"If you do the Lord's work, you'll receive the Lord's Pay!"
Such were the words of Bruce Hafen of the First Quorum of Seventy. The Lord's pay is a TESTIMONY! How does one receive a testimony of the truthfulness of His Work?
He related the story of a missionary who spent 6 weeks at the MTC, and after that time decided that he wanted to go home because he didn't 'feel' he had a testimony. Elder Hafen related that there is more to a testimony than 'feeling.' It comes by study, prayer and reading the Book of Mormon and is received one step at a tine. He reminded the missionaries that as we do these things, we will receive the grace of the Lord and grow spiritually stronger and will be able to teach with power and authority. He reminded of us several important points:
- Parents cannot give their children a testimony!
- The Church is only one generation away from apostasy!
- There are two factors that contribute to children going on a mission and being married int he temple: (1) Children whose parents were married in the Temple and (2) children who experience 'private' religious behavior (rather than public ) such as prayer, reading the Book of Mormon, etc.
- "Sitting in church won't turn you into a saint anymore than sitting in a garage will turn you into a car!"
- Laman and Lemuel never discovered "dealings of God."
- Nephi and Sam discovered 'private world' of God because they desired to know the mysteries of God
- There are two prerequisites to a testimony: Desire and worthiness. He compared the process to falling in love. First, you're not sure; you look for personal qualities; there is a test of feeling/experience; put stress on it; doest it grow and stir?
- Brigham Young said that gaining a testimony is better learned on your feet rather than on your knees."
- The pain of guilt can keep one from admitting the church is true.
- There are three areas that bring a testimony: reasons/rational evidence; spiritual feeling and experience. (1) Reason is not strong enough to gain a testimony; must do our homework first. Neal Maxwell said that "science will not be able to prove or disprove Holy Write. There is not enough evidence to remove inspired faith!" (2) Spiritual feelings as evidenced i n Alma when Alma said "did not our hearts within us stir?" is the spirit of peace. (3) The Incubation Period and experience is knowledge coupled with belief.
- Faith plus action equals a testimony. There is no witness until after the trial of your faith.
- He bore testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God not from 1 experience but from an aggregate of of a lifetime process.
He closed by blessing the missionaries to allow the seed to grow and encouraged them to taste the fruit of eternal life.
Oh, how we bask in the inspired words of wisdom as related through the Spirit at the MTC.
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