At first I did not really know the Gospel of Jesus Christ taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true. I was pretty sure it was, because my parents whom I love and respect believed it as well as many other people I looked up to, but I hadn’t found out for myself. It’s like one of those things that no one can tell you, but to understand you instead have to go through it yourself. When I got a job working with many other youth I realized that now was a good time to know, because my religion required a lot of effort on my part and plus my professed beliefs were being challenged by those I was with every day. I knew how to gain a testimony—read the scriptures, pray, go to church, have faith—those kinds of things. And so, that’s exactly what I did. Somewhat to my disappointment an angel did not appear to me in a thundering cloud or a pillar of light. In fact, nothing happened. Still, I didn’t give up; sometimes a testimony can take time to gain. Over a period of a few months several things happened which are too sacred and personal to share here, but one thing I will tell. I was lying in my bed reading from the Book of Mormon when a sweet feeling came over me and I realized with a quiet kind of shock that that feeling was from the Holy Ghost and He was telling me that the book was true. I knew then with a flood of mental light, clarity, and understanding that the gospel I had been taught my whole life was true. To this day I know it; many times that feeling has washed over my heart and mind filling me with comfort and peace. Now I can say with perfect surety that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Joseph Smith saw them both in the grove of trees and under Their direction established this true and complete gospel once again. He translated the Book of Mormon and the priesthood of God was restored to the earth for the last time. We have a prophet of God today named Thomas S. Monson; he is as much a prophet as Moses was. This knowledge I treasure and value—it is an integral part of me.
