My TESTIMONY.

I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me, and I love Him. I know He hears me. And I know He cares. I know without a doubt that he answers my prayers. Sometimes I feel like a spoiled child because it seems that EVERY thing I have asked for, I have received. Just as the scriptures say Luke 11:9-13 "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask break of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" I know that the things that are important to me, are also important to him because He wants me to be happy. Even and especially the little things, the details that shouldn't be so significant to anybody but are to me. From burned fingers, to foot injuries, to dog issues, to finding matching socks (irnonically this prayer was a pretty desperate one, but was STILL answered...), to locating important papers, to making the budget work, finding encouragement and hope, my list goes on and on of prayers that he as answered. Most often times through other people. Through the past few years I have learned over and over that specific prayers will receive specific answers. One of my favorite quotes is "God is ANXIOUSLY waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe.” We must believe that He will. I continue to learn and relearn many lessons and most recently my lesson learned is to "BE STILL and know that I am." That when things get hectic and I feel like I'm not getting answers that all I need to do is pray, stay calm and be patient for the answer. While remaining calm. THAT seems to be the hard part for me because I am continually telling myself that "If I don't do this, who will? This is MY responsibility and nobody else's" etc. I think that many times I say my prayers and then jump up to get to work answering my own prayer. And I'm not so good at answering prayers. It's very hard for me to let someone else take control of my life when lately it seems like I have had no control. I overcompensate and try to gain as much control over everything I possibly can. My poor kids. :( The truth is I've had control all along. Just not how I was expecting. I may not completely remember the conversation in which my earthly trials were discussed, and I'm honestly glad that I don't. But the truth is I CHOSE THIS. And the truth is that given the chance I would not give these experiences back or trade them with anyone. The truth is I am SO very grateful for the opportunity to struggle and to be humbled because when all is said and done it has driven me to gain a stronger relationship with my Father and with my brother, Jesus Christ. Just like in the Book of Mormon. I've heard comments about people not liking the war chapters, and it's true, there's a lot of disgusting behavior and sadness in them. I, personally, happen to love them. Not for those things but for the very specific prayers voiced and the very specific answers given. It seems to me that the times when they struggled the most are the times when Heavenly Father sent miracle after miracle. I am so grateful for the specific prayers that He has answered for me. I want Him to know that I love Him with all my heart and am so grateful for his love, trust, patience and faith in me. I am so grateful for the tender mercies He gives me daily. I am so grateful for this gospel. For the commandments we are given that if followed really do lead to true happiness. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. I testify that it IS TRUE. I'm so grateful for the examples of the people who lived and struggled and believed and had hope and faith, for the prophets who sacrificed and loved and taught them. I'm so grateful that they wrote their stories down so that I could read them and apply the lessons they learned and the teachings they were given into my own life. I testify that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I'm grateful for him for having the courage to stand alone. For enduring the persecutions he endured. For the dedication he had to our Father in Heaven and for his desires to do as he was asked. He didn't have to. He could have said "this is too much" and walked away, but he didn't. Because of his love for Heavenly Father and Jesus, for his family, and for us. I'm grateful for his sweet Emma. I'm so grateful to my brother Savior Jesus Christ, for loving me enough to dedicate his existence to save me, to carry my burdens, to comfort and sustain me with his hand, to wash away my sins and heartache. He promised that he will provide. And He has, in so many ways. I love Him with all my heart and I bear this testimony of Him. I KNOW he lives.