Coming unto the Savior in times of doubt by Ashley Simmons

This is a photo of Joshua Chamberlain. He made history in 1862 for his courageous leadership in the battle of Gettysburg. Although from the looks of this photo, it's his mustache that made history. Chamberlain wanted to end slavery so he volunteered to fight in Civil war. His faith and determination shone so brightly in his eyes that he inspired the very best in all around him and was quickly promoted as a General. At a critical point in the war Chamberlain and his troop were assigned to the most isolated and important hilltop in the battle of Gettysburg. Chamberlain was told to hold their ground at all costs. And they did but after two days of determined fighting his troops ran out of ammo and options. They were alone on that hilltop and in a desperate situation. This is when Joshua Chamberlain made history. It would have been very reasonable for them to retreat, in the face of such ridiculous odds and yet they all chose to hold their precious ground. Chamberlain decided to fight with the only weapon they had left- their bayonets (a small sword  that attaches to a musket).  Chamberlain and his men ran downhill with their bayonets toward an enemy that was shooting at them, literally bringing a knife to a gun fight.  Amazingly the confederate army, seeing the resolve of Chamberlains and his men, surrendered. This tipped the momentum of the battle of Gettysburg and ultimately the whole Civil war towards freedom and unity. I wonder if Chamberlain and his troops had any idea that the future of our great nation hung on their defending an unremarkable little plot of ground.

Chose Faith, Doubt Not

History is filled with extraordinary moments like this where men and women facing terrible odds, reasonable doubt, and justifiable discouragement CHOSE INSTEAD to focus on faith, courage and hope.  These men and women’s faith was so determined that it was reflected in their eyes for all to see.

Sisters each one of us has troops of our own looking into our eyes for faith. Our troops can be anyone we influence, our parents, our siblings, our spouse, friends, colleagues, followers and of course our children and grandchildren. Now obviously we cannot control who sees our faith nor how they react to it, but sisters our faith is NEVER wasted. The ground we defend might seem unimportant to us but could it be that we, like Chamberlain, have no idea of how precious it is?

 

Today my topic is Coming unto the Savior in times of doubt. Surely we live in the age of doubt, where doubt is not only encouraged but we are consistently told that the doubt we face at times is the most real- authentic part of who we are. We are misled to believe that faith in the face of doubt is somehow inauthentic, or hypocritical. Would we tell Joshua Chamberlain and his troops that their choice of FAITH over doubt at Gettysburg was inauthentic or hypocritical?

 

I want to share with you briefly two times when I had eyes that were filled with doubt and how coming unto the Savior helped me.

Knowledge from Heaven

As a young girl it feels like in many ways I was born with a question in my heart ready to be asked.
Specifically ‘how do the daughters of God fit in his kingdom and are we equally valued? ”  As I grew into a teenager, that question got more and more urgent for me to answer and more filled with pain and doubt. I had experiences that added to my doubt.  I tried to resolve these questions by talking to leaders, friends, family and though everyone was helpful and kind, no one could ultimately resolve this issue for me.  I eventually realized that I needed to try asking the source of truth and light- My Father in Heaven. One day I knelt down in prayer and with sobs and frustration I petitioned my God to help me with this doubt. Sisters for reasons I know have nothing to do with my merit, my Father in Heaven graced me with an unforgettable answer that day. Experiences with the Divine aren’t easy to explain but I instantly understood the value and love our Father has for his daughters and it exceeded what my human heart thought possible! What I felt of his love and value for his daughters truly astonished me. I closed the prayer, and opened my eyes and said with a little shock “oh I didn’t know.” The doubt I had wrestled with for years was now replaced with knowledge.  

 

We are members of a church that is founded on personal revelation. Our Savior said in Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Our Father in Heaven is generous and delights to bless us. While I’ve noticed that He doesn’t duplicate others' experiences or bend to our Spiritual expectations, He does give us answers to our prayers, on His time, in His way. I know there are Heavenly answers for every one of our questions.

Find my Faith

 Fast forward 25 years and serious doubt came back to my vision on a very different topic. I did not go looking for doubt, but it found me just the same. For the first time since my teens I had serious and troubling doubts again. Doubt can be so very painful and feeling ashamed does not help and is not necessary!  Like when I was a teen, I knew that I didn’t want to search public opinion for answers to my doubt-instead I knew I needed personal revelation from my Father in Heaven.  I resolved to listen more closely to the whisperings of the Still Small VOICE at that time then I had at any other time in my life so that I could respond the best way to my doubt. I wanted to take the right path. I prayed many times for help and the answer I received this time was very different then when I was a teen.

