It's September 4 and it's the first Sunday of the month. First Sunday of the month is the testimony Sunday in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Testimony is sharing your uplifting experiences and feelings about the Savior Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Today, Bishop Bateman conducted the sacrament services. After the partaking of the sacrament, it was announced that the pulpit is already open for testimony sharing. There were few people who stood up, some were "not prepared" or didn't plan to really stand on the pulpit to say their testimonies. When there was blank space, my nephew Kirby nudged me, signalling I stand and bear my testimony. I wasn't prepared neither! But there was none who was anyway! And so when I found courage, I stood up and bore my testimony.
This was what I remember saying:
Back in the Philippines, whenever we go to Church on Sundays, my daughters and I ride a tricycle. A tricycle is a motorcycle with a side car that carries 3-4 passengers. Every time we ride a tricycle, I would instruct the driver to bring us to the true Church. And the driver would ask: "Where is that?", and my answer will always be "Just few meters away, at the Mormon Church". My daughters would often give me a look, or a word "mommy", in the most disgusting manner, or sometimes they just smile or laugh. For the whole time that I was with them, they got used to have me say to the driver on Sundays, "We're going to the True Church". And whenever the driver will ask "Where is that?", my answer will always be "At the Mormon Church!"
When I arrived in Canada, my sister told me that I should never say anything about Church or God to people because they will think I'm weird. One time, we rode a cab and I tried saying "We're going to the true Church!" in my smallest voice. The cab said, "Where?" "To the Mormon Church, 941 Lynn Valley Road", I answered firmly. Tho' the cab driver knew where the Mormon Church is, he never asked anything about the Church.
One time, my client asked me if I go to a certain Church so I said yes, I go to the Mormon Church. Then I shared our belief about the Plan of Salvation. After sharing with her my belief about the premortal life, us when we were spirits, then came to earth for a purpose then when we die, our spirit goes to the spirit world then we can be resurrected. Her reaction? "That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard!", she said with her eyes rolling. And so I thought that my sister might be right after all! DO NOT TALK ABOUT GOD OR CHURCH BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL THINK YOU'RE WEIRD!"
Last week, after I received the endorsement from the previous shift, the caregiver who's about to leave exclaimed that she's happy having not to work on a Friday and Saturday. I asked why and she said she's going to a church activity. Then she asked if I belong to a church. I said yes, I am a Mormon. Then she asked the difference between her church and mine. I mentioned about the living prophet, of which she said, we have a pope, too. Then I recalled once again my belief about the premortal life, our purpose on earth and the life here after, of which she again said, we believe in that, too! And then she incessantly asked, "So what's the difference between your church and mine?" So I said, "Mine is the true church!" And she stopped asking questions!
Yesterday, I received a message from my daughter that she has a good news! I asked what was it but because of slow internet connection in the Philippines, she wasn't able to message back immediately. I was so excited to know what the good news was. I sent her bunch of messages but still, she will not tell me. So I called her on the phone the next day. Then she said that the good news was that she was able to finish reading her Book of Mormon for 17 straight days and that she've gained a stronger testimony of the Gospel and the Atonement. She mentioned that when she read the dedication I've written in the first page of the Book (of Mormon) I gave her as a gift before I left for Canada that her faith will grow stronger when she read the book was true after all. Subsequently, all of the many testimonies I`ve borne to my daughter have paid off. Be it telling the tricycle driver that the Church is true or writing it in the book I gave her, she finally have known to herself that the Church is indeed true.
Sometimes, the testimonies we bear, no matter how or where we say it can have an impact in other people`s lives. It may not be soon but surely, somehow, there`ll be people who will benefit from it. And today, I bear you my testimony that the Church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I received praises after bearing my testimony. Yet in my heart, I knew that someone down there in that congregation have felt the sincerity of my words. That somehow, they might be inspired that when someone ask which Church we go to, they`ll say with conviction: IT`S IN THE TRUE CHURCH!
