Testimonies

As part of the Church’s plan to support the youth theme and events throughout the year, a unique new experience will be coming this fall.

Brandon Flowers, front man of the rock band The Killers, has long been open about his faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also recently shared his testimony with Church leadership.

Latter-day Saint actor Kirby Heyborne is back at it again, and we couldn’t be happier.

People from all backgrounds and religions are choosing to stay in their faith, and this new account on Instagram is a space for them to share why.

Popular Latter-day Saint author and speaker John Bytheway is known for his gospel insights. Here are nine of our favorite quotes from his inspiring teachings.

Editor’s note: “We asked, you answered” highlights memorable responses to discussion questions posed on LDS Living’s social media accounts. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram to contribute.

Editor's note: "This Week from the Pulpit" highlights recent messages by General Authorities and General Officers of the Church.

When Elder Vai Sikahema was a boy, he kept the law of chastity out of respect for his mother. Then it turned into a desire to obey God’s commandments. Now, as a father, Elder Sikahema finds new gratitude in the blessing it was to his children.

This week's FHE lesson topic comes from the Come, Follow Me reading of Ephesians. Check out this week's Come, Follow Me study ideas on LDS Livingfor additional resources and suggestions.

One of the main admonitions that we try to follow as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comes from Nephi in the Book of Mormon:

I must tell you about my dear Aunt Alice, from whom I have learned some wonderful lessons. What a woman she is! She lives in Cardston and is now ninety-three years of age. If you were ever to see her when she was dressed up, you would find her wearing a perky little hat, a delicate chiffon scarf tied at her neck—"to cover the wrinkles," she says—a bright smile on her face, and a twinkle in her eye. A couple of years ago, her son took her to a Saturday night stake dance. This was a happy occasion, she was excited to report to me. She told me that several people had asked her to dance. Her excitement reminded me of a conversation I might have had with a girlfriend fifty years ago.

The story is told of a church that evidently lost some of its parishioners to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In an effort to counterattack, the church put on its marquee the following message: “Don’t read the Book of Mormon—that is how they get you.” And in fact, that is how the Spirit does “get you”: by bearing witness of the truth of that sacred book.

This week’s readings: Acts 22–28

More than 2,000 miles from his destination, a seasick Alan Alderman steered a 28-foot-long boat crammed with five men. While Alderman had initially compared his epic journey across an ocean to those of scriptural giants like Nephi, Noah, and the Jaredites, at that moment Alderman felt more like Laman or Lemuel.

In honor of the 175th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, LDS Living is sharing a series of articles about early Church history. The following is an excerpt from the second edition of Witness to the Martyrdom: John Taylor’s Personal Account of the Last Days of the Prophet Joseph Smith. John Taylor’s narrative is the only eyewitness account of these events in Church history. After the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, John Taylor became “a living martyr” and wrote a personal account of the events. He served as the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This week's FHE lesson topic comes from the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 26,Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 18. Check out this week's Come, Follow Me study ideas on LDS Living for additional resources and suggestions.

After a historic weekend where President Nelson met with Pope Francis and all 15 apostles attended the Rome Italy Temple dedication, the First Presidency and members of the Quorum of the Twelve shared beautiful testimonies of the Savior on social media.

Losing 140 pounds is no easy feat. Just ask Trent Heppler. Never in a million years did he believe that he would one day shed the weight, let alone run a marathon. But Heppler learned that the power to overcome his physical weaknesses—whatever they may be—comes from a spiritual strength gained through the Savior, Jesus Christ. Growing up overweight and self-conscious, Latter-day Saint Trent Heppler always felt that exercise was just another form of torture invented to make him feel inadequate.

There are very few things I can stand at a pulpit and testify I know are true. Among them are that I know my Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother love me with an infinite, unfathomably deep and perfect love, and they are far more merciful to me than I deserve. The second is that I know that Jesus Christ, my brother and Savior, died for me, knows me—my pains, shortcomings, sins, weaknesses, joys, and strengths—entirely, and that He has never and will never abandon me.

What a powerful testimony from this missionary serving in Paradise, California:

Sandra and Steve are a loving Latter-day Saint couple with an ongoing disagreement about Sabbath activities. Sandra likes to listen to sacred music and work on family history projects after church. Steve spends time with their teenage sons, watching football, or shooting hoops in the driveway. Sandra resents Steve for making sports part of their family’s Sabbath routine. Steve feels Sandra is paying attention to dead relatives at the expense of living ones.

Sitting in the back of the chapel during fast and testimony meeting feels like a safe bet—until we get the spiritual prompting to stand up and bear our testimonies. For several minutes, we struggle with whether or not we really should. We rationalize. We're teaching Gospel Doctrine this week. We just bore our testimony last year, right? We don't have anything special to say. We're scared.

This general conference was incredible. We heard so many inspired messages and each talk was a reminder that Jesus Christ lives and this is His church. I was especially touched by the testimonies of the apostles and members of the First Presidency.

"As I sit here in the Salt Lake City airport, I’ve been pondering about the last couple days I was able to spend in Utah with all my family," Latter-day Saint Bryce Harper posted on Sunday, and for good reason.