One night when I was jogging and pondering my doubt, I had a vivid memory come to my mind.  It was a memory I had almost forgotten, when I was lost as a very young girl at night.  My whole family had been attending a play together and as the play ended a huge crowd started pushing towards the many exits. My mother told all her kids to stay together or you will get lost.  My intent as a young child was to obey her, however little by little, so slowly I didn’t notice, I started following the crowd and not my parents.  The crowd almost always seems to be going the wrong way- and by the time I realized that I was separated from my family, the crowd had guided me to an empty parking lot late at night.  I was lost and afraid and crying.  In dark times there always seems to be a kind soul ready to help. A caring woman walked up to me- knowing that I was lost and bent down and offered me guidance. She told me to remember the last place I saw my parents, saying that if I went back there, I would find them. I listened to her advice and ran back immediately and sure enough- they were there where I saw them last, searching for me, with pain in their eyes. Me being lost caused them as much pain as it caused me.

 

Remembering that experience as I was jogging that night was an answer to my prayer. I knew I was still that lost girl who needed to follow that guidance again. I needed to have faith and remember back to the last time I felt my Father in Heaven and Savior near. Remembering our spiritual experiences is a willful act of faith. Part of what makes doubt so destructive to our lives, Sisters, is that it can be so very short sighted. No wonder the prophet Helaman said ‘remember, remember’ to his children. I decided that night to have faith and remember.

Faith Shines Forth

Many years after my decision to have faith, the circumstances that caused me to doubt changed significantly. When I found out about the change, the first thing I thought of was not my own feelings, but of my troops. I thought of all that occurred in our lives in those years. Births, deaths, weddings, baptisms, good times and bad, I was so grateful that my flawed but sincere faith could be a part of my vision for all of it. I was so grateful that my faith was not on hold until my doubt was resolved.

 

In these two experiences with doubt, one time I received knowledge from Heaven, the other time, I was instructed to find my faith. Over the years, it has surprised me to realize that Faith has been every bit as powerful in my life as knowledge has. Joshua Chamberlain and his troops' faith shined brightest BECAUSE of the doubt they faced, not despite it. As we patiently come unto the Savior with our doubts large or small, He can turn them into incredible sources of knowledge, power, strength and most importantly FAITH for our lives.

 

Sisters In the battlefield of life, most of us will face some encounter with doubt but be not afraid, we are daughters of a King, doubt is not our destiny.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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

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

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

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

Heavenly Father is Always There -- I Was Never Left Alone

To be honest, as I was scrolling through this Facebook page I felt so inadequate to be putting my simple thoughts on a page filled with beautifully written words, by some amazingly inspired and strong women. Then I remembered why I “Choose to Believe.” I Choose to believe because I know that no matter how small or inadequate I feel, Heavenly Father still loves me. Just the way I am. He can hear my simple prayers pleading for help throughout the day. He sends me angels here on earth, many in the form of you wonderful sisters, helping me with my kids, being great friends and examples to me. I choose to believe because I know that this simple mother of 5, here in Layton Utah is loved by her Heavenly Father. I know that He answers our prayers, and I know that if we choose to find the good in the world, we will always see His hand it.

In March of this year, just like most of you, I found myself quarantined at home with 5 little ones. 2 of which I was trying to homeschool, and 3 others I was just trying to keep alive. at the time it seemed so lonely and hard, but looking back over the past 7 months I was never left alone. I had ministering sisters checking in on us, neighbors dropping things off, wonderful school teachers who would try and help at the drop of a hat with any questions that we had (and there were a lot!). Bishop emails coming in each week, and awesomely planned social distanced relief society activities. He never left me “alone” but instead he had sent His earthly angels to watch over one another. I choose to believe because if we look hard enough He’s always there, and always has been. He loves me. He loves you. He loves us! That’s why I choose to believe.

Lots of love my sisters,

Kellie

Hold on to Your "Spiritually Defining Memories"

I choose to believe because I love Heavenly Father and His son, my Savior Jesus Christ. My love for them binds me to them. I have felt Their love for me in real, tangible ways - my own spiritual experiences with God. Elder Neil L. Anderson spoke about these experiences in his talk “Spiritually Defining Memories” from the April 2020 General Conference.

Elder Anderson said “Along with the peaceful direction we receive from the Holy Ghost, from time to time, God powerfully and very personally assures each of us that He knows us and loves us and that He is blessing us specifically and openly. Then, in our moments of difficulty, the Savior brings these experiences back into our mind.

