Dear Dad Part 1

Friday, March 31, 2006

Dear Dad,
I just read again your written testimony I received last week. Thank-you so much! I love having it. I love being able to read and re-read it. It is scripture to me. In my youth I used to hear you occasionally bear testimony in fast and testimony meeting. Such an opportunity comes rarely now.

The past year has been exceedingly difficult for me health wise, but I wouldn't change a thing to make it easier! Let me explain. I have always wanted to attend my church meetings, be obedient and try to be good and nice, go to the temple, read my scriptures, support my leaders, do my VTing and other callings. Some days I have been more successful than other days. But at times I have not understood how I could have the Gospel and all the blessings I have in my life and still not feel the joy described in the scriptures. During the past year some things have occurred.

1) My health has gotten worse
2) We were called to be missionaries with the Addiction Recovery Program in our stake
3) I have learned and tried to applied those principles
4) I spent two weeks in the hospital
5) I was asked to give a presentation on trials in our stake RS Enrichment Meeting

Mixing all these things together has greatly strengthened my testimony of the Savior and the Atonement. In our ARP Meetings I have come to truly understand that I am a Child of God. I have sung that song for years, but didn’t internalize it for myself until recently.

There are two reasons we are on Earth. One is to get a body.  Done. The second is to be tried and tested. The test is whether we will turn to the source of healing and comfort, the Savior. I have learned that in the Plan of Happiness the purpose of trials is to cause us to need to turn to the Savior.