Testimony

From Mindy Ann Selu's article By Small and Simple Blogs, January Ensign 2016
Our Church leaders have instructed us to use technology as a means to share the gospel with others. And though it’s sometimes scary to make myself vulnerable by sharing personal feelings, I know that my words can positively influence others. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counselled us to not give in to what the Apostle Paul calls the “spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7): “Do not be afraid to share with others your experiences as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. We all have interesting stories that have influenced our identity. Sharing those stories is a nonthreatening way to talk to others. Telling those stories can help demystify the Church.”

Mindy encourages us to bare our Testimonies, sharing the Restoration of the Gospel, on blogs and other social media. She uses the admonishment from Elder M. Russell Ballard that he stated in the July 2008 Ensign "May I ask that you join (the online conversation about the Church) by participating on the Internet to share the gospel."
It's now 2016 so what have I done about it? I have shared my Testimony on Facebook but not explicitly about the restoration of the Gospel! I feel that is remiss of me. A young lad named Joseph Smith had a question to ask God when he was about fourteen in the upper state of New York in 1820. At the time there was a lot of religious fervour in the district, the then Churches vying to bring people into their Churches, but many offered different interpretations of the Bible to make it difficult for the young lad to know which was the right Church. So after reading James 1:5 'If 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.' , Joseph decided to ask. He went to the woods in early spring of 1820 and there to his amazement met two Personages, God the Eternal Father and His only begotten son Jesus Christ. The Father admonished joseph to heed Him, and through Jesus Joseph learnt that none were right. That led to Joseph receiving the Gold Plates and the translation of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of Christ's church on earth again. Today I have embraced that Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, for I know for sure that it is His Church and I participate in its programmes, have callings, currently editor of the Relief Society newsletter, and attend as regular as I can the Lord's Holy House, His Temple! I believe that this Church is for the Salvation of men and can lead them back to the presence of out Father in Heaven. Thank you Mindy Ann Selu for the encouragement to write this.