Think of your own life. Over the years, I have listened to thousands of profoundly spiritual experiences from Latter-day Saints all across the world, confirming to me beyond any question that God knows and loves each of us and that He eagerly desires to reveal Himself to us. These experiences may come at pivotal times in our lives or in what may at first seem as uneventful happenings, but they are always accompanied by an exceptionally strong spiritual confirmation of the love of God.

Remembering these spiritually defining experiences takes us to our knees, declaring as did the Prophet Joseph: “What I received was from heaven. I know it, and I know that God knows that I know it.

As I think about my own life, I can gratefully say that I too have had experiences where God powerfully and very personally assured me that He knows me and loves me and that He is blessing me specifically and openly. I cling to these experiences and recount these moments when doubt creeps in.

One experience happened a few years ago. I had just learned that someone I loved dearly had left the church. It was a shock and a blow to me. It left me wondering “If they leave, why do I stay?” When the next General Conference came up, I listened intently to Elder Ballard’s talk “To Whom Shall We Go?” Elder Ballard spoke about church members struggling in their faith. It felt so applicable to my life and those around me. I re-read that talk many times. A few weeks after that general conference, I attended a stake training meeting. I was tired and discouraged. As I sat in the meeting I kept thinking “Why am I here? I don’t feel like this is really helpful.” Then the concluding speaker stood to speak. As she began, she said something to the effect of “I had prepared a message, but I don’t actually feel I should share that after all. I want to talk about Elder Ballard’s talk from conference.” At that moment I felt God’s love wash over me in abundance and I knew her words were for me. It was a sacred experience that I cherish. With Elder Anderson and the Prophet Joseph, I also say “What I received was from heaven. I know it, and I know that God knows that I know it.” And once again, I choose to believe.

~Ashley Pabst

Combating Satan's Tactics Day by Day

In the October 2019 Conference, Elder Peter M. Johnson of the Seventy gave some incredible counsel that I am just now beginning to fully appreciate.

In his talk, he discussed how we can find peace, remember who we are, and overcome the three Ds of the adversary. Those three Ds were Deception, Distraction, and Discouragement.

If ever there was a time when we are seeing these tactics of Satan’s being used in full force, it is today.

I choose to believe my Savior and my Father in Heaven. I choose to believe the promises They have made. I know that if we read our scriptures, pray, partake of the sacrament, repent, attend our church meetings, go to the Temple (when we can!), and remember that we are daughters of God; we will be just fine. It doesn’t matter what goes on in this world.

I know this is easier said than done. So, one of my most favorite ways to remember these principles, to truly feel peace, and to fight back against the deception, distraction, and discouragement is to be out in this amazing world our Father has created for us. So, my dear Sisters; if you are struggling to believe or to feel peace during this time and haven’t found your own way yet, please use mine.

~Mona Andrus

In "Simplifying" I Hear Him

Every year for New Years I pick one word that I want to focus on for the upcoming year. My husband teases me and tells me not to pick such good words because without fail the Lord teaches me (and my family) lessons on the word that I have chosen. Usually they are hard lessons, but worth it. This year I picked the word 'Simplify'. Now some might think that 2020 has been anything but simple, but 2020 has taught me what's truly important and what can be weeded out. My husband got furloughed before Christmas and was furloughed for 7 months. With my husband being home, the soft closure of the schools, the 'stay at home' order, and having a high risk child, needless to say we have spent a lot of time together this year. It's been wonderfully trying! We didn't have any of the usual busy/normal life stuff to fill our time. We had each other. We laughed, cried, fought, played, prayed, and learned. I took this time to refocus on the Savior and follow the prophets council to "Hear Him". 2020 has been noisy. Things are constantly changing. But there is one thing that has remained the same and always will... the love of our Savior. It's simple. I choose to follow Him because he is constant. When I get caught up in the noise of the world and social media, I refocus on the Savior and I instantly feel His peace. He does not take away the problem, but he strengthens me to be able to take another step. It has not been an easy year for any of us. I have been so grateful for the opportunity the Lord gave me to 'simplify' so I can 'hear Him' more clearly. Next year I hope I can learn the lessons of my word more quickly so we don't have to shut the world down with another pandemic!

~Brittney Patane

I KNOW How This Story Ends...

Nine years ago, I got a phone call early in the morning from my brother that rocked my world. He told me we lost my baby brother in a car accident. My dad was living with us at the time, and telling him he'd just lost his son was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. It was unexpected and devastating. So many things surrounding that event left us with broken hearts, and unanswered questions, even to this day. But there were miracles too.

