Testimony vital to loved ones' salvation
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On the night before he died, the Prophet Joseph Smith bore testimony to his guards of the Book of Mormon, and "bore witness of the administration of angels and that the kingdom of God was again established on the earth," said Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve in the Sunday afternoon session.
Of the guards, Elder Eyring said, "I wonder if any of them sensed that night how close they were to starting down the only path which would lead them to the Savior in the world to come, to see His face with pleasure and hear the words: 'Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father' (Enos 1:27)."
Then Elder Eyring said: "We all have people we love. Think of them now. . . . You want with all your heart to have them someday hear those words from the Master. And for that blessing to come, they will need that testimony offered by the Prophet in Carthage burning in their hearts through all the tests of life, as it did in his."
There is physical evidence such as the testimony of eye witnesses, he said, citing particularly the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon — Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris — who saw and felt the gold plates and heard the voice of God. He added that a testimony can be established through a spiritual witness from the Holy Ghost, something the Three Witnesses also had.
"The Lord gave the witness of the Spirit without the same physical evidence to others who were severely tested by opposition and tribulation," Elder Eyring said. "Brigham Young, John Taylor, Heber C. Kimball and many others stayed steady in their testimony. They endured in faith because they paid the price to keep the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the burning testimony He alone brings."
Elder Eyring listed things that can be taught to loved ones by example and testimony.
"Teach them to pray to the Father in faith in the name of Jesus Christ. . . . We can teach those we love to pray with the intent to obey. . . .
"Teach them to ponder the scriptures every day, with faith that they will be taught by the Spirit. . . .
"Teach them to sacrifice to build up the kingdom of God. That sacrifice brings the testimony of the Spirit. . . . The youngest and the newest member can seek to build up the kingdom of God. Zion is made up of individuals and families. When their faith increases the kingdom is established more firmly. We can try to help with that every day. Even the smallest act to build faith in another person or in a family qualifies us for the gift and power of the Holy Ghost.
"Teach them to love others by serving others. That brings the Spirit."
Then Elder Eyring proclaimed: "The Prophet Joseph is for me an example and a teacher of enduring well in faith. I do not worship him, but I thank and love him as the Lord's prophet of the Restoration. He has helped me pray with the intent to obey. I am better able to feast on the word and the love of God. Because of him I feel the Holy Ghost more often in the moments when I try to build the faith of a person in the Lord's kingdom. And because of what I know of the Prophet Joseph and the scriptures which were revealed through him, I more often feel the love of God for His children and of His for me when I reach down to lift someone up."
