Monday, December 29, 2008

Testimony as a Missionary

I was going through some old e-mails that I had from my Mission. One of the best testimonies/e-mails I wrote was this last one. It is my testimony, and something that is of most worth to me. I wrote this on Tuesday, April 24th 2007. Here it is:

I, Elder Trevor Duersch, as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ,
know that God, our Heavenly Father lives! I know that He has created a
plan for all of us so that we can enjoy the blessings and happiness which
He posesses. I know that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer and my Savior. He
is the Son of the Living God! I know that through the Atonement we can be
cleansed from our sins, and that we can repent of the mistakes that we
make, so we can continue forward in progress. I know that He has called a
Prophet of God in 1820 by the name of Joseph Smith to restore His true
Church here upon the earth. As I began to share my testimony yesterday at
our District Meeting, I shared my testimony about Joseph Smith too. The
things which he has accomplished in life, and the more that I learn about
him, the more respect and love I have for him. I began to cry as I
explained how thankful I am for the courage.. and strength that he took to
go into the sacred grove to pray. He has given his own life for something
that he believed in, and that has blessed the lives of others. As he
restored the church, he went through so much persecution. His life was
somewhat similar to our Savior's life, but didn't go through as much as
Jesus Christ did upon the earth. I am very thankful for the example that
Joseph Smith has given to us all, and for me. I have had some real
challenges and one may say struggles out here in the Mission field. But
my challenges and struggles are not as big as what the Savior went
through. I know that through this experience that I have done from the
last 2 years, that it has strengthened me. My Mission President,
President Webb, told me that the Mission is hard and should be hard, is so
that we can understand the Savior better, by going through some things
that He has already gone through.
I know that Joseph Smith was called by God to restore this Church.
I know that he translated the Book of Mormon and that through
this book, we can gain personal revelation and come closer to
Christ. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon contain the
fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am very thankful for
the love that Heavenly Father shows us by calling a Prophet of God
today, Gordon B. Hinckly. I am thankful for Gordon B. Hinckly and
for everything that he teaches us. It helps us to better
understand the Will of God and we can overcome the firey darts of
the advesary when we obey a Prophet's words.
I know that the Priesthood of God is a real power. I have had the
opportunity to bless others with the Priesthood and I have also
recieved blessings from the Priesthood on my Mission. It is the
power today to act in the name of God. I am thankful that I can
honor my Priesthood by going on a Mission. I have learned so
much, and I have a lot more to learn. I hope and pray that I may
continue to live worthly to excersice my Priesthood to bless my
future wife, and family. I am thankful for the mercy, love and
trust that the Lord has given me to hold this power.
Last of all, I want to say how thankful I am for my loving
parents. Without my Parents I would not be here today. Thank you
Mom and Dad for the example that you have given me when you have
raised me. Thank you for your love, trust, and support that you
have given me as I have been out here on a Mission. I hope that
one day, I can raise a Family just as you have, and that I can
raise my children up unto the Lord. This is His Work and His
Glory to bring to pass the immortallity and eternal life of man.
Mom and Dad, I love you. I am very humble to know that I have
been blessed with parents such as you. That is probably one of
the greatest blessings that I have recieved in this mortal
existence. Thank you!
To all of my friends, I want to thank you all. I know that you
have also encouraged me and have given me hope and joy as you
wrote me. I am very thankful to have you as Friends, and I wish
that the Lord will continue to bless you.
This Testimony, is the Testimony that I leave at the close of my
Mission. I have become a man from my mission. I am very
thankful for this time that I have had. This is the testimony
which I have, and I leave it with you all, in the Name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.

Your fellow Missionary,

-Elder Trevor Ronald Duersch

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