The days and months following the accident I remember feeling comforted and lifted up beyond anything this earthly world could offer. I remember that even through the pain and heartache, there were tender mercies and peace. One of the tender mercies I believe I received, was a greater perspective on the Plan of Salvation. It was like my eyes were opened to better understand the scale of eternity, and how this life really is but a "moment" in the grand spectrum. I realize our Father in Heaven has a plan for each of us. It's so individual and intricate, every detail is known by Him. There's no experience, good or bad, he doesn't know about or want to be with us through.

The greatest gift of all, is my strengthened relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have felt Him by my side, bringing comfort and peace, even through the hard times. Right now, in this uncertain world with chaos all around, I'm grateful for this broadened perspective that I have such a strong testimony about, because I KNOW how this story ends. We just have to keep choosing to believe, every single day, no matter what happens. This life is a wonderful, crazy, beautiful, faith testing roller coaster, and the true test, is holding on until the very end of the ride.

I'm grateful for the Plan of Happiness, and that it's a light in this dark world. I choose to believe, again and again, because I've never been happier than when I can feel my Savior near me. I imagine Him, returning to the earth in all his glory, with choirs of angels, and the majesty of that moment, awaited and foretold for thousands of years!! And THAT is worth all the trials and sacrifices this life can bring.

~Jessica Barber

In Uncertainty and Chaos, Choose to Lean on What You Do Know

Why do I choose to believe? Because my Heavenly Father knows me: my name, my insecurities, my history, my mistakes, my dreams, and my potential. He provides trials opportunities that make me grow, and blessings that I don’t deserve. The more I study the scriptures and the gospel, the more sense it makes to my spirit. Obviously, not everything makes sense to my mind, especially during these times when injustices are exposed, and chaos is all around us. 2020 as a whole isn’t making sense! But when I reflect on what I do know – that priesthood power is real, that the Holy Ghost is quiet, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have patience when the world around me doesn’t, I choose Them. I choose the peace They bring. I choose the comfort They provide. I choose Their Plan of Happiness and Their Good News. I choose to look to the leaders They have selected, and I sustain, human though they are. We are all in this perfect testing ground – and what a test it is! I love my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, and I know they love me. I’ve felt their love in the quiet times, and that love sustains me in the chaotic times.

~Maren Lythgoe

Heavenly Father has Prepared Us for This Time

As I contemplate the past few months I realize how much I have taken for granted. Church attendance, travel, steady ground, jobs/financial security, gathering with friends and family, shopping and buying what we need when we need it, going to a hair salon... just to name a few. I'm happy for things slowly getting back to normal, and was very grateful to have been able to attend church today for the first time in months. My prayers continue for things to get better with this sickness that our world is facing, along with other problems that seem to divide people.

I choose to believe and have faith that our Heavenly Father has prepared us for this time and it plays some part in his plan for us that we can't always comprehend (Mosiah 4:9), and that we should take heed of the counsel of the prophet and apostles. This can also stress me out a bit; especially when things don't go as WE plan... but prayer and my testimony of our Savior also calms me and gives me hope. I know He lives and is there for us always.

~Lorna Gillespie

I Can Take God's Hand and Let Him Guide Me Through

I choose to believe because I know I have a loving Heavenly Father that wants me to learn and grow in this life and return to Him. I know my Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me so that can happen. I know I have ancestors that had unbelievable strength and faith in the gospel that are cheering me on from the other side. I often think of them and the many trials they endured to help me through rough days. Life will never be smooth sailing all of the time. That was never the plan. I don’t usually know why I’m faced with the trials that come my way, but I can either let them crush me and tear me down, or take God’s hand and let Him guide me through and strengthen me to be the person I need to be to return to Him.

I choose to believe because I can feel my Savior’s love surround me when I turn to Him. I know everything we face in this life will be worth it when we endure with faith and finally enter the presence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.

~April Klavano

Fear Not ... You are Not Alone

Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me D & C 50:41. I was called to be the Relief Society President in my ward one week before the nation shut down due to Covid-19. Already feeling intimidated by this new calling, fear began to creep in as we began to navigate through our new normal. I kept telling myself to “Fear not” and to rely on my Savior, Jesus Christ. So I prayed more intently and dove into the scriptures and General Conference. Since then, I have felt a wave of comfort and love come over me. I realized that I wasn’t doing this calling alone, that I had the support of my family and especially the Lord. I was fully relying upon the Lord and he was making my weakness become strong. I know that my Redeemer Lives and He is aware of each of us during our trials and moments of inadequacy. I am so thankful to be a member of this church and to live at this time as we get to help prepare the world for the second coming. This is why I choose Him, I choose to Hear Him everyday of my life!!!

