His Gospel: An Anchor and a Grounding Point

Throughout my life the Gospel of Jesus Christ and my testimony of His restored Gospel has been an anchor and grounding point for me. As a young child, I remember feeling the truth that my parents taught as they expressed their love and testimony for their Savior and His Gospel. This feeling of truth stayed with me as I grew, and through experiences of my own, I was able to deepen my understanding, faith, and my own testimony. This has been and will always be a continual process for me. As I have gotten older, and the world around us becomes more confusing and in turmoil, I have to hold on to that truth that I know and continue to allow His Gospel and light to be my anchor. Having a living prophet on the earth today is such a blessing for us all. I am really grateful for this reminder that President Nelson gave this past conference, “If you have sincere questions about the gospel or the Church, as you choose to let God prevail, you will be led to find and understand the absolute, eternal truths that will guide your life and help you stay firmly on the covenant path.” So even when I can’t see quite clearly and feel a little in the dark, if I continue to let God prevail in my life, choosing to believe in Him and His gospel, I will be able to feel that absolute and eternal truth that I have felt before and know to be true. So, I choose to believe because truth is truth and I know that the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is that absolute and eternal truth.

Love,

Shannon Ireland

It Was the Lord's Timing

Why I choose to believe….

In 2019, I was speaking with Scott Monson, my dad’s best friend, I wasn’t sure why he had called, but our conversation lead to a story that he told me about his youth and into his early 20’s when he had an experience as a pilot for the Army, and what his brother, Pres. Monson, told him as he had retold the story to his brother, “It was not a coincidence, it was the Lord’s timing.” A few days, later I realized why Scott had called, as I sat at a kitchen table meeting my biological mother for the first time, it was the anniversary of my adopted fathers’ death. As that phrase came to me, I felt comfort and peace and knew that I was there at the right time. The phrase continually comes to me as I have reflected over the last 5 years when I started a journey with my health that I am still on today. I visited doctor after doctor trying to figure out what was going on, but only getting pieces to the whole puzzle. Finally, in 2019 all the pieces came together and I had the whole picture. Again, it was the Lord’s timing.

I choose to believe, because I know that the events that have occurred over the last 5 years are in our Heavenly Father and Savior's timing. I would not have been able to cross those raging rivers, climb the rocky mountains, or been able to manage the several different hats that I have had the privilege of wearing at the same time without my Heavenly Father and Savior’s help and guidance. And that my journey will end when it is time. I also know that the timing of each of my challenges are for a reason, and that I need an extremely course sandpaper to smooth my rough edges and a lot of time.

~Sheri Hemsley

If We Believe and Follow Him, We Have Hope for a Better Tomorrow

I love this opportunity to reflect and to really ponder “why I choose to believe”.

My childhood was not an easy one. I was a child of divorce at a young age, and I relocated often. I often felt lost and alone. I witnessed my mother always clinging to the Gospel and her Heavenly Father, even though her life had not gone as she had planned! She taught me a good lesson by her example. If we believe and follow Him, we have hope for a better tomorrow. And she created a life for us that was a great reflection of that.

I have carried her example with me as an adult. I wanted to create a life that reflected Him from the beginning. I have chosen to believe in Him and put my faith in Him. Believing in Him comes easy to me, for that I have been grateful. I believe many of the blessings I enjoy in my life are because I have chosen to follow His path. Many family members have not followed that path, and I have seen their hope diminished...

My Father in Heaven has shown me many times that He is there and that he knows who I am. I can not deny those experiences. I choose to believe in Him because I know He is there and He brings hope and peace. I am so grateful for Him and for His Love!

~Jamie Garner

Because of Joy

I have thought long and hard about what I wanted to share but it just comes down to one word.

Joy.

I choose to believe because of the joy and happiness I have in my life as someone who believes in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement.

~Beckie Christensen

Blessings Along Life's Path

I love the theme, "I Choose to Believe." It’s been so special to read the testimonies before me. I’ve thought about what it meant to me to choose to believe in our Heavenly Father and our Savior. So many times in my life there has been that question, "Am I going to choose to believe in our Savior and what choices am I going to make?" I’ve seen the Lord’s hand in my life. He has answered my prayers as I have needed Him through my trials especially. Sometimes my prayers weren’t answered right away but there were blessings along the path through hard times. I know He is aware of me and who I am. One of my favorite scriptures is Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.”

