Dear Friends,

Today I was thinking about one gift I have that I want to share with everyone for Christmas: my "testimony." So I decided to write down part of my testimony and share it with you. My testimony is very personal and one of my most prized possessions! It continues to grow every year in some way, and I continue to want to share it with others.

Before we all we born on the earth, we lived as spirits in Heaven with our Heavenly Parents who loved us very much and taught us what we'd need to know to become like them. Our Heavenly Father presented a beautiful plan for our happiness, and as part of that plan, we needed to go to earth, receive a body, and put to test the things we'd learned in Heaven. We needed to see if we would choose to follow Jesus, our older brother.

When we came to earth, we wouldn't remember our pre-mortal life--because then our faith wouldn't truly be tested--but Heavenly Father has provided ways for us to learn about Him and remember what we were taught when we lived with Him. The way we recognize what we learned is when we feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, or "the Spirit." Some of the "fruits" of the Spirit (or the ways we recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost upon is) are peace, joy, love, goodwill, reverence, clarity and unity of mind and heart. We may not feel the Spirit the same every time we feel the Spirit, but if we are quietly listening and trying to understand, we can recognize this influence. Sometimes it is an unmistakable feeling, like when your best friend in the whole world gives you a hug, or it may be a very quiet, sweet feeling, akin to the experience of when a little child comes up to you, and in a very small voice, asks you a little question. Sometimes you feel so happy inside you just can't keep from smiling, or sometimes you feel so still and at awe and peaceful inside that you hardly want to make a noise so that you won't disturb the beautiful feeling. There are many ways to feel the Spirit. You certainly have had your own experiences and know what I'm talking about.

The Spirit helps us recognize truth; and truth is what we learned in Heaven. And if we act upon truth, or follow it, it will lead us back to our Heavenly Home.

My testimony is what I have learned to be truth through the Spirit.

I have learned that I am a child of God, that He is literally the father of my spirit.

I have learned that He loves me, and that He loves me no matter what I do, right or wrong, but that He wants me to discover my potential and try to develop it. I know that I can become like Heavenly Father, and I want to be.

I know that this life is just a part of a much bigger picture of eternity, and so the things I do during this life really matter, like being a part of a family, being a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend.

I know that families can be together forever--that we don't just drift apart after death to live separate lives--but that in order for this to happen we have to learn about and follow the path that leads to that, which is following our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know that Jesus Christ is the only person that ever lived who lived an absolutely perfect life. He was so true to his mission, and so completely filled with love that He loves every single person who has ever lived on the earth, because He is our Brother. He is better than anyone I know, and has all the best qualities of all the people I love and admire the most, and that he is just like my Father in Heaven. I know we each are like him in a small way, and that our Christlike qualities can be magnified as we seek to be like him.

I know that the scriptures--the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and any of the words of prophets, ancient and modern--contain the truth. These are the same teachings we received in Heaven. I have felt the Spirit so many times I can't even count when reading the scriptures. I've gotten answers to my prayers when I've read the scriptures. My testimony grows as I keep studying the scriptures.

I know that life is hard, and that I make mistakes, and that sometimes I've made (and still make) some really poor choices. I am SO thankful that Heavenly Father provided a way for me to change, not just temporarily, but for good, so that I don't have to be the same person I've always been, but can become better. Little by little, one day at a time, I can make some progress. It might just be miniscule, but I can do it.

Life is more than just earning a living or getting married or raising a family or making it through one more year. It's the purpose behind all of these, the knowing who we really are, where we are headed, and why we are here that can bring us so much joy amidst the harsh trials of our experience on earth. We each have an important mission to fulfill while we're here, and it's up to us to find out what it is and if we're accomplishing it.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is led by a true prophet of Jesus Christ. His name is Gordon B. Hinckley, and he's a man just like the rest of us, but he's a very good man who has been called of God just like Moses or Abraham or Matthew or Luke. My membership in this church brings me a lot of joy.

I'm just one small person on the earth, but I want to share a part of what is so dear to me because it has literally changed my life. If you want to know more about this, or know anyone who might want to read this or know more, please let me know. I would love to share more.