Totally Me

Back in March there was a recognition ceremony for all those who had completed either the personal progress or honor bee for young women's. I wasn't able to attend for reasons I can't remember now, but in preparation for the event the recipients were asked to go and get their picture taken and submit their testimonies. 

I'm a procrastinator on things I don't want to do. Writing my testimony and sending it to someone for reasons unknown was not high on my priority list despite the many emails and phone calls I received pleading me to please submit my testimony. When I finally sat down at the computer I was feeling annoyed and grumpy. What kind of testimony were they looking for? I said a prayer and hoped that whatever I came up with to say wouldn't sound too awful. For reasons unimportant, I finally received the reason for the picture and testimony on Sunday. Emma had received hers back in March so I knew what to expect and was actually excited to see what mine would look like- it also made me feel a little apprehensive now that I knew what the testimony was for. When I finally got to see mine yesterday and read the testimony that I had written I was surprisingly pleased. It's my testimony. The promise that if you will just open your mouth and it will be filled is true. I had no idea what to say and decided to just start typing and hope for the best. I also love this picture. The woman who took it did a fantastic job. I'm always smiling and laughing and I love that this picture captures that. The gospel should make us happy or we're doing something wrong. 

Here's the testimony:

"I have a testimony of the YW program. 

The opportunity to work on acquiring the traits of Jesus Christ have been some of the most valuable time I have spent. 

Each time I read the Book of Mormon my testimony grows stronger and my desire to be a better person increases. 

I am so grateful that we have a Heavenly Father who gives us every opportunity to grow closer to him. 

Going to the temple regularly and doing the work for my ancestors has given me strength and confidence that I didn't know were available to each of God's children. 

I love the Savior and try to be like Him in all that I do"

While I'm here I thought I would take the opportunity to clarify the difference between sign seeking and fleece asking. I mentioned in a previous post about fleece asking, but I didn't explain the difference between it and sign seeking. It's quite simple. Here's all you need to know. Sign seeking is refusing to act until a sign is given. Fleece seeking is moving forward in faith and asking for a confirmation- which is a sign. The difference is our willingness to act. One still requires our faith to move forward having a hope that Heavenly Father will show you a sign that you're doing his will and he will sanctify and magnify it. Fleece asking also does not fall under the category of counseling the Lord. If you never ask for anything how do you know he is working in your life? He wants us to ask for things because it builds our faith and our trust in him. It helps us gain confidence that we are doing God's will and we have the power to do so. Joseph Smith got to the point where the Lord told him that he knew that Joseph wouldn't ask for anything unrighteously and so whatever he asked for he would receive. That's pretty cool. We need to learn how to ask for things in righteousness. We need fleece moments like we need air if we're going to endure to the end.