The frightened little girl stood on the riser, barely reaching the microphone at the pulpit. But her voice was strong and firm: "I'd like to bear my testimony. I know the Church is true. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus. I'm thankful for my mommy and daddy and my brothers and sisters. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Those fleeting words are the first step taken by many Latter-day Saints in expressing their feelings about the gospel. Simple, direct . . . even childlike. "Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you. . . ." (D&C 62:3.)Throughout the Church in the final quarter of the year, the Primary organization will be presenting a sacrament meeting program explaining what the children have done this year concerning their testimonies. Each month during 1991, a different aspect of testimony has been examined. Talks have been given, songs sung and sharing times revolved around testimony - from how to receive one to what to do with a testimony once it's been acquired. The purpose of the sacrament meeting presentation is for the children to share what they have learned this year with their parents, grandparents and friends about testimonies.

President Ezra Taft Benson has declared that a testimony "is one of the few possessions we may take with us when we leave this life." To have a testimony of Jesus is to possess knowledge though the Holy Ghost of the divine mission of Jesus Christ. . . . [It is] to know that God the Father and Jesus Christ did indeed appear to the Prophet Joseph Smith to establish a new dispensation of His gospel so that salvation may be preached to all nations before He comes." (Conference report, April 1982.)

Both members and non-members need to hear the testimonies of others. Only through the sharing of like experiences do we grow and help one another to grow in the gospel.

Among the elements of a testimony are:

- the surety that God lives and that He loves each of us and desires only the best for us.

- that Jesus is the Christ, the only Begotten of the Father and the Way through which we can return to our Father in heaven.

- that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

- that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains the fullness of the gospel and that we are led by living prophet.

These truths are for us to discover for ourselves through our personal study of the scriptures, our attendance at Church meetings and activities. Also, we may discover these truths through service to others and by living our lives so that we remain close to the Spirit so that the Holy Ghost can bear witness to us of divine truths around us.

The witness of the Holy Ghost

As borne by those who know,

Has lifted me again to thee,

O Father of my soul.

I know that thou art in thy heav'n

I know the Savior reigns.

I know a prophet speaks to us

For our eternal gain.

My eyes are wet; my heart is full.

The Spirit speaks today.

O Lord, wilt thou my life renew

And in my bosom stay.

As testimony fills my heart,

It dulls the pain of days.

For one brief moment, heaven's view

Appears before my gaze. (Hymn 137)

Each Primary sacrament meeting presentation will be different, drawn from an outline of suggestions. Local primary leaders - guided by inspiration - will adapt the outline for use in their wards or branches. The message will be the same. Our testimony - our personal witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ, our belief in the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures and our obedience to the prophets - will remain with us through eternity.

Those first few halting steps at a microphone, whether by a child or adult, bear record of our deepest beliefs gradually growing into strong testimonies of the gospel.

If we heed our leaders and live the commandments, our testimonies will grow. This is one purpose of the Primary sacrament meeting program; it is not just to showcase the talents of our young people, but to provide them with the personal strength necessary to live the gospel and prepare to contribute in a larger way to the ward or branch.

"This is not a casual promise. It is a positive one, and every soul in the world may have a . . . testimony, a knowledge that Christ lives, that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of this world. Every soul may have this assurance and when he or she gets this testimony it will have come from God." (President Spencer W. Kimball quoted in the New Era, August 1981.)