Look for the Witness

I love a verse in the Pearl of Great Price that says, "And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me" (Moses 6:63).

Years ago that phrase, "all things bear record of me" struck me and I began walking through my days asking of the things I encountered, "What does this teach me of Christ?"

It is often surprising what comes to me. I remember one day while working in my garden picking up a simple rock and thinking, "Wow! These weeds and trees and flowers are temporary. They come and they go, but this rock was around the day the new star appeared in the heavens announcing the birth of Jesus Christ. This rock was around whe the earth shook at His death. This rock has been on this earth for thousands of years--ever since Jesus Christ brought it into being in the beginning.

It was a special moment that I will never forget. Looking for testimonies in the things around us teach us much and surprisingly a small thing like this as beought a lot of love and joy into my life.

I Am A Witness

After the hectic (but very enjoyable!) summer, Mr. J and I have taken a retreat for a little relaxation before school starts next Monday. We are in Park City enjoying the mountain air. This morning we took a brisk walk along the Rail Trail. The sun coming up on the mountains sent a tickle up and down my spine. This world is so beautiful!

Yesterday we went with some friends to Sacrament Meeting and they happened to be going to hear a mission speak at the Spanish Branch. I once studied Spanish but have never had much opportunity to practice it so I enjoyed every minute of listening and singing in Spanish. Afterward we went to their home to visit for awhile and they took us out back to their farm and YES! picture is of me and a bison and a zebra. Those of you who know me well and how much I don’t even enjoy the company of dogs and cats are laughing right now. But as you can see I was a bit timid about the whole experience. Being in the same pen as a bison is not something I thought I’d be doing, but the experience was amazing. Those creatures are sooo big and powerful—and this was a small one!

I learned a lot last week during Education Week. The surprising thing to me is how much the Spirit teaches me while I am speaking. You expect it while preparing and studying, but right while I’m speaking things come into my head and I learn. For example, I was sharing the story of the people of Alma who were put into bondage by Amulon. The bondage and subsequent servitude had become a tremendous trial to the people and they cried out to the Lord for help. He answered by saying, “I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage: and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).

As I read that verse aloud to the class and came to the words about being witnesses, the Spirit whispered that part of the reason I experienced Grizelda is so I could testify afterward that I know the Lord does visit us in our afflictions. And so I do testify. He helps us. He visits us. I know it.

Conveying Testimony

Yesterday the question came up in Relief Society about how our parents conveyed their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ to us. It sent my mind whirling and has caused me to ponder a great deal. My testimony came from my father. I heard him bear a formal testimony often, but if I had only heard the words I’m not sure I would have believed like I do. Instead, it came from the things I saw him do.

One of the earliest memories I have of my father is when I was very young and he was riding to work with a man who had been an alcoholic and had gone through AA. Sober now, Seth was becoming interested in the gospel. As Dad drove back and forth to work with Seth, he talked with him about the gospel and was instrumental in bringing Seth back into Church activity. I remember Dad at the dinner table each night telling Mom what he had taught Seth during the commute. I remember Seth and his wife coming to our house. I remember Seth and Dad talking gospel in the halls of the Church. I remember Seth with tears in his eyes thanking my dad. I remember Mom telling Dad that Seth’s wife had told her how much she appreciated what Dad had done for her husband. Those were the things that impressed me.

Without words these experiences bore testimony to my young spirit that this was something very important to Dad. It witnessed to me that he loved the gospel. I knew that it was something that brought him so much joy he wanted to share it. The tone in his voice as he discussed gospel topics with Seth said more to me than words ever could. He didn’t have to tell me he knew the gospel was true; it was very evident in the excitement as he shared it.

I’ve never thought much about this until yesterday, but my testimony came to me because of Dad’s words but even more so because of the way he spent his time.