| In the last few years many tests have come which have honed me and proved my testimony into strengths that I never knew I had; but as Ether was told in the Book of Mormon, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27. As my life has continued things of the spirit become clearer and clearer to me where I was terribly weak; and I gain the strength to go on, even though I am the only one for the present willing to be and desiring to be active in the Church the Lord has re-established upon the earth through Joseph Smith. No matter what happens over the next period of time, I want to put down strongly that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's true church upon the earth today, and the only one fully authorized by Christ to administer the saving ordinances of His Gospel which are necessary in order for any person to enter Celestial Glory or to even have a chance at Exaltation. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father, and I am very very grateful to the Holy Ghost for the witnesses to truth He has given to me over and over again in my life. I know the Priesthood is the authority given to mankind to move forward the workings of God upon this earth, and that while many teach partial truths, only one organization holds the authority to perform the ordinances necessary for our full salvation. I so wish that my family members could know and want to know these things for themselves. It is my fervent prayer that each of you, my friends and family, will sometime return to the God of your primal childhood from long before this earth life ever started; and find your way back to Heavenly Father in His Kingdom. If you choose to walk in other paths, then those paths will still bring you to a lesser kingdom of glory, (one far beyond anything imaginable in this world at present) but so much more is open to you. Many are called while few are chosen because they turn away from the higher truths. Even though I made many mistakes in my life, I tried to see that each of my children knew of the higher laws and where true salvation is to be found. I have also tried endlessly to teach those truths to those outside of my immediate family circle and take joy from the knowledge that at least in these things I have kept my covenants. No matter where each of you goes, no matter where each of you lives, I love you. I will love you through the eternities. Each and of my children and grandchildren hold a special place in my heart, and I am beyond grateful for the mate who has lived with this difficult old woman all these years. We've all shared a hard life, but one thing I do know is that we have all grown and learned important lessons that can make us better for this life as well as whatever lies ahead after this mortality. All of our children have been sealed to Don and myself; and although I have fallen far short in this life, I am assured that because of the temple covenants and sealings I have shared with my children, each will still be part of my family in the eternities. That is a great reason for hope within me. I know that the temple sealings are eternal and no matter where any of you go in this life after I have left; I will be allowed to check on you and love you, just as I do now. I have worked to honor the covenants I made in the House of the Lord, and I rest assured that my relationship with each of my children lasts beyond the grave in some capacity. I want to leave with you my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of mankind (and us womankind too). I know that Heavenly Father and Jehovah (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Ghost comprise the Godhead and while Father and Jehovah have bodies of flesh and bone, the Holy Ghost has a different calling for the present, and bears witness of them and of every Holy Thing to those who seek knowledge; and His body is one of spirit alone for the present. I know that Joseph Smith, while a mere man, was the instrument of our Eternal Father to restore the full gospel and church to the earth for this last time as we await Christ's coming in glory. I bless Joseph for being able to withstand the horrors of hell that Lucifer threw at him from every place as he (Lucifer) sought to destroy the Gospel. I am grateful for Joseph Smith's family who helped and supported him as he sought to do the work of our Father in Heaven. I know that the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Greath Price are all scriptures that work together to help us have a better, fuller understanding of Gospel Truths, that we may progress and become all we are intended to be. I have a strong testimony that Heavenly Father loves us even more than I love my own children, and that we are indeed His children. I know there is yet scripture to be revealed, and that we receive daily guidance for our personal lives and church callings and family responsibilities when we open our hearts to the Holy Ghost and allow the light to shine through us. I have felt the peace of the Holy Temples and know for a fact that the temples are the Holy places where we can escape the world and commune directly with Jehovah and Father in a way that is truly miraculous. I know that Gordon B Hinckley is Jehovah's prophet, seer, and revelator for this time. I remember when he moved into this calling and the strong spiritual confirmation which flowed over my soul at that time. He is God's spokesman to the world and to the elect for this season in time. I have a strong testimony of genealogical research and bear you my solemn witness that the genealogy work is ordained of God. I have felt the presence of unseen hands and minds guiding me to knowledge over the years. These people live, love and continue in the spirit world and desire the temple ordinances to that they might progress to celestial glory. I am so grateful that I have been privileged to work within the libraries, graveyard, churches and temples to help with this holy work. Many are the healing and comfort blessings that have been bestowed upon my family, friends and me through the Lord's Holy Priesthood. I have seen how the Priesthood has helped change men into giants of the Lord as they have humbled themselves and magnified their offices and callings both in their families and within the Church. I leave you with my knowledge that Father loves us, all of us. I know that He longs for us to repent and move forward instead of becoming loss in the abyss of sin and worldliness. He wants us to succeed and come home, and if we but humble ourselves, study, pray and do our best to keep His ways, we will have joy in this life and in the eternities to come. In fact, the only suffering I have ever endured in this life was a direct result of my own acts or the acts of others; and I also know there is wonderful refreshing forgiveness available through Christ. Anything can be forgiven and left behind when we fully repent and take advantage of His sacrifice. I leave you this solemn witness of these things and countless others that I have not even mentioned in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ--the Great Jehovah. Amen and Amen |
| These Things I Know To Be True, Without Them I Am Nothing |
|
 |
 |
 |