As we sustained two new apostles this conference weekend, we were able to hear their powerful testimonies of the Savior. Their witnesses flooded our hearts with the Spirit, helping us remember our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our conviction to do His will.

Most often when we talk about testimonies, we refer to feelings. We talk about “feeling the Spirit,” or “feeling good” about a decision, or “feeling impressed” to do something. And yet, when we try to describe how we felt, or exactly what something felt like, we discover it’s very hard to explain. President Boyd K. Packer taught:

It is a shame to say that I do not have many memories with my grandpa. Since the time I can remember, he had always been confined to a bed because of his multiple health problems. Being one of the youngest children in my family, I did not experience those times when Grandpa was young and healthy.

The 17th prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers his witness to the reality of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the faith’s “Special Witnesses of Christ” video series.

While considering serving a mission as a young adult, I enrolled in a BYU class called Mormon Issues. I thought it would prepare me to answer historical questions regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Many years ago, a young man (he was only 23 years old) was called to be the new stake president in Tooele, Utah. In those days, stake conferences had two sessions, and at lunch between the sessions, Joseph F. Smith, one of the General Authorities attending, said to the new stake president, “You said you believe the gospel with all your heart, and propose to live it, but you did not bear your testimony that you know it is true. Don’t you know absolutely that this gospel is true?”

“More needs to be done to increase awareness of, access to and confidence in trusted resources by Latter-day Saints and seekers of truth,” said Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Agostino and Pierina Vardeu were baptized members of the Church in June 1978. Married since 1961, they are among the most influential longtime members in Italy, and they’ve passed their love of the gospel down to four generations so far.

My parents divorced before I was born, setting the tone for an inconsistent religious upbringing. Although my mom grew up in a Mormon family, she was no longer religious. My dad and stepmom were members of the Mormon church but weren’t very active. As a result, I scarcely went to church growing up. I was baptized at 8 years old, but I didn’t understand what it meant.

"I knew I needed to share my story, even though there were parts of my life that I didn’t want to relive," says Sister Reyna I. Aburto in an article recently posted onlds.org.

“I know the Church is true” is one of the first testimonies we hear Primary children repeating. But somewhere along the path to adulthood, even when there is real feeling behind it, it starts to become a thoughtless introduction to the bearing of a testimony.

“The heavens did not open, and that experience was just very quick, but it was as profound to me as if I had seen a concourse of angels," second counselor in the general Young Women presidency Sister Becky Craven said of the unexpected but life-changing experience she had after reading the Book of Mormon.

Twenty-four-year-old Shivam Shah was born in India and raised in Kenya, yet he jokes that it took moving to Draper, Utah, for him to be shot at. It was an attempted murder case that made headlines across the nation, but Shah doesn't remember that terrifying event as the day he almost lost his life—he remembers it as the day God saved his life, setting him on a path that helped him understand the reality of miracles, grace, and Heavenly Father's love.

From age five through fifteen, I was subjected to extreme abuse at the hands of my stepfather. I struggled for years with feelings of great unworthiness. I was quite inactive and bitter as a Church member. My heart became quite hardened. I suppose you could say I was spiritually bruised and broken. I couldn’t bring myself to pray to someone in heaven who was supposed to be my father. I rejected priesthood blessings because even the touch of worthy priesthood holders was a threat. I got so lost in my deep, dark place that I got to thinking that life would be better off without me.

Church members can experience a crisis of faith for a variety of reasons. Whether stemming from a discovery of an unflattering but true account of Church history, a negative interaction with a Church leader, or a recent change in the Church Handbook, each person’s reason is valid and should be treated as such. Here are ways those experiencing a faith crisis can cope, as well as ways loving members can support them.

Named one of Country Music Television’s “Next Women of Country” for 2018 and listed among the “2018 Artists to Watch,” 20-year-old country singer Abby Anderson is not only a rising country star, she is also an active believer in Christ and in the LDS faith.

"It was as close to hell as you can imagine," returned missionary Josh Holt said of his imprisonment in Venezuela. But he also acknowledges, "We have to thank everyone that supported us, everyone that prayed for us, that put our names in the temples. Everyone that was there for us and in the end, thank God, he was the one that got us through it."

In the play and movie "A Man for All Seasons," Sir Thomas More was confined in prison because he refused to sign an oath with which he did not agree. While he was there, his daughter Margaret was allowed to come and visit him to try and convince him to sign so that he could be set free. The following dialog is from their discussion about this matter:

This is the second article in a two-part series about Ron Leishman: his conversion, his faith, and his career. For more about how Ron's family converted to the gospel,click here.

President Russell M. Nelson has already met with Latter-day Saints in the U.K., Israel, and Kenya during his global tour that began April 10, but his messages have been reaching people across the world. Along the way, President Nelson has been sharing his thoughts and insights on Facebook.

This is the first article a two-part series about Ron Leishman: his conversion, his faith, and his career. For more about Ron's mission, his role in creating a superhero legend, and the miracles that fill his life, check back for part two.