BEAR Testimony

A little while ago I had a prompting to study the word 'bear'. Not in the "Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh my!" type of way, but in the "I want to BEAR my testimony" type of way.

I decided to go with a simple definition search first.  In my I-pad's dictionary there are many definitions of the word bear.  For example...

• carry (of a person)
• convey (of a vehicle)
• have or display as a visible mark or feature
• be called by
• carry or conduct oneself in a particular manner
• support
• take responsibility for
• be able to accept or stand up to
• endure
• give birth to
• produce
• bear fruit
• turn and proceed in a specified direction

So as I was thinking about how these different definitions relate to testimony, I really came to realize that bearing testimony is something that is more than just getting up on Sunday and sharing what you know to be true. It is living according to your beliefs.

Living in a way that your testimony is a visible mark or feature that will convey or carry the spirit unto the hearts of others. 2 Nephi 33:1 "...the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men."

You will take resonpsiblity and stand up for the things that you know are right. It is to endure in the specified direction that you have come to know is the right path.  Luke 9:24 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

As you truly bear your testimony it is something that will produce a greater testimony and greater faith not only in yourself but it will produce the desire in others to have the same light that you do. When you bear your testimony of Christ you are called by Christ's name. Mosiah 26:18 "Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to BEAR my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine."

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that He loves each one of us. I invite all who read this to live according to their testimony of Jesus Christ. Live in a way that you are truly bearing your testimony at all times.

Personal Confirmation

    So sometimes we get surprised in life...things don't go quite as we expected them. This is especially true of Missionary life. Every 6 weeks or so we have a transfer where we can be moved around. Our mission president prays over each of us and where we need to go and who we need to be with. He recieves revelation as to where God would have us go. We then get 'transfer calls' that tell us whether or not we will be staying in our area or leaving. Usually it is really hard because you really come to LOVE the area where you are serving and the people you serve with.

We had one of those this week. I was told that I would be leaving the Great Falls ward, a place that I truly had come to LOVE and I am so sad that I had to leave it, but unlike my other transfers, this one was different. After President Eyring's talk Continuing Revelation where he talked about the importance of Confirming Revelation I really tried to seek my own confirming revelation about what President Riggs felt should happen. It was amazing as I applied this principle in my life to truly feel the peace that came into my heart. I told my old companion a couple of times "This just feels right"

The best thing I learned from this experience is that what I am constently telling people to do, to pray and recieve their own revelation about the truths that my companions and I teach, really does work. You really can pray to recieve your own personal and confirming revelation. I know that I am supposed to be where I am now and I am supposed to be with who I am with.

My invitation to all is to remember that God wants to talk to you and to give you the revelation and confirmation you need to continue becoming the best disciple of Christ that you can be!

*Side note* I am now companions with Sister Adair who is one of the AWESOME people that I served with in the MTC. We are serving in the Ft. Belvoir Ward and I am so excited to work wtih all of the lovely Members Here!

Exchanges

  One of my absolute FAVORITE things that we do on missions is go on exchanges! Exchanges are when we trade our assigned companion for 24 hours with a missionary leader so we can learn and grow from someone else. They are great for  Yesterday I got to go with Sister Akin, one of the kindest missionaries I know. She came out to the mission field with me and I have known her for a long time and we always wanted to be companions.

  That hasn't happened yet, but it was such a tender mercy to get to be with her for a day. The whole day felt like the theme was Tender Mercies. Everybody we talked to shared some sort of tender mercy, from getting a job to getting a visa. Things were accomplished easily that would usually have been a long and lengthy process or even impossible. Each person recognized that it was God watching out for them. One of the best things about being a missionary is having the opportunity to hear so many different ways that God is working in others lives. It truly strengthens my faith with each story I hear. I hope that as you go forward this week, you will see the tender mercies around you! I know they are there!