I have felt His loving arms around me and the peace only He gives. I choose to believe because there is peace and hope in Christ. My testimony of Him continues to grow as I learn and study of Him.

Years ago we had the opportunity to go visit some church sites. I will never forget the sweet feelings I experienced as I walked into the Sacred Grove, seeing The Hill Cumorah and also the School of the Prophets. Words can’t express the Spirit that is there. My testimony grew so much that trip.

I am truly blessed with a beautiful family. I am grateful for the gospel in my life and I am thankful that I choose to believe.

~Shelby Baker

Heavenly Father Lets Me Know in Big and Small Ways He is There

There have been so many times throughout my life where my Heavenly Father and His Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ have let me know they are there. Sometimes these interactions have been simple like the words of a song lending me comfort, a scripture answering a question or a neighbor dropping by with their favorite cookies on a day I really needed a friend. Other times they have been strong and powerful like guiding words given in a priesthood blessing or a miraculous healing. Always they come in a very personal way that lets me know that They know and love me. This past year has been no different. I admit I was overwhelmed when the first few days of the shutdown were followed by an earthquake. I had been praying to know how to have strength and faith to do all that I knew I needed to do. A few days in a row I kept waking up with the words to a hymn running through my mind. When I finally decided to go and read carefully through all the lyrics, I was led to the scripture Psalm 95: 1-7 that reminded me to be grateful and to “Hear Him.” I knew then I needed to make sure I was looking for His Hand in my life and Hearing what He was telling me so I could navigate my family through the rest of the year. So especially in these crazy and uncertain times I choose to believe because I know my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, that They love me and that They will always be there to help me through it all!

~ Leia Perkins

My Heavenly Father Never Stops Believing in Me

As I reflect on this past year, even amidst all the heartache and pain that has been felt by many, I see the hand of the Lord. I know that even though I may not have suffered as much as some, my needs and concerns still matter to Him because they matter to me. I know this because I did a lot of falling apart this year and my Savior helped pick up the pieces. My imperfections and weaknesses became very apparent to me at times and even feelings of despair about the state of our world felt almost too much to handle. Looking back I can see each tender mercy that helped pull me through. Sometimes my prayers and pleas were answered through earthly angels, like family and friends. Other times, I couldn't figure out how to overcome it until I remembered to come to my Heavenly Father in prayer. Taking the time to not only talk to Him, but pause and listen. I choose to believe because I feel His love and confidence in me as I do the things that He asks of me. I have more joy in my life when I am living close to the Spirit and following the guidance of the Gospel. I choose to believe because My Heavenly Father and His Son never stop believing and trusting in me.

~Kristin Hawes

I am Learning to Trust an UnKnown Future to a Known God

In the last 3 years we have been through several difficult challenges, including a high risk pregnancy and premature baby, learning a daughter has profound hearing loss in one ear and discovering a son has a rare and severe form of anxiety called Selective Mutism. These diagnoses have resulted in multiple doctor visits, therapy sessions, calling an untold number of people I don’t know, sleepless nights, tearful incapacitating moments and more meetings with the school than I would care to have.

By nature, I am introvert and this has pushed my boundaries, opened my heart and mind to possibilities, stretched my wings and built a hope inside me. I know God has not left my side, nor those of my family. He is walking side by side with us through this. There have been countless instances when He has guided my steps, shown me miracles, and put words in my mind and mouth (and occasionally even calmed my temper).

My hope is that, despite not seeing results in the way we wanted or seeing progress as fast as we might like, we are being led down the path needed for us. My faith is growing stronger and I am learning to trust an unknown future to a known God. The movement forward may be small and the way may be difficult, but in the end we are becoming better for it. I once heard the quote, “Faith and fear both require you to believe in something you cannot see. Why not choose faith?” I am choosing faith. I am choosing to believe.

~Deanna Holmes

Grateful for the Peace the Gospel Brings

I’ve been thinking about the question, “why I choose to believe” for a few days.

One gift I was blessed with was the gift of belief and trust. Life is hard for everyone - but one of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 3:5 - “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Growing up, I never struggled to know if the Gospel was true - I just knew. And I wonder sometimes why I don’t have a “questioning” mind ... I choose to believe. As I have watched friends and family leave the church, it reinforces to me that I need the extra help of the church and my Heavenly Father in raising my family and life in general! In a world with not a lot of peace - I am grateful for the peace the Gospel brings in my life.

