Gospel Basics

A Testimony Foundation

By Brynn Wengler

Church Magazines

Illustrations by Adam Howling

A testimony is a spiritual witness from the Holy Ghost. Bearing your testimony just means sharing what you believe to be true with others. There are lots of ways to do this. One way might be to share what you believe in church during testimony meeting. When you answer a friend’s questions about what you believe or why you make certain choices, you are also sharing your testimony.

It’s OK if you don’t have a testimony of the whole gospel right now. Start with what you do believe! You can build your testimony gradually as you learn, recognize the spiritual experiences in your life, and ask God to help you know what is true through the Holy Ghost (see Moroni 10:3–5).

As Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught, these are five truths you can build your testimony on:

• God is your Heavenly Father; you are His child. He loves you.

• Jesus Christ lives. He is the Son of the living God and your Savior and Redeemer.

• Joseph Smith is a prophet of God called to restore the Church of Jesus Christ.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s restored Church on the earth.

• The restored Church of Jesus Christ is led by a living prophet today.

(Oct. 2022 general conference [Liahona, Nov. 2022, 112]).

What You Know, Believe, and Feel

“I invite you to bear your testimony of Jesus Christ more often. Bear testimony of what you know and believe and what you feel. … Testify of your own experiences of coming to know and love the Savior, of living His teachings, and of His redemptive and enabling power in your life.”

President M. Russell Ballard (1928–2023), Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Apr. 2023 general conference (Liahona, May 2023, 107).