A Testimony of the Restoration

Before I even learned to read, I received a book from my Aunt Freda Smith that soon grew to be my favorite. it was a thick volume of Illustrated Stories from the Bible for children. Once I learned to read, I spent hours reading the stories late at night. Now don't tell anyone, because I'm sure my parents thought I was sound asleep! I loved to look at the religious art pictures as I read each story, trying to imagine what it felt like to be there, what else I might have seen if I had been present. I loved to think about the courage of Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego or Daniel, who had the courage to worship God, even when it meant there could be serious consequences for them. My faith grew and I felt God's love when I read that He had saved and protected them. When I went to children's classes at different churches, I already knew well many other stories of faith and courage I had discovered in the pages and had begun to feel God's Spirit speak to me. My soul hungered for more. Months before that I had begun attending various churches.  Sometimes I attended with neighbors or friends, but most often my parents would drop me off and return for me after services were finished.

On one particular Sunday, my Dad brought me to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the first time, and left me there alone to attend, just as he had done at other churches.It was here that the seed of my testimony of the Restoration was planted. Dad gave my name and age to a good brother who met us at the door, and asked what time he should return for me. Although this good brother invited him to stay as well, Dad clenched his cigar tightly in his teeth declined but promised to return, then left me there. (I still giggle when I think of that- Dad really tried to resist!) It was quickly determined that Sister Karen Orgill was to be my teacher, so I was brought to the pew where she and her children were seated in the Chapel during the opening exercises, so that I could know where to go when the time for classes arrived. I was immediately introduced to and befriended by her son, David, who would also attend the class since he was my age. David proudly informed me his Dad was named Bishop and was sitting at the front of the chapel. He sat next to me and carefully explained as each thing happened during the meeting. Oh, there were many new things to experience! David would say, "We're going to do this next," and in response to my puzzled looks (what, exactly IS the Sacrament?), his mother would say, " David, Shh!". Soon he just said, "just watch and see, you can ask questions later." I think this was pretty much a miracle, that another 7 year old could know enough to share what he knew with me. That had never happened at other Churches I attended!

Soon the opening meeting ended and it was time to go to different classes.  I was again welcomed there as we joined a group of children my age in a classroom. Sister Orgill had prepared a special lesson and when she began to speak, I recognized the feelings that I had felt when I read bible stories. Feelings of peace and comfort. Feelings of happiness. Even when I didn't completely understand, I knew I felt happy and warm in a way I had not felt before and it felt good and right. Sister Orgill explained that our lesson that day was about something called The First Vision. The room was fairly silent as she began to tell the story, using some religious pictures I'd never seen before. My imagination was sparked, I listened carefully. This young boy, Joseph Smith, had read the bible too! He had attended different churches just like I had! He had determined that he needed to know for himself about God, and so he prayed. This was something new to me. Despite my having attended other churches for quite some time, an individual prayer that wasn't a recited prayer or read from a prayer book was a new idea for me. I'd never considered that. But as Sister Orgill continued, I felt more clearly and distinctly that the Holy Ghost was bearing witness of things that were true. The idea that God and Jesus Christ could appear to man wasn't new or strange, since I had already read biblical accounts of this happening to Moses, Abraham and others. In fact, hearing Joseph's experience answered a question that had caused me to question the Pastor in another church when he said God had not a body and no man could see Him. How could Moses see God if God didn't have a body? Well, Joseph Smith knew and now I had just learned it too! SO many questions were answered in just that one lesson!

Looking back, I think Sister Orgill was inspired as she taught for I don't remember the thing that happened next ever happening again in a children's class I attended. But it became a sacred experience for me that day. Sister Orgill  asked the others in the class if they would like to bear their testimonies of the Gospel and of the First Vision. First, she bore her testimony, which spoke deeply to my soul. Next, several other children did as well, including my new friend David. (I think now, looking back, that he was a natural missionary).  Eventually, everyone but me had spoken. Sister Orgill looked at me and asked if I had anything I wanted to say. She sensed that my heart was nearly bursting with sweet and tender feelings. although I had just barely learned what a testimony was, I felt I had something to say, so I did. I said that even though all of these things were new and amazing to hear, I had felt the familiar feelings of the Holy Ghost and believed that the First Vision had happened. As I spoke, I felt that feeling again and knew that I wanted to return to this church again and again, to learn as Joseph had, more of the things that were true.

Well, you know that was just the beginning. A testimony of anything requiring faith has to be cared for and nurtured. Learning has to continue for a testimony to flourish. Just as Joseph Smith wasn't content to sit with the miraculous knowledge he'd received, I couldn't just sit with my new found understanding. Joseph continued to learn, continued to pray and seek information from God. And over the years, in addition to regularly attending church, I have done much the same. As a young pre-teen, I read books about the history of the Church and about Joseph Smith. I visited Church historic sites as a teenager, trying to absorb the feelings more deeply. At every turn, my understanding and testimony grew. Eventually, I made a serious study of the marvelous work called the Book of Mormon, and received a sacred witness of it's truthfulness as well.

President Russel M. Nelson has invited us to ponder how our lives would be different without the knowledge of the Restoration. Thankfully, I can clearly remember the time before and the time after I gained that tiny spark of testimony. Peace and Joy entered my life to a degree I had not known before. I gained a deeper understanding of God's love for me. A few weeks after that day, my mother began to attend church with me.  After a few months, she and  I were baptized, and a few years later, my father as well.  Our family was sealed in the Holy Temple as a forever family, to eternally enjoy the blessings of the Gospel. It's true there have been times of trial. But as the scriptures promise, there has also been joy to equal the trial. For me, one of the greatest blessings of the Restoration is Peace beyond all understanding, and a deep knowledge that God loves me individually and provides blessings and experiences designed to help me learn and grow and return to Him. 

Without the blessings of the Restoration, all of this would be lost to me and to my family. So many other blessings come to mind, most are too precious to write. I can say that my testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel has grown since that day in Sister Orgill's class. My testimony of the Book of Mormon began that day as well. I love the perfect words of that book and the peace and power I receive when I drink from it's fountain. I am SO blessed and so grateful!