Here is the testimony of one of my awesome Institute students that she shared with us before moving away. I share it with her permission.
"Let me first start
off by saying that I love this Gospel. It means an awful lot to me. I would not
be alive without it in my life. I know it is true and I know it comes from God.
God loves each and every one of us, even those of us who sin grievously. He is
rooting for us every step of the way and I truly believe that when we take a
fall, are hurt or turn away from Him, He is pained. He loves us so much that he
is devoting His time and effort to make us better. I am truly grateful for
that. I cannot count how many times He has blessed me, even when I thought I
did not deserve it. I know God lives, because I have felt his presence in my
life, I have seen His hand in other people's lives and I have been blessed by
other people's examples and testimonies. I know that the Book of Mormon is true
and is filled with countless 'pearls of great price'. I have been blessed many
times as I have read the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon. I have a
special love for that Book. Whenever I pick one up, no matter what it looks
like, the condition it's in or the language, I can feel the Spirit and the
Spirit testifies to me that God's love is true and very real. I had the
opportunity to go see the first edition Book of Mormon that the U of I has in
their rare book collection. That was a remarkable experience. A man gave a
little history of the Book of Mormon and then he allowed us to look at the Book
of Mormon, as he turned the pages. He also had a few articles and newspapers
that had been printed about the same time as that Book of Mormon. Some were
printed by the Church and others were printed by other organizations. When I
went to look at the things that were displayed there was a big difference from
how I felt when I looked at the newspapers and when I looked at the Book of
Mormon. The newspapers had good things in them, but they didn't have the power
and love that the Book of Mormon has. That book was made for us. It was made to
benefit our lives, to strengthen us, to give us hope, to counsel us. It is a
witness to God's immense love for us. The whole Gospel comes down to love.
God's love. We would not be here if God did not first love us. I am beginning
to understand that love that He has for us. It is wonderful. It is a good thing
to be loved by family members and friends, but it is a magnificent thing to be
loved by God. He loves each and every one of us. He knows each and every one of
us. He cares for each and every one of us. He has endless compassion and mercy
for each and every one of us. He wants each and every one of us to
succeed. Even when we mess up, we can always go back to him. Sometimes we stray
far from His light and it takes awhile to get back to it, but we can get there.
I have had many difficulties in my life and as I have tried to overcome them I
have learned over and over that I can always go back to Him. I can always lean
on Him. I can always seek Him out in times of need and even when things are
great, I can remember Him and praise His name. No matter what I have done, no
matter how stubborn, no matter how forgetful, He will always love me and He
will always have His arms outstretched to gather me in a hug when I come back
to Him. I bear testimony of God's love and I hope and pray that you know it and
cherish it."
6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
(Book of Mormon | Ether 12:6)
Hope On!
