Hello friends and fellow saints,
I pray that you are all found healthy and in good spirits. We have so much to be thankful for. We are reminded of the gracious and all-loving character of our Heavenly Father when the things that we enjoy, and love are pulled from our daily lives. We may have had uncertainty of employment replace our security, we may have had illness touch our lives or the lives of loved ones and replace the idea that we are immune. We may have had death touch close to home without the benefit of sharing that grief physically, through embraces, knowing glances and heartfelt comments, which replaces our shared love with somewhat cold virtual events. These are not trifling events. These events can drive us to examine ourselves, to examine what we hold dearest and to examine our direct communication with our Father. His all-knowing, all-loving character can and will provide solace in times of peril or dismay. The events of the last few months have certainly changed our lives. I pray the change that has occurred be a change for the better, a change that turns us toward our God and His Son, Jesus Christ. A change that helps us recognize the blessings that can be found even in the most troubling times.
When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.
President Russell M. Nelson (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng)
There is commotion and there will be more commotion, but there is peace and if we choose to seek out the source of peace, there will be more peace.
I am grateful to you my fellow saints. I am grateful for your caring and compassion. May our Father in Heaven look upon you and fill your hearts with the sweetness and mercy of His all-consuming love.
Today, we have the pleasure of hearing from Brother Lynn Payne. I am thankful for his comments. I hope that you will ponder his message today.
LYNN PAYNE
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As I reached another year older this week, I thought about my testimony and how I was able to gain it.
I have always been a member of the Church. My parents were not active in my younger years, if I went to any meetings, Primary, or priesthood, I had to go on my own. If did anything at church I had to do it by myself. It wasn’t until a Priest Quorum advisor made a visit to my home when I was 16 years old, and we had just moved into a new ward, he invited me to priesthood, I was still a deacon at the time, When I started attending priesthood and enrolled in seminary is when my testimony really started to grow.
Growing up I had good friends that helped me along the way to strengthen my testimony and they encouraged me to go on a mission. My mission was a great experience for me and helped me gain a better understanding of the gospel.
When I got home, I got married and started my family. My testimony came as I participated in the Church callings and activities.
I believe that we have to work daily on our testimony. It will not stay with us if we do not work on it regularly.
I am thankful for my wife and all that she has done for me, for my children and grandchildren, life would not be complete without them.
I have a testimony of Family History and the joy of learning about my ancestors and their hardships and challenges. As I learn about them and read their stories it helps me appreciate what they went through and strengthens my testimony also.
I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and God the Father, and Jesus Christ, his Son and the Holy Ghost.
I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is true, I am thankful for all my blessing and for the many things I have in this life.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Riverdale 7th Ward 
You must be logged in to post a comment.