As a young boy I was raised in a single parent household. My mother worked hard to provide for my family. With three kids she ran us around to different practices and games, choir and band concerts, or just to go to friend’s houses. Most days never felt as if they were chaos free. The one day that was able to become chaos free was on Sundays when we all got ready for church to go and worship. My mother did an amazing job instilling in our family a foundation of church on Sunday. As I grew older I moved away from home and my foundation of church crumbled for days of sleeping in, shopping, or just being with friends. I had completely abandoned my mother’s testimony that I relied on as a youth. Life wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t say I felt on top of the world. As I tried to figure out what spiritual path to take I went to the temple and sat outside and prayed and asked should I live the gospel or was this not for me?
The answer to my prayer was to honestly look in the mirror. Was I happy living the life I was? I wasn’t able to look in the mirror and feel proud of who I was. I wasn’t truthfully happy in living a non-spiritual life. As I found my way back into a church weekly and to the temple regularly I found my stresses and my worries melt away. I felt as if burdens were literally lifted off of my shoulders.
I know that Christ atoned for my sins. I know that through his atonement and through his gospel is a path to true and lasting happiness. I testify that it isn’t always easy to live a gospel centered life, but I know that it is worth it. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today and that if we listen and heed his council we will know what The Lord expects of us. Amen.
Derek
Dallas, Texas