I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living head!
He lives triumphant from the grave;
He lives eternally to save;
He lives exalted, throned above;
He lives to rule his Church in love.
He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with his eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives to bless me with his love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.
He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend;
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!
He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.
He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my savior, still the same;
What joy this blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!
and this is why camp was amazing. just for two days out of my summer, I get to hang out with the most amazing people on the planet. I get to be with people - and I mean all of the people there - that share the same standards as me. That love me for being me. Me! A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; a Mormon, like the rest of them. It's such a blessing to me. I love them all, I do. And I don't even know all their names! Oh, it was so amazing. I mean, the testimonies that were borne were absolutely fantastic, the spirit was so strong that most of us felt like crying at one point. Not a sad crying, but a joyful crying, if you can imagine that. But at one point, I went up and bore my testimony. MY testimony! I cried. I'll admit it. I'm not afraid to. Just like I'm not afraid to tell you about my testimony.
I know for a fact with all my heart that the gospel is true. God's true church is on the earth, and I belong to it. I go out and teach people about my church so that people understand what we're all about. Sure, you might not believe it, but there's over 12 million "Mormons" out there right now. 12 million! Believe it? I sure do. That just gives me confidence because I know that there are 12 million others out there that have the same testimony as me. They believe what I do. I believe that God knows me! I am his daughter, I am a child of my Heavenly Father! And He's known me for a long time. He's been trying to remind me who I am. Because knowing who you are, changes what you do.
Now, I'm not trying to go out and say that my church is better than anyone else's. Heavens no! I just know for myself that my church is the right one. Go ahead and disagree, I'm not trying to prove it to anyone. But I refuse to be afraid to bear my testimony. I refuse to be afraid to stand up for what I believe in. I admit I think I'm pretty good already. But I want to become better. So I will strive to be the best I can. And that involves lots more prayers and scripture reading! That'll take up lots of my summer, eh!
Oh, I feel so peaceful and calm. Much better that I have felt in a long time, that's for sure. I feel like... I could take on the world. But I won't. Because I know my limits.
Godspeed to you all. Find your testimony. Follow your dreams. Listen to God. He knows what He's doing.
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
All that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Oh, one last note.... if I offended anyone, let me know, and we can talk about this and why it offended you and how I can make it better (aka apology).