~Carrie Godfrey

For Me it is Worth the Wrestle

In the past few years as family and close friends have chosen a path away from the church, I have had to really try and answer the question of why I keep choosing to believe. Sometimes it seems easier to move to a different path. But for me, it is worth the wrestle to find answers for myself on topics that feel heavy, and questions that come up that can really shake my faith, because I know that Jesus is the Savior. I also know that he has loving parents who allowed that sacrifice to happen for all of us to return to live with them again. The peace I feel from my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when I pray, read scriptures and talks, have uplifting conversations and attend church is undeniable, especially in this time when so much is uncertain. For me, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints offers stability, guidance, community, love and a way back home, so I work and choose to believe.

~Kelsey Gill

I Know I Have Never Been Forgotten

It has taken me months to write this testimony about why I choose to believe. (Sorry Tiffany).

I am not sure why I haven’t been able to sit down and write. Maybe I was being stubborn and didn’t want to recognize the good things in my life.

Dang! Life is hard. Life is heartbreaking. Life is unfair. I find myself asking, “When are we going to catch a break? I can’t handle one more thing. No one understands? Why do my family and friends have to suffer so much? Why aren’t my prayers being answered? Why do I have such big trials in my life? Have I been forgotten?”

I know that I have never been forgotten. You have never been forgotten. I truly do have a testimony of my Savior and know the He is aware of me. He is the only one that truly understands everything that I am feeling and the struggles that I am going through or have gone through. He knows. He has felt my pain, my discouragement and my heartache. He knows my weaknesses and mistakes and still loves me unconditionally.

I choose to believe because I would be lost without Him. I would be lost without the knowledge that this life is but a small moment. I choose to believe because I know that our Heavenly Father and our Savior will make all things right in the eternities. Our tears will be wiped away and our joy will be immeasurable.

Heavenly Father knows us, and he knows our hearts and he knows that we are doing our best. He will never give up on us. I have felt His love for me. When life is hard, and discouragement sets in, and we question God, remember His love, remember that no matter where we are, He will be there.

Thank you for inspiring me and sharing your testimonies with me and loving and serving and praying for me and for each other. You are enough.

Love, Your Sister in the Gospel

My Faith Brings Me Peace and Answers

Faith is why I choose to believe. In Ether 12:6 it reads, “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for you receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”

Trials come to all of us in this lifetime. Some may seem more serious than others. Some may affect us and try us more than others, but we will all have trials. Through the trials in my life I have learned great lessons. One of the lessons learned is, “how strong is my testimony?” Is my testimony strong enough so that I can gain a witness of the truthfulness of the things I claim to believe in?

Believing came easy for me most of my life and I feel blessed for that. I was blessed with goodly parents who were not active in the church most of my life, but were very supportive of the decisions that my siblings and I made to be active. I was blessed with a wonderful eternal companion with whom I have gone through trials, from infertility, adoptions, job loss, loss of parents, etc.

On June 10, 2016 was a day that we will never forget. We had all been in Idaho to a family party and our youngest daughter needed to come back to Utah for work the next day. On her way back to Utah she was involved in a one car rollover that took her life.

Through the weeks that followed I felt the love of my Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ in my life unlike any other time. But as time stretched on, I started to struggle. As hard as I tried to push back the “why” had this happened, it started to creep in. I remember one day in particular I had to stop and find a quiet place and have a talk with myself. Did I truly believe what I thought I did? Through weeks of soul searching, reading, praying and wrestling with my spirit, the doubts started to lift and a sweetness returned to my soul and I knew that what I had believed all my life was right. It was the way back to live with my Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ again. It was the means by which we would see our daughter and my parents again and have the chance to be with them and others for eternity.

I choose to believe because my faith brings me peace and brings me answers and I am forever grateful for that.

~Trudy M.

