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A testimony generally comes slowly, over time, as you work to help it grow.
Maybe you were baptized when you were eight years old and youve been going to church your whole li e. Maybe you were !ust recently introduced to the "hurch. #erhaps you have a strong testimony o the $estoration o the gospel, or maybe youre not sure i you even know the %ook o Mormon is true. &n any case, everyone needs to constantly nourish and help his or her testimony to grow. 'o what are you supposed to do( )ere are some things to consider.
1A light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message rom God 2uickly, completely, and all at once. Many o us have e/perienced this pattern o revelation as we have been given answers to sincere prayers or been provided with needed direction or protection, according to Gods will and timing. 3 )owever, this pattern o revelation tends to be more rare than common.
1The gradual increase o light radiating rom the rising sun is like receiving a message rom God 4line upon line, precept upon precept 56 7ephi 6809:;. Most re2uently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. 3 This pattern o revelation tends to be more common than rare< 51The 'pirit o $evelation,< Ensignor Liahona, May 6:==, 88;.
'ometimes in order or your testimony to grow, you have to go and do something. #resident -ieter A. *chtdor o the Airst #residency has taught0 1F ten, the answer to our prayer does not come while were on our knees but while were on our eet serving the +ord and serving those around us. 'el less acts o service and consecration re ine our spirits, remove the scales rom our spiritual eyes, and open the windows o heaven. %y becoming the answer to someones prayer, we o ten ind the answer to our own< 51>aiting on the $oad to -amascus,< Ensign or Liahona, May 6:==, GE;.
-ont Give *p
Hust because you eel like youre in a spiritual slump or that your testimony is weak, or even i you eel your testimony is strong, that doesnt mean you should stop trying to strengthen your testimony. Keep pressing orward. ,lder %ednar o ers these words o encouragement0 1& have talked with many individuals who 2uestion the strength o their personal testimony and underestimate their spiritual capacity because they do not receive re2uent, miraculous, or strong impressions. 3 & you have had similar thoughts or doubts, please know that you are 2uite normal. Hust keep pressing orward obediently and with aith in the 'avior. As you do so, you 4cannot go amiss 5-I" 8:09;< 51The 'pirit o $evelation,< Ensign or Liahona, May 6:==, 8@;.
'ometimes people may put lighter luid on a log, which makes the lames become bright, but once the lighter luid is burned, the ire dies back down because it was the lighter luid and not the log burning. Jour testimony may sometimes be lamed by a strong spiritual e/perience, but that may not be enough to maintain a constantly burning testimony. ,ven i you have a nice ire burning, it will eventually die i you dont continue to put wood on it. &n like manner, you must continue to eed the ire o your testimony so that it doesnt smolder out.
1'ometime later that night & came to know or mysel or the irst time in my li e that God and Hesus are real. & did not hear an audible voice nor see a heavenly being. & knew in the same way you too may have come to knowMwhich is 4by the unspeakable gi t o the )oly Ghost 5-I" =6=06E; and the spirit o revelation 5see -I" 80=D9; speaking peace to my mind 5see -I" E069; and assurances to my heart 5see Alma C80==;.
1Arom that e/perience & witnessed the results o Almas counsel to 4awake and arouse NmyO aculties 3 to NconductO an e/periment upon N)isO words 5Alma 9606G;. These words or seeds have grown into trees, indeed giant trees o testimony. The process continues with more e/periments upon the word, resulting in additional trees o testimony, now a veritable orest based on revelation through and by the )oly Ghost< 51The )oly Ghost and $evelation,< Ensign or Liahona, 7ov. 6:=:, GG;.