Tender mercies with a touch of a miracle seemed to be the theme of the day in spite of the craziness..
- Sacrament meeting is the last meeting
- I was rebuked by the Spirit.
Okay, okay, now you might be thinking: Excuse me, Mrs. Sabin, but please explain to me how being rebuked by God is a tender mercy!
I'm so excited to share this experience with you. It's personal, but, aside from being sealed to my husband a short time ago, this was the greatest blessing I've been given in a while.
As I sat in the chapel, snuggled up to my husband, I made the decision to intently listen to every single testimony that was shared.
It started with the first testimony--it was a simple one--about things I'd already known to be true, yet I felt an intense sensation overcome my being. Why? I already know the Church is true. I already know that Jesus is the Christ. Why am I feeling this way?
The second testimony, the third, fourth, up until the tenth were shared. The feeling didn't go away.
I began to listen even more intently. I just knew that the Lord needed me to learn something. It was quite obvious. By the way the Spirit touched my own, Heavenly Father's intentions were very clear. I was missing something.
A Japanese woman got up with her husband. She spoke in her native language while her husband translated. As she spoke in Japanese, before her husband could translate, that same spirit filled me up. Although I couldn't understand her directly, I understood what she was saying to be true.
It was in that moment that I realized I needed to be in that room at that time to be told by my Father in Heaven through His servant that I needed a reminder; a reminder that this gospel is His.
It was in that moment that I realized I've become complacent with the way my life has been. It was in that moment that I realized that my testimony has been sitting on a plateau. It was in that moment that I realized I haven't been doing anything to strengthen my conviction. It was in that moment that I realized that being comfortable with complacency in this life is going to land me in a place where I can be eternally complacent--which place isn't with God.
I became very emotional at that point. How did I let this happen? I thought.
It's so easy to think that what you already know is enough, but we can cheat ourselves out of some really wonderful experiences if we decide that we're good enough to stop progressing.
The truth is, once you gain a testimony, that's not the end.
Testimonies are gained as a result of faith. However, if we don't continually nourish the "seed", it won't grow. It'll remain a seed, or if it's already been planted, nourished, and has become something more than just a seed, it'll begin to wilt and eventually...die.
I'm so grateful for the individuals who were courageous enough to stand before the congregation to bear witness of the things they know to be true. Without those individuals following the Spirit, I don't know how much longer it would have taken for me to realize that I need to make progression a habit.
Eternity is all about progression, so naturally, mortality is as well.
I know the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal and Only Begotten Son of God. I know the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and the words found therein are powerful, comforting, and most importantly, true.
Before I walked into sacrament meeting today, I knew these things were true. When I walked out of the chapel, I was reminded by that same Spirit that the truth of these things hasn't changed.
It wasn't the knowledge of Christ as my Savior that saved me. It was the reminder by His Spirit that I need to change that saved me.
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