Christ Provides Me with Peace, Comfort and Capacity

When I pause to count my blessings, or when there are events in my life that turn me toward Heavenly Father for strength, comfort, and peace, He is always there for me. These experiences strengthen my faith in Him, and it is what helps me continue to trust and have faith in Him. He provides me with peace and comfort and the capacity to do the work He has sent me to do. He hears and answers my prayers; not always in the way I hope or expect, but in a way that is best for me and my family. This is why I choose to believe. I’m grateful to know our Heavenly Father lives and loves each of us. I am grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins. I am grateful to know They are aware of us and our needs and continue to bless and guide us today.

~Camie Gonzalez

Heavenly Father Answers Prayers

I choose to believe.

As an eight-year old child sitting in Primary, I learned about being baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At that time my sweet mother had been taking me and my siblings to church every week. My father was not a member but, was supportive of our activity. Choosing to be baptized came with mixed emotions when I understood that my father would not be able to baptize me. My best friends were being baptized by their fathers and it was a painful realization.

I decided to start praying every night that my father would join the church so that even if he could not baptize me, he could baptize my younger brother and sister. That fervent prayer was answered and the following year, my father chose to be baptized. A year after his baptism we were sealed as a family in the Salt Lake Temple.

Heavenly Father answers prayers.

There have been many times in my life that I have witnessed prayers answered for myself, family and friends. Sometimes those answers come in unexpected ways. I am grateful for the testimony I have of our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan and desire to have us all return to Him. I know he loves each one of us and is willing to bless us with miracles, guidance and inspiration as we kneel in humble prayer to communicate with Him through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite scriptures is 3 Nephi 27:29

“Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.”

~Nancy Nilsson

I Have Faith that Even Hard Things are Part of His Plan

My day started off with a Priesthood blessing. I was having a procedure yesterday and I was a little nervous. I asked my husband for a blessing of comfort. In the blessing he said, “your Heavenly Father knows you and is aware of your illness.” At the end of the blessing he said, “Cindy, your Heavenly Father loves you”. I felt that and I know that he does.

I’ve been diagnosed with a form of pulmonary fibrosis. Something that might cause me or anyone for that matter to give up hope, give up faith, or give up on Heavenly Father. I choose to have hope, faith and trust in my loving Father in Heaven. Whatever my tests and trials in life are, I just feel like this is one more of them. How well can I endure to the end, how well can others deal with my illness or death? I love the knowledge of eternal families. I love the gospel and I know that I am a child of God and he loves me and watches over me. I take comfort in that knowledge. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood. I know it’s not magic. I know things may not work out the way I want them to but I know whatever happens it will just be part of his plan. There will be tears but I am ready for whatever comes.

~Cindy Fail-Ortolani

I Stand with You as a Believer in Christ and His Gospel!

I choose to believe for many reasons, but one reason is because of my Love for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and for the Peace I receive during troubling times as I choose to follow him. About 30 years ago I decided to fly from Utah to Chile to see if this Young Man that I was writing (yes, writing actual letters) was just a good friend or my future husband. After much prayer and scripture study and going to the temple, I felt peace about going to see him but felt worried about getting lost switching planes and had a little anxiety about being all by myself flying such a long way etc.

As I prayed and read my scriptures I felt these words leap off the page to me, “Be strong & Courageous do Not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Reading that over and over again in the scriptures brought so much peace to me, along with a blessing from my dad. I now have this scripture in my home to look at and it has reminded me in hard times, which this last year has been a personal Gethsemane for me, to know that he is with me! To know that he was with me on my trip to Chile 30 years ago, that I had peace and found my eternal companion. I think about the many times that we are told in the scriptures to remember, remember. I am filled with hope, when I look back on my life and see the hand of God and remember the many times the Lord was with me and has blessed me and my family. Still in General Conference it was a good reminder as I feel most of us are still going through some hard trials, Elder Holland’s reminder to us that “Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable. The path to holiness and happiness here and hereafter is a long and sometimes rocky one. It takes time and tenacity to walk it. But of course, the reward for doing so is monumental.” I stand together with you amazing women as a believer in Christ and his gospel! I am a believer in modern day Miracles in our lives. I love General Conference. And it is one of the blessings of my life that help me have hope and get through hard things and help me to see that I am not alone in my trials. I accepted the challenge from Conference to study the 6th chapter in Preach my gospel and pick a Christ like attribute for me to work on. I selected Patience, it is helping me to remember to have patience in my trials. Specifically it says, “Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do Gods will and accept his timing. When you are patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith-you must wait for the Lord’s promised blessings to be fulfilled.” So, I am working on being patient in the Lord’s timing. My hope is that as sisters in the gospel we can continue to lift and encourage each other along this sometimes rocky path. Sending lots of love and hope to all of you.

