WE CAN LIVE WITH GOD AGAIN

We come to this life to grow and learn and be tested. That all sounds pretty taxing, but it’s not hard to see how much joy we can find here on earth as well. One great part of Heavenly Father’s plan is that all the happiness and satisfaction we get from learning new things and all the love we develop within our families will go with us to the next life.

Just like our family bonds, we can carry the knowledge we gain in this life with us after we die. Contrary to some representations of heaven, we will not be sitting on clouds, gazing at the face of God for eternity. We’ll have more opportunities to grow and challenge ourselves. All these wonderful blessings depend on our faithfulness, here and now, as we work to keep God’s commandments throughout our lives.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY

More than anything else, God wants to help us through this life and bless us with eternal life in the next. He sends His Spirit to offer us this help. But the scriptures say that His Spirit cannot be with us if we are sinful. As hard as we try to live good lives, we all commit sins that separate us from God.

Being separated from God by sin is called spiritual death. We feel a profound loneliness when we separate ourselves from God, our Heavenly Father.

How can we overcome spiritual death and always have God’s Spirit with us if we are imperfect?

I know this to be true. I am far from perfect in every way. I have to continually be repenting of my sins and weaknesses, it is a daily process as it should be for everyone. I have felt the love of God as I have applied Jesus Christ Atonement into my life.

TRUE HAPPINESS

True happiness comes from following Christ’s example and developing Christlike attributes such as obedience, goodness, honesty, gratitude, humility, love, charity, and forgiveness. It comes from serving others and helping them to follow Jesus Christ. It comes from controlling the appetites of our human bodies and following the promptings of the Spirit. It comes from working hard and having a healthy lifestyle, friends, family, and personal achievements

MY TESTIMONY OF THE FIRST VISION

When Joseph Smith was about 14 years old, he was at a point in his life were he wanted to learn more about religion and he wanted to know wich of the many churches that were around he should join, this led to alot of great confusion, his parents attented two different churches, all the churches were telling him to come join our church. Joseph Smith during his time of confusion was doing alot of studing and praying to God. While Joseph was studying he came across a verse in the bibleIf any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5) When Joseph read this scripture it hit him with more power then he had ever felt before, he pondered on this scripture for a while and eventually he decided that he needed to do what James was directing him to do, ask God wich church he should join. He went to a grove of trees near his back yard, when he found himself alone he began to offer his very first out loud prayer to God. this is how he describes his experience. " I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, wich descended gradually until it fell upon me, when the light rested upon me I saw to personages who's brightness and glory defy all descripion, standing above me in the air, one of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, Joseph, this is my beloved son, hear him" What Joseph saw that morning was God the Father and his son Jesus Christ in a vision. What they told Joseph was that he should join none of the churches because they were all an abomination in his site and they all draw near to me with thier lips but thier hearts are far from me. I know what Joseph Smith saw was real, I know that he was chosen by God to restore his church back on the earth today. What a great blessing it has been in my life to have a knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, I don't know were I would be today without it in my life. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, it is real!

ELDER WALTMAN'S TESTIMONY

I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church upon the earth. I know that it has been restored back onto the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is the true word of God, I have felt it's power as well as the happiness and the joy that it brings into my life, I have been able to find answers to prayers from reading the Book of Mormon. I know that Thomas S.  Monson is a true living prophet on the earth today and I know that he does recieve revelation directly for our day. I'm greatful to be a missionary, I know this work is real, I know God lives and he loves us each very much, I'm greatful for his son Jesus Christ and for his Atoning sacrifice for us!