Hey y'all!
[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has the time or attention span to read this.]
Happy Halloween!!!
One of my jobs at seminary is occasionally teaching the adaptive needs seminary class. It's been a sacred experience to testify of Jesus Christ with these beautiful kids and with their peer tutors. Everyone in our class is so friendly and the Spirit can easily be felt as we learn together!
This week I taught a lesson about the following scriptures.
Doctrine & Covenants 124:2-3
2 Your prayers are acceptable before me; and in answer to them I say unto you, that you are now called immediately to make a solemn proclamation of my gospel, and of this stake which I have planted to be a cornerstone of Zion, which shall be polished with the refinement which is after the similitude of a palace.
3 This proclamation shall be made to all the kings of the world, to the four corners thereof, to the honorable president-elect, and the high-minded governors of the nation in which you live, and to all the nations of the earth scattered abroad.
I explained to the class that today we would be making proclamations of the gospel to the world. I said we wouldn't visit presidents or kings but we would go and share our testimonies with some neighbors.
In the spirit of Halloween I made everyone missionary name badges so we could dress up as missionaries. Then we went testimony or treating. Much like trick or treating you approach someone's door and then rather than saying, “trick or treat” you bear your testimony and then you are given a treat.
First we visited Brother Hardy, the seminary principal. We knocked on his office door and he invited us all in. One by one we each shared our testimonies. Brother Hardy shared his too and he expressed to us that we had made his office a better place. I could tell he meant it because his eyes were filled with tears. I could feel the Spirit too. We got our treats and headed to our next neighbor.
The next person we visited was Sister Legge, our administrative assistant at seminary. We approached her desk and she was happy to receive our class. We introduced ourselves, (using our missionary titles) and again one by one bore our testimonies. I loved the way that some of our testimonies changed from the little walk between Brother Hardy's office and Sister Legge’s front desk. I love how beautifully and simply we each proclaimed the gospel truths we knew.
We didn't have any more neighbors but I decided to close the classroom door and I pretended to be another neighbor. They knocked on my door and shared their testimonies with me. Testimonies are such powerful gifts. I cried as I listened to their pure and simple testimonies. I’m happy no one overcomplicated their testimonies, they simply shared what the Spirit told them to share.
As everyone settled back into their desks I shared the following scriptures.
Doctrine & Covenants 18:15-16
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
I closed my lesson with my testimony that sharing the gospel brings us joy! Everytime we share our testimonies we bring souls closer to Christ and we will have joy as we help others come unto Christ!
This Sunday is fast and testimony meeting. I invite each of you to ponder your own testimony. And, if you decide to share your testimony with your ward then I promise you will feel joy from bringing souls closer to Christ. Please remember we share our testimonies with words and deeds. Singing a hymn can be a testimony. Inviting someone to sit next to you can be a testimony.
I testify that there is joy in bringing souls closer to Christ! I testify that Christ lives and He loves and knows each one of us! And, I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
I love you all! I hope you reflect on your testimony!
Still holding to the rod,
Sister Owens
Summary: My service sites are better than yours and testimonies bring souls closer to Christ which gives us joy!!! Also happy Halloween!