~Janae Arancibia

The Promptings of the Holy Ghost Help Me Endure

This year has been quite the roller coaster! Not only have we experienced this crazy pandemic and unrest in the world, but we have had an especially hard year with some unexpected family challenges. It’s hard to watch our loved ones suffer and in turn we suffer right there with them! Through these and other challenges, there have been times I have felt utter despair and with Satan’s lies, of no worth. Through it all, I choose to believe in this plan of happiness and in our Savior and his redeeming love. I have been grateful to notice the tender mercies along the way. I have had many promptings of the Holy Ghost on what to say, and the exact moments to act. I choose to believe in the blessings of the priesthood and the comfort and reassurance that those blessings leave. I recently received a priesthood blessing and as I would silently ask a question during the blessing, those questions were immediately answered. This happened several times throughout the blessing with answers to my silent pleadings with the Lord. It’s as if he were right there speaking to me through his worthy priesthood holder. I choose to believe because I don’t know how I would navigate through this challenging life without the promptings of the Holy Ghost to help me endure and overcome the lies of the adversary.

~Jennifer Taylor

The Savior is by My Side in Good Times and Rough Times

I choose to believe because I see the hand of God in my life constantly. I have suffered a stroke and a hemorrhaged brain tumor over the past 4 years. As I struggled through these trials I was given Priesthood blessings to comfort and heal me. I have no residual effects from either health issue. I know My Savior has a plan for me! I am still here among the mortals. I should really not still be alive. I have the most incredible 3 sons. When their dad and I divorced I felt incredibly broken! I am the person I am because God needs me to be their mom. I was lead by my Father in Heaven to a wonderful man, Drew Matthews is my best friend and he helps me see the best in myself! When I was having my children I had a set of twin girls. They lived for only a few minutes! I was crushed beyond words. My Savior put his arms around me and carried me through some of the most painful moments in my life! I know he is by my side in good times and in rough times. I love Him, He loves me! That is all the reason I need to choose to believe!

~Tina Milewski

Jesus is My Consistent in My World of Inconsistency

This past year has brought many changes to our family. Another mission call. Covid. An engagement. No mission. A wedding. Changes in callings. Changes in weight. Changes in school situations. Another wedding. And other personal struggles that just come as part of life.

But through all of these challenges and changes, Jesus is the same for me. The covenants we’ve made are the same. The blessings from keeping those covenants, the same. The peace I feel when I listen and re-listen to conference talks, the same. The joy I feel watching a child go through the repentance process, the same. The joy I feel when I repent, the same. The reassurance, peace, and joy I feel knowing that I am known and loved by heavenly parents, the same.

Jesus is my consistent in my world of inconsistency.

I choose to believe because I love Jesus, and I love what he offers. I love that He challenges us to become something better. I love that it’s not always easy. I love hope. I love peace. I love the plan. And I love the joy the gospel brings.

I often reflect on an experience I had as a child. I was 4, and on my way to my first piano recital. It was going to be at our church building. My mom was supposed to drop me off early, and when we got there she asked if I knew where to go. I answered no. Do you know where the primary room is? No, I said. What about the chapel? No. Do you know anything at all about this church? She asked. Just that it’s true, mom. And I still feel that today. Things aren’t perfect for any of us. But life is oh so much better for me on this side of the fence.

~Ange Nelson

I Want to Be on Our Heavenly Father and Savior's Team

Elder Holland said, “The FUTURE of this world has long been DECLARED; the final outcome between GOOD and evil is already KNOWN. There is absolutely no question as to who WINS because the VICTORY has already been posted on the SCOREBOARD. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the FIELD trying to decide which TEAM’S JERSEY we want to wear!”

When I was asked the question, “why do I choose to believe, even with the current situation of the world” this quote immediately came to mind.

I choose to believe because I want to be on the winning team, but more importantly I want to be on our Heavenly Father and Savior's team.

It is through them that I am able to obtain ultimate happiness. The happiness that so many in the world are searching for. The happiness that includes being with my family forever.

~Angela Harrison