Hello my beloved friends and loved ones. Today I would like to testify. No wait, let me change that. It is my joy and privilege to share my sacred and dearly treasured testimony of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ here on the Earth with you. I also testify that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. Let me explain:
Throughout my life, Joseph Smith has been a mystical character for me. How strange, fascinating and awe inspiring? Could it really be that in the spring of 1820, this young 14 year old boy actually saw the crucified and resurrected Christ stand before him, testifying that the proclaimed restoration was about to unfold? Could it be that in September 22, 1827 Joseph Smith received the brass plates from the angel Moroni? Could it be that the book he published in March of 1830 is another testament of Jesus Christ, the very stick of Ephraim? Is this church, the same church that my parents pay their tithing to, the same one that Joseph Smith organized on April 6th of 1830, the only true and living church of Jesus Christ in these latter days.
My answer is: YES. Not just a little yes with lower case letters but a "HOLY COW YES AND IT IS SUCH A SACRED AND BEAUTIFUL PRIVILEGE TO TESTIFY OF THIS TESTIMONY I HAVE GAINED" all in intentional uppercase letters.
My dear brothers and sisters, I know as I know that I am writing this letter that Jesus Christ is my Savior. Leave it to the scientists and their esoteric studies to explain HOW His atonement works and believe to my empirical testament. Jesus Christ is my best friend. He is the Author and Finisher of my salvation. He is the great Jehovah of the Old Testament and the very same One I expect to see as I enter through the gates of glory after this life. I know Him and I love Him.
I know that the Book of Mormon is true because I have read it and prayed about it. Have you read it? How interesting and fitting it is that this same Jesus Christ has said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." He is the same God that provides us with real, tangible evidence of the restoration.
The pattern to know these things is simple. Just follow the advice James gives in his first epistle fifth verse "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
In other words, if you (yes you, because you are a child of God) have a question, then ask God about it!
Please, my dear friends. Follow James's advice. Ask God. Just ask him. you can do it like this:
Start by saying
"Dear Heavenly Father"
Then ask your question. It can be something like, "Is the Book of Mormon true? Was Joseph Smith actually a true prophet? Did you actually call him to do Your work?"
Then say "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Then wait for the answer to come.
I have seen many people do this. Then we have waited together. I've then witnessed their emotion as they feel God's love for them. This is ALL it takes. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, happiness and peace. I testify that God loves us. He loves all His children. The gospel has been restored. The priesthood authority and the truth--the complete, unabated truth, is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is my testimony. I know that it is true. I invite you to do what is necessary to know it is true also!
With Much Love,
Elder Blake Young
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