Peace I Leave With You

I had been thinking about all the things that I had been blessed with and had learned over the last little while, earlier this week. I remembered that it was fast and testimony meeting today so I decided that I should probably bear my testimony. For those who don;t know what I am talking about, the first Sunday of every month is designated as Fast Sunday. People of our faith are encouraged to go without one or more meals and donate the money that they would have spent to the church to help the needy. During church, members are invited to stand and share their testimonies with the rest of the congregation. Then I didn't think about it again until just before church today.

When I got to church, I felt that familiar burn within and knew that I needed to get up and share my thoughts. The stake president came to our ward today. After the sacrament, the time was turned over to him. President Ostler said that all week he had been feeling like he needed to come to the Hermosa Vista Ward and that he did not know why then and still didn't know why. He said he felt like maybe someone needed to hear a message of hope and peace during these rocky times in our economy. He quoted John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." He admonished us to turn to our Savior for comfort, then to turn and serve others. We should fulfill our baptismal covenant to "mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort," (Mosiah 18:9). He told us to turn and help others to basically take our thoughts off our ourselves and onto others to feel better. I know that this is true. Also, President Ostler said that we need to pray and that God will answer our prayers. It may not be how we want them answered or when, but they will be answered.

A little girl in our ward, Avery, was born 13 weeks early, about a month before Nate was born. Today was her first Sunday at church and she given a name and blessing by her dad. The entire pregnancy was very high risk and her mom was on bed rest for most of it. Then after Avery was born, this sweet baby had to fight for every breath and overcome many hardships. It is truly a miracle that she is alive and here. Her dad blessed her to know that she has been brought to this earth at this time and preserved because she has a great work to do and to remember this when she thinks on the story of her birth. It was so sweet. The whole ward has been rallying around this family and helping out with meals and the other 4 kids in the family. Avery has become somewhat of "the ward's baby." We were all so thrilled to be present for this wonderful blessing.

There is another family in our ward who went through something very similar with their youngest child he was born about 2 1/2 months early. The father was conducting today. After President Ostler spoke, the dad bore his testimony of turning to the Savior through trials like they had to with their son and what Avery's family has just gone through. I was touched by the truth of this, as this is what we have had to do for comfort and peace the passing of Gavin.

As I listened to these two testimonies, they said everything that I had been thinking and feeling and I thought I wouldn't get up. Then that prompting came back, and I knew I still needed to get up. When they turned the time over to the congregation, I shot up from my chair and was the first one up. I knew I had to be the first one up since Mike was holding Nate off from eating so that I could get up. The one thing that has always plagued me when I bear my testimony, is that my mind tends to go blank. I forget the things that I want to say and never know if I even make sense. When I write, I can say just what I mean.

I know that my Savior lives. I know that he atoned in the Garden of Gethsemane not only for our sins but also for our pains and sorrows. He knows what we are each going through and feeling. I know that He is the only one who can truly comfort us since he has felt our pain. I know that we can turn to Him and He will always be there for us. I know that that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. I have seen miracles in my life and I am so grateful for the tender mercies that the Lord has blessed my life with. I know that it is an answer to prayers and fasting that my dad was able to get a job. I know that Heavenly Father will not leave us alone as we are going through trials and that if we turn to Him through prayer that He will comfort us and bless us.

I know that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that through him They restored Their church to the Earth today. I know that all the priesthood keys were restored to the Earth and that President Thomas S. Monson holds those keys and leads and guides this church. I know that he receives revelation to lead and guide Christ's church. I am so grateful to have been able to watch general conference this last weekend and hear the servants of the Lord speak. I loved all the messages of hope and peace. I loved that President Monson told us that one day all the tiny fingerprints will be gone off the tv and that we will miss them, so enjoy them now. It was a wonderful reminder that my kids will not be small for long and that there is always another day to clean my house.

I have truly gained a testimony of what my baptismal covenant really means when it says to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. I know that I have been able to fulfill this covenant these last few weeks and hope to be able to continue to live this promise every day.

I know that families can be together forever. Through our Heavenly Father's plan of happiness, we are born into families on this Earth to learn and grow. If we are married in the Temple through the priesthood power, I know that we can be forever families and that no matter what happens, if we live righteously we can be together forever. I know that I will be with my loved ones again. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for this knowledge. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost in my life. I have really felt my Heavenly Father's love through the Holy Ghost lately and am so thankful for that.

Sacrament meeting was so wonderful. All of the other testimonies were about being blessed by the Lord through and despite our trials. The Spirit was so strong and it strengthened my testimony even more. I do not know when the last time was that I have felt the Spirit so strongly in sacrament meeting. For this, I am also thankful to my Heavenly Father for. I knew that I needed to write down my feelings so that I could always go back and remember this wonderful Sabbath Day. I take comfort in the words of hte Savior and know that they are true, "Peace I leave with you."