "dig deep".
One scripture phrase that stands out is having a perfect brightness of hope. What is it that we hope for as followers of Christ? Hope that we will eventually understand all truth, that all people will know, that there will be peace and harmony, that our greatest potential will be realized, internal peace, all sorrows will be gone, see ourselves as God see us, Eternal life and eternal families,
Quentin Cook in his October talk discussed our many individuals that have had a testimony begin to lose hope and faith, and can no longer feel that spiritual witness. What are the things that shake our faith? Life challenges especially when they result following revelation and righteous living, when we expect blessings that we don't receive (even if we create the expectations on our own), fear and doubt, when things go wrong for children.
To return to the metaphors referenced at the beginning. The ship of Zion, "stay on it," even if we don't like some of the people on the ship or other ships look better. We together are creating a new society. Making a pickle takes time. We have to be immersed to transform. We can learn continually and grow better, exert ourselves in service and learning and dig deeper.
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