How did you know

During this last month I have had several opportunities to reflect on my testimony. I had someone tell me that church is not always fun, but they go because they know they are suppose to. Then during a conversation with someone else, as we were talking about many things something was said about the gospel being my belief. I explained to this person that No it was not just a belief but knowledge. As we continued to talk they said that they had prayed about the gospel just like everyone had told them to, and they never got anything. This troubled me and I thought about it some more. I talked with my good friend Marcia about her testimony as well and how did she know that the church was true. The scripture came to my mind about
To some is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
To others it is given to believe on their words that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful. I have often wondered why I was blessed to have a strong testimony. As I told this person, that it is not a belief it is a knowledge. I know these things to be true. They said then I'm saying that what others believe is wrong. I told them no. that not what I'm saying but I know what I do know to be true.
On Friday we as a Stake Young Women's and Young Men's Presidency went to the LBJ Grasslands to see if this is where we would want to have youth conference this next year. So I asked Sister Furniss and Sister Johnson both about how did they know that the church was true.
I have learned alot this weekend. Sister Furniss grew up in the church and she said that she always went to church and everyone she knew went to church, but after she married and moved to Texas(not here but a small town in west Texas) She knew she needed to know what she believed. For Sister Johnson she said she prayed and prayed and wanted what someone people talk about a big spiritual experience, she had always read her scriptures, but one day while jogging it came to her, she reminded me of a seminary song of a long time ago. I can't remember all of it but it starts out like drops of rain falling to the ground like one by one upon the thirsty ground. She said its like that for her. Doing the things we are suppose to day by day. Reading our scriptures praying paying our tithing, our callings supporting our leaders. Remaining faithful, being obedient. Then I asked Sister Tan, Friday afternoon while we were getting ready for the Beehive Conference on Sat. She said after she meet her friend Joyce she went to Church for 2 years, attending Seminary and Church with out any other family there with her. Then one day while she was reading the Book of Mormon she just felt it to be true. She then bugged her parents to let her be baptised. I am so thankful for the ladies that I serve with. I have had my testimony strengthen so much by them. This has been an enlightening weekend for me. One thing that Marcia said to me is that when the spirit is there you can teach. I know that when the spirit is there he will testify that those teachings are true. The person receiving that Holy Ghost's promptings have to be receptive as well. I am so thankful for the knowledge of the Gospel. I am thankful that I do have a testimony. I have thought about it alot this weekend. I know that when I first joined the church my testimony was just beginning, and as I have studied and prayed and kept going and doing what the Lord has asked, it has been strengthened. At what point did it turn from a belief to a knowledge... I don't know but I am so glad that it did. That doesn't mean that everything has been peaches and roses because it has not but I do know that I have a loving Heavenly Father and He is mindful of me. I want to return to live with him and the rest of my family forever as I have been promised.

My Grandpa

This is my Grandpa, Floyd Merle Kyllo. His birthday would have been yesterday. This picture was taken in about 1989 or 1990. I loved him so much. He was a twin and the oldest of 13 in his family. When he was born in 1908 they didn't think he was alive but as my great grandmother was having his twin brother Lloyd they put my grandfather in a box on the oven door to keep him warm and the nurse (midwife) I guess saw his foot move and they realized he was alive. He was a hard worker. He was a logger and construction worker, even after he retired he worked as a school crossing guard. This picture was one morning as we were getting ready to come back home. They lived in Grand Island Nebraska. I loved to listen to my grandfather tell stories of when he was a child. He had a dog Max. I swear that dog could talk to him... and he was just my grandfathers dog. After Rick and I were married we went to meet my grandparents, we slept in my grandfathers bed, Rick had gotten into bed and I was getting ready to, Well, max came running in jumped on the bed and firmly planted his feet on Rick's chest and growled, he was not impressed. Rick said "grandpa. grandpa." I other on the other hand am laughing only because it is not me...my grandpa came to the rescue and got max down. My mother taught me so much about caring, I would watch my mother even though she was in TX and they were in NE she would talk to them weekly and sometimes more often. She would make sure they had what they needed and most of the time what they wanted. Anytime we went up there she made sure that she would get different things for them to eat if they wanted to. I am thankful to my grandfather for the example he set for me. I am thankful that he taught me the value of hard work. I am thankful for his determination, even when things were tough. I know it was hard for him when my grandmother died and my Aunt Karen was just 15, even though he remarried, he would show my pictures of my grandmother and talk about her me. When he died my Aunt Karen got many of his albums and now my mom has them and someday I will. I am thankful for the many times I got to spend with my grandparents as a child, I cherish those memories.