They did see and bear record.

This morning I read from 3 Nephi 17.  Jesus teaches some valuable things in this chapter, especially as they pertain to temple worship.  Does He call out temple worship?  Of course not!  This teaching is for all things we are preparing for as they pertain to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  However, he “perceives” they are weak and cannot understand everything he says.  Four things he tells them to do – 4 P’s. 

• Perceive (recognize)
• Ponder
• Pray (ask)
• Prepare 

As it pertains to temple worship, we must take time before going and realize we are being taught more than meets the eyes and ears.  We must recognize that the things of the Spirit are taught by the Spirit and we must ponder what that means in our lives.  Then we need to ask Heavenly Father to show us the mysteries of the temple.  After we have prayed, it’s important that we prepare for this experience.  To just throw on our clothes and race out the door might allow us to feel the spirit, but we must thoughtfully think of where it is we are going, what it is we will be doing, and ask for the blessings we desire before we go. 

I really like the lesson taught by the mission president in the Provo Temple last year as we attended special sessions with the members of the ward for their Ward Conference preparation.  He told us every time he got dressed in the morning, he would say to himself “I am putting on the garment of the Holy Priesthood of God”.  This prepared him for the sacred duty it is to wear this sacred clothing.  

As if in tandem to my Book of Mormon reading, my Preach the Gospel study added further to this by asking the question: How has your study of the Book of Mormon influenced your testimony of Jesus Christ? 

In answer to this question, I will say I always knew the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true.  I will never forget the first prompting I had with regards to reading it regularly.  It was shortly after General Conference that I was making my bed one morning and said to myself “They’re talking to you, Connie.  You need to be reading the Book of Mormon every day.”  That day began my consistency in reading and I’ve had many opportunities since to learn from others much wiser that I with regards to its teachings.  My testimony has increased and I enjoy studying on my own now.  I have learned to ask myself questions that have brought thought-provoking guidance into my days.

This morning it is one simple verse:  “. . . he wept again;”  Why did Jesus weep for the children?  If anyone in the history of time had a life so full of promise, it was these children.  They had been with the Savior, and he taught them and their parents.  Was he crying for their future?  Didn’t they live in the manner of happiness all their lives?  It was four generations before the people fell totally away from the gospel.  Were they tears of sadness?  Or were they tears of gratitude and joy?  Was he so happy for them he wept?  Have I ever wept from gratitude?  Or joy?  I suppose that is what I’m doing when I bear my testimony and get emotional.  Sometimes I wonder if it is a flaw that I rarely weep.

And where am I going with all this?  I’m not certain.  The Book of Mormon has shaped my life.  I know it is true and I try ever so hard to learn from it so I don’t have to suffer for lack of “knowing”.  It blesses my life as I try to live its principles more fully.  It gives me the rock-solid testimony accompanied by the confirmation of the Holy Ghost, that the Lord is in charge of the details and as long as I live a life worthy of His approval, come what may, my life will be blessed.  

And so the Nephites saw the Savior and did bear record.  So too do I.  I see now many of the mysteries of heaven as they apply to my life.  And this is my testimony:  The things I see I know to be true.  They are not feelings of a frenzied heart, but things the Holy Ghost has made known to me.  It is worth every effort to attain this knowledge and to maintain it by daily studying to grow and understand even more.