A Firmly Rooted Testimony: “A Diamond of Unmeasured Wealth”

♦BYU Women’s Conference 2012

Kristy Dimmick & June Marie Saxton

A Firmly Rooted Testimony: “A Diamond of Unmeasured Wealth”

1. How do we obtain, nurture, and maintain our testimonies? (Kristy)

2. How can our testimonies strengthen us and others? (June Marie)

Zina Diantha Huntington Young

(Young Woman’s Journal, April 1892, p. 319)

Then I will tell you that if you will dig in the depths of your

own hearts you will find with the aid of the Spirit of the

Lord, the pearl of great price, the testimony of the truth of

this work.”

“Seek for a testimony, as you would, my

dear sisters, for a diamond concealed. If

someone told you by digging long enough

in a certain spot you would find a diamond

of unmeasured wealth, do you think you

would begrudge time or strength or means

spent to obtain that treasure?

What do we know about DIAMONDS?

♦Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

♦The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word (αδάμας) adamas, meaning "unconquerable“ or “invincible.”

♦When selecting a diamond, one uses the “4 C’s” - 1. Carat 2. Clarity 3. Color 4. Cut

Comparing a TESTIMONY to a DIAMOND

♦A Testimony is a treasured friend.

♦When maintained, a testimony can become “invincible” or “unconquerable.”

♦Use the “4 C’s” to strengthen our Testimony.

The “4 C’s” for a DIAMOND (or “invincible”) Testimony

♦CONSISTENCY

♦COMMUNICATION

♦CONSECRATION

♦CHANGE

CONSISTENCY

“…our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C

64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes.”

Elder David A.

Bednar, More Diligent

and Concerned at

Home, General

Conference October

2009)

CONSISTENCY

♦What are the “seemingly small things” that we need to be CONSISTENT in doing?

CONSISTENCY

♦What are the “seemingly small things” that we need to be CONSISTENT in doing?

DAILY SCRIPTURE STUDY

(especially studying The Book of Mormon)

“If you have not heard His voice

speaking to you lately, return

with new eyes and new ears to

the scriptures. They are our

spiritual lifeline.”

CONSISTENCY - SCRIPTURE STUDY

(Elder Robert D. Hales, “Holy

Scriptures: The Power of God unto

Our Salvation,” Liahona, Nov. 2006, 24-27)

CONSISTENCY - SCRIPTURE STUDY

♦What are some ways that we can add VARIETY to our consistent daily scripture study?

♦SCRIPTURE STUDY HANDOUT – 50+ ideas on adding variety to your scripture study. (http://womensconference.byu.edu)

CONSISTENCY – THE BOOK OF MORMON

♦“READ THE BOOK OF MORMON”

CONSISTENCY – THE BOOK OF MORMON

CONSISTENCY – THE BOOK OF MORMON

CONSISTENCY – THE BOOK OF MORMON

CONSISTENCY – THE BOOK OF MORMON

COMMUNICATION

♦COMMUNICATION –

“BEAR YOUR TESTIMONY”

(“A Testimony is to be found in the bearing of it.” – President Boyd K. Packer)

COMMUNICATION – “BEAR” your TESTIMONY

“… After great uneasiness … he raised his bowed head and softly said, ‘Brothers and sisters, my testimony is too small.’ He cleared his voice and sat down. His message had been given. I thought then, as I think now, what a timely observation. Whose testimony isn’t too small? Whose testimony doesn’t need to be added upon? After this one-sentence sermon, I acknowledged before the congregation that my testimony was too small also and I was going to give it a chance to grow by more frequent sharing. I had been taught by a plain, simple statement.”

Elder Marvin J.

Ashton, Ensign,

May 1977, p. 67

COMMUNICATION – “BEAR” your TESTIMONY

“When a person bears his testimony, he receives new strength and spiritual power.

… Talking about our feelings lets us pay attention to them long enough to realize how important they are to us. Bearing testimony repeatedly helps that which we know and feel to surface and become a consistent part of us.”

