A Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

After BYU football’s comeback win in the Pop Tart Bowl, the coach Kilani Sitake spoke about his admiration for the senior class of players. On national television he lauded the fact that they have a testimony and belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I immediately thought of Paul’s words to the Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). He was not ashamed to speak of his faith and the conviction of so many of the players who value their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ even more than winning football games.

In the most recent general conference, Elder Kevin G. Brown spoke about the gift of testimony and encouraged us choose to believe and develop our testimonies of the gospel. He said, “I invite you to think about your path to a sure witness of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Take charge of your testimony; use your agency wisely and acknowledge the giver and all His glorious attributes. I bear witness that the power is within you. No one can choose for you. No one can take this gift away. You can choose to believe.” He quoted these words of President Nelson urging us to take responsibility for our testimony of the gospel: “I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth.” Though a testimony is a gift from our Father in Heaven, we must work to receive it and show Him that we are willing to live by it when it comes. As we choose to study the scriptures, sincerely pray, worship at church with the Saints, and keep His commandments, we are inviting the Holy Ghost to bear witness to us. We cannot control when that witness will come, but do things to make an invitation for the Spirit of the Lord to come more fully into our lives. I think these words of Alma apply to our efforts to gain a testimony of the truths of the gospel: “But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life” (Alma 32:41). We need to nourish a testimony through diligence, patience, and faith as we seek to come to know the Lord.

Elder Brown also explained why we should even want to gain a testimony in the first place. He said, “Your testimony will be a ‘well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.’ It will be an anchor and a motivator, and it will sustain you through difficult times. It will enable you to develop spiritual gifts. It will help you in your personal ministry and service. It will be a weapon against Satan and your adversaries. Your testimony will be a joy as you see it replicated in your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and in those you love and serve. It will be powerful when you share it and use it to testify.” These are powerful blessings—a testimony can sustain us and help us in difficult trials in our lives. President Nelson gave some urgency to this when he said, “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” To seek a testimony is to seek the guiding and directing hand of the Holy Ghost to bear witness to us of truth, and we have to have that if we are to survive spiritually. The first step is to desire it, the second step is to ask for it, and the third step is then to do everything we know how to obtain it. As we do, the Lord will bless us in His own timetable with the knowledge and witness that we seek. Here is His promise: “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61).