Quest for Testimony

By President Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency

Adapted from an April 2011 general Young Women meeting address.

Plant illustrations by Thomas Child; missionary illustration by Matt Smith

Our quest for testimony begins with “a particle of faith” and with desire for it to grow (Alma 32:27).

A seed of faith is already planted in your heart. Like a growing plant, it must be nurtured or it will wither. Frequent prayers and obedience to the commandments will keep your testimony alive and strengthen it.

The Savior has taught us that we must also ask in prayer for a testimony of truth. The Lord taught us to pray about the Book of Mormon:

“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4–5).

Your answer may not come in one powerful spiritual experience. For me it came quietly at first. But it comes more forcefully each time I have read and prayed about the Book of Mormon.

Feasting on the word of God, prayer, and obedience to the Lord’s commandments must be applied continually for your testimony to grow and prosper.