So let us start at the basics, shall we. If nothing else in this world or this work is true, I know that one thing is true that can never be denied or proved wrong, regardless of the words of those who fight it. I know that there is a God. I know that He lives, and that He is our loving Heavenly Father. As Paul taught the people in Athens, " 28 For in him we alive, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his boffspring. - Acts 17: 28
So how do we know that there is God? Well as we are taught by the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon, everything denotes that there is a God. In the Book of Mormon, there is an Anti-Christ, or false prophet, named Korihor. Korihor was going about the cities of the righteous Nephites teaching that there is no God, no Christ, no Devil, and no Sin. Unfortunately Korihor turned many of the hearts of the Nephites away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ before being brought to the prophet and High Priest, Alma. While confronting Korihor and his evil teachings, Alma gave the following rebuke and testimony, " 37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
38 And he answered, Nay.
39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.
40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no aGod, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.
41 But, behold, I have all things as a atestimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true? " - Alma 30: 37-41
Personally I love the bold statement given by the prophet Alma in verse 40 above. Then to fulfill his calling and priesthood responsibility as a witness of Christ, Alma gives a short, simple, yet profound testimony in verse 41 also above. Alma testifies to Korihor and to all that are listening that everything testifies of God. Let's think about that for a moment, shall we? When you look into the eyes of an infant, when you look into a clear blue sky, when you feel the soft soothing breeze of the wind blowing on your face, and hear the beautiful sounds of birds singing, and people laughing. What's more, when you look into the heavens in a beautiful night sky. Can you honestly say that all this happened by accident? Now for my bold statement. If you can, you are lying to yourself.
The order, organization, and beauty of everything in this world, and what surrounds it, are pure evidence of the existence of our Supreme Creator. Our Father in Heaven loves us. He gives us evidence of His love through, scriptures, prophets, our families, and most importantly His Son, Jesus Christ. He gives us these blessings in our lives so that our faith in Him may grow. Everything we do in life we do through faith. We wake up in the morning with the faith that the sun will be out. We go to sleep the night before with the faith that we will wake up the next day. We go to work with the faith that we will still have our job, and if we don't, we can't blame it on God.
To conclude I would like to share the story of a remarkable young boy of 14 years of age, who showed great faith in God during a time of religious confusion in his life. " 8 During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness;... still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit... but so great were the confusion and astrife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was... to come to any certain conclusion who was bright and who was wrong.
10 In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be aright, which is it, and how shall I know it?
11 While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of aJames, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack bwisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
12 Never did any passage of ascripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed bwisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know...
13 At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in adarkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God...
15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God...
16 ...exerting all my powers to acall upon God...I saw a pillar of clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...
17 ...When the light rested upon me I bsaw two cPersonages, whose brightness and dglory defy all description, estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My fBeloved gSon. Hear Him! " - Joseph Smith - History 1:8-17
Because of the faith that one boy had in God, and specifically the faith that God answers prayers, the fullness of Christ's Gospel was restored to the earth. God does exist. He loves us and just like with the young 14 year old boy Joseph Smith, He wants to hear from us so that He can answer our prayers. I know that these things are true. I know that God is real, because I see His work all around me everyday. I'm grateful for the faith in God that I have been blessed to have in my life. I'm grateful for the faith of others before me who have been great examples and influences in my life. I challenge all to act in faith, and sincerely ask God if He is there and listening. I know that as you do, you will receive an answer through the Spirit. If nothing else, start with the Desire to have faith. From there it can build. This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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