(Margaret Hoopes, “Community and Communing,” Ensign, Jan. 1978, p. 50).

CONSECRATION

♦CONSECRATION – a solemn commitment of your life or your time to some cherished purpose

CONSECRATION

“True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes.”

“A consecrated life is a life of labor.”

“…a consecrated life is a life of service.”

“A consecrated life is a beautiful thing.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson,

Reflections on a

Consecrated Life, General

Conference, October 2010

CONSECRATION

“…he taught me the importance of

putting God first in my life by giving

Him the first day of every week, the

first part of every day, and the first

dime of every dollar.” Mark Demoss, BYU

Devotional, Life’s Two

Big Questions,

January 24, 2012

CONSECRATION

♦CONSECRATION – a solemn commitment of your life or your time to some cherished purpose

SERVICE –

(Service to Others, Temple Attendance, Family History, Magnifying Calling)

CONSECRATION - SERVICE

“ First, to grow in light and testimony we must magnify our Church callings throughout our lives, our entire lives. By this means, combined with spontaneous Christian service, we will never lose our testimonies. They will grow brighter and greener.”

Elder John K.

Carmack, The Soil

and Roots of

Testimony,

November 1988

CONSECRATION - SERVICE

♦“Never suppress a generous thought.”

(quoting Sis. Camilla Kimball)

(Bonnie D. Parkin, BYU Devotional, Personal Ministry:Sacred and Precious, February 13, 2007)

CHANGE

• Change –

REPENTANCE

CHANGE – REPENTANCE

• REPENTANCE

– Greek: μετάνοια (metanoeo) – “change of heart or mind”

CHANGE - REPENTANCE

“Repent, and, if necessary, repent again and again and again and again until you—not the enemy—are in charge of you. Life turns out to be a succession of trials and errors. Add “repent often” to your list of things to do. This will bring you lasting peace that cannot be purchased at any earthly price.”

(Elder Boyd K. Packer,

Seminary centennial

broadcast address given on

January 22, 2012)

CHANGE - REPENTANCE

• In Old Testament there were different types of SACRIFICE or OFFERINGS. Let’s look at 2 of them.

– TRESPASS OFFERING – was made by the officiating priest to cover specific sins that an individual may have committed against God’s law.

– SIN OFFERING– was made by a priest to cover sin in general, or we might say, sinfulness.

CHANGE - REPENTANCE

• When was the last time you thought to pray about your nature, as well as your actions? When was the last time you prayed for help to overcome your sinfulness, instead of a specific sin?

CHANGE – REPENTANCE

“This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin.”

Elder David A.

Bednar, Clean

Hands and a Pure

Heart, General

Conference,

October 2007

CHANGE

• Simply stated, testimony—real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost—changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. To have a real and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be “spiritually … born of God,” to “[receive] his image in your countenances,” and to experience a “mighty change in your hearts (Alma 5:14).”

Elder M. Russell

Ballard, Pure

Testimony, General

Conference

October 2004

The “4 C’s” for a DIAMOND (or “invincible”) Testimony

♦CONSISTENCY

♦COMMUNICATION

♦CONSECRATION

♦CHANGE

A Firmly Rooted Testimony: “A Diamond of Unmeasured Wealth”

2. How can our testimonies strengthen us and others? (June Marie)

Testimony

When our hearts are too broken to pump blood, our testimonies take over, supporting every tissue, fiber, and sinew of our physical bodies. Testimony is the lifeblood of our spirits.

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“Come” unto Him

When Christ is in our sights we are able to accomplish hard things. Instead of taking the disciples out of danger, Christ invited them to "Come" to Him in the midst of the storm.

President Thomas S. Monson

"What will protect you from sin and evil around you? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior and of His gospel will help see you through to safety..."

President Thomas S.

Monson, Priesthood

Power, General

Conference, April 2011