~Jessica Toronto

"I Will Choose Him Again"

This page has been more poignant to me than I could have imagined. It has brought me comfort and peace, and enlarged my faith. We don't ever plan on walking through a crisis of faith with someone very close to us. We don't plan on having our beliefs challenged by those we thought were on the path with us. It's hard to not have the answers to their questions. I've found myself wondering, "what if they're right? Have I been following blindly, without thinking for myself? Am I being scammed, played, defrauded?"

But every time these thoughts come to my head, they are pushed out by the title of this group. I choose to believe. No one is pressuring me, tricking me. I choose this gospel.

Those thoughts are pushed out by an inspired primary song. "Even though it's still hard, with questions that arise every day..." Or "I will choose him again! For he's our Savior and Friend..."

When I feel like things around me are crumbling, peace blossoms when I feel the sunshine in my face. I see those poor crunched tulips that I ran over bloom with bright confidence, not caring what other people might think of the way they are growing.

Joy bubbles through the doubt when my toddler finally convinces me to jump on the "twamp" with her, even though I know I'll probably pee my pants doing it.

Every one goes through trials. Everyone has questions sometimes. But I am so grateful for these tender mercies from a loving heavenly father. These little fireflies of assurance are just enough light in the mist of doubt and depression and darkness to remind me that I DO have a testimony of my own. There are questions and doubts that arise, but every time they do I get one of these little flickers reminding me that Heavenly Father knows as loves me. And then, again, I choose to believe.

~Kim Porter

He is in Every Detail of My Life

 

I choose to believe because I know my Savior lives and loves me. This past year has brought many events – and unexpected changes – for our family. Through it all, I choose to believe because I know that no matter what we are asked to do, if we do it with faith and hope, and an eye single to His plan, (even if we don’t know the outcome) we can accomplish all that is set before us and all that we are asked to do. I choose to believe because it brings me comfort. It brings me peace, happiness, and joy to know that I can feel the love of a Heavenly Father who is aware of me, who knows me, and who loves me unconditionally. He is there for me. I cannot deny that He is in every detail of my life. I have felt His love and His witness in many ways. I choose to believe because of my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and His eternal plan!  ~Ericka Schade

Lean into Faith and Away from Fear

I choose to believe in a loving Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ and his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is a choice and I find that I need to keep choosing to believe everyday! This life is not without heartache and challenges which everyone goes through especially with Covid & the unique trials it brings. I choose to believe because it gives me hope, faith, charity, and endless joy! I am happier, and a much better person when I choose to believe and lean into faith and away from fear. ~Chrissy Young

He Knows My Need

"I choose to believe because I see His hand in my life every day, even in small things if I look. Right before all this craziness broke out, we started redoing our family room. To make a long story short, there were issues with the painting and our painter told us we would have to refinish some walls because the paint wouldn’t work. He said he would try but he didn’t think it would work. I was devastated! My husband had worked really hard and we didn’t have the energy or time to redo it. I broke down in tears in prayer to my Heavenly Father asking if there was any chance for a miracle, even in this little thing that the painting would work. I left to take care of my mom. While there, I received a text from the painter that it looked great! It didn’t need redone. It was a little miracle to me. I believe because I know the power of prayer and fasting. Even in things that seem trivial, He knows they are important to me. I choose to believe because I can look back at the recent changes in the church and what we have been asked to do by the prophet and see that we were being trained and prepared to handle the trials for this crazy time. It’s such a turbulent time with the uncertainty of the economy and jobs, as well as the illnesses, but the more I remember Him, the more peace I have and am hopeful for the future." -Nancy C.

Our Savior Can Be With Us...Right Where We Are

"Yesterday my husband asked me to run make some copies at the church for our ward. I got all our kids set up doing schoolwork and then did a mad dash. I walked into the dark, quiet building and was scurrying down the hall when I was stopped in my tracks by this big, beautiful picture of the Savior...reaching out to me. The first thought that came into my mind was, 'He's still here!' I just had to sit for a moment and be still in a place that I knew He was. While I hope I never again take for granted being able to be in His holy house(s)...our churches and temples...I choose to believe that even and especially in times like these He is not waiting there until we come back. I choose to believe in a Savior who is with us wherever we invite Him, reaching out with love and peace and offering His strength to help us through." -Miriam F.