What I have come to know for myself.

I would like to share my own experience of how I came to know of the truthfulness of Jesus Christ’s restored gospel. I was born into a family that has always attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Both sides of my family are very active in this Church. As a new baby, I was blessed by my father during a special Sacrament Meeting service. As a young child, I attended Primary and Sunday School classes every week with my friends and family. When I turned eight years old, I was baptized by my father and received what is known as "the Gift of the Holy Ghost". As a teenager, I attended all of the church’s programs that are available to young men. I received what is known as the Aaronic Priesthood when I turned 12 years old and I even graduated from the church’s High School seminary program. Attending all of these different church meetings as a young person helped me to understand fundamental principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also came to believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. However, It wasn't until I was about 17 years old that I gained my own personal witness from the Holy Ghost that Joseph Smith was actually a true prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon was scripture.
When I was seventeen years old, I still didn't have what I would call, a personal testimony of the Church. I knew that my parents and even my younger sister had testimonies of it, but I still hadn't received a personal witness of the truth for myself. I wanted to have my own witness of the truth before I was to leave to serve a full time mission. As a teenager, I use to pray to know if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was the Lords true church on the earth. I also prayed to know if Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. When I turned 17 years old, I would occasionally read from the Book of Mormon before going to bed, hoping to somehow find out if the book was really Scripture. One night, I was reading from the Book of Mormon and I came to a particular story that gave me an answer to my questions.
I was reading the story of Christ’s appearance to the people in the American continent shortly after his death and resurrection in Jerusalem. The people on the American Continent had just experienced great destructions that had been foretold to happen prior to the Lords ministry among their people. As the people were in the process of recovering from the terrible destruction of their lands, they experienced a marvelous visitation from the resurrected Savior himself. I'd like to write here the parts of the Saviors visit that I found to be so moving to me as I read from the Scriptures that night when I was just 17. (3 Nephi 3:3-17) (Page 428)
(3) And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
(4) And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.
(5) And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.
(6) And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:
(7) Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.
(8) And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.
(9) And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
(10) Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
(11) And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
(12) And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
(13) And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:
(14) Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
(15) And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
(16) And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
(17) Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.
It is difficult to explain what I felt as I read these verses of scripture from the Book of Mormon that night. I remember that my heart was pounding a lot and my eyes were wet from tears, but it was more than just that. I felt something inside me that told me what I had just read was true. I knew that the prayers I had been offering to God to know if Book of Mormon was a true book of scripture had been answered. Knowing that the Book of Mormon was true lead me to the knowledge that Joseph Smith did infact see God the father and the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing this also lead me to the knowledge that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church upon the earth and that it is lead by modern day Prophets and Apostles who hold the Priesthood of God.
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