I recognize for most of you (and if I were honest I would include myself too) this makes perfect sense and its what we've been taught since we learned how to spell journal. What else is a journal if not a place to express, state, and lay it all out there? For some reason, all though I love deep discussion and especially love to talk, journaling (or blogging-those words can be interchangeable for this post) is very daunting. I suppose you could say it was procrastination, but the more I ponder it the more I don't feel it falls into that category-and believe me that is no excuse, I can procrastinate anything without hesitation (did you get it?). Somehow I can't figure this one out. I love to write, I think about blogging all the time, I enjoy other blogs, and I have time.
Well for whatever reason, this impression was strong enough for me to want to write it down so I wouldn't forget, and here we are. So I guess for this first post on my new kick (and in honor of when the thought struck me) I want to share my testimony.
I think a lot about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not necessarily the doctrinal truths themselves, but because they have been part of my my whole life, there is always a little inkling somewhere in my thought process. I know that I am a daughter of a living Heavenly Father. Mostly because I have been given no reason to doubt it. Some may say well you can't prove it-but my mind doesn't work that way. You can prove math and I still don't understand it so that isn't really an argument. Others may say there is no way to know for sure-there is no way to know for sure of anything (without getting too philosophical, because I am not well versed in that area) how do I know my husband loves me, or that my son or any other member of my family or close friends love me? Because they tell me so? Sure. Because I feel it? Yep. Because I love them back? You got it.
There are lots of questions in the world, I have lots of questions about lots of subjects and lots of people have answers, but in the end we will believe what we feel to be true and right regardless of the proof or knowledge given. Until something can change our feelings about something, we don't really change our mind.
The very notion of believing that God is my Heavenly Father leads very easily into believing in the rest of the doctrines and teachings. LDS.org has made it so easy to search anything. They provide a list and brief summaries of 9 basic doctrinal principles:
1. Godhead
2. Plan of Salvation
3. Atonement of Jesus Christ
4. Dispensation, Apostasy, and Restoration
5. Prophets and Revelation
6. Priesthood and Priesthood Keys
7. Ordinances and Covenants
8. Marriage and Family
9. Commandments
The Lord has given us eternal truths, or principles, that help govern our decisions and actions. These principles lead us to live as the Savior and receive His promised blessings.
Now, while I don't have answers to all my questions (let alone answers to all of anyone's questions and neither do you), the things I do believe in, give me the faith to believe in the things I don't understand or have a hard time trusting. President Uchtdorf said it best, "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters—my dear friends—please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. We must never allow doubt to hold us prisoner and keep us from the divine love, peace, and gifts that come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
I know this has gone quite long, and it doesn't make for a quick read (which are my favorite), but I am happy to have written it down at least. Wish me luck in my new endeavor ;)
"I don't know,
But I don't need to know,
Because I know God knows,
And that's all I need to know."
-Brother Ron Bartholomew
