3 Jan 11 - 10 Jan 11

12:56 PM

So, for some reason I keep having this conversation with people, about what they know versus what they believe. It's such a powerful statement when someone says that "they know" something. When someone says that, you can't refute them. You can't make them believe otherwise. That's why I don't bother with those that say that they know their religion is true. No point wasting my breath. I just think of 2 Nephi 33:

"10...hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. 11...And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory that they are his words, at the last day"

But to those that don't know, that only believe but say they know to end a conversation, I warn you that a belief can either help you or hinder you. Yes it is true that to those who honestly seek him, belief can and will become so much more. Belief turns into Faith. Faith turns into Knowledge. When we know something, we cannot deny it. Here are a chain of scriptures.

"Alma 46: 15 And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.

Alma 32: 21 And now as I said concerning faith-faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

Ether 3: 19 And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting."

When I was younger, I had a belief in the church. I had a belief that everything that I was taught was right. But then something happened where I turned away for a while. I eventually came back. I was better, but I still only had a belief. One night, I was fed up with only believing. It seemed like the only things I heard in church were "I know" this, and "I know" that. Well, I knew that they knew those things. I wanted to know those things. I got down on my knees and prayed. I said, "Heavenly Father, I want to know if this church is true cause if it's not I'm done." That night I had felt the Spirit more strongly that I had ever felt my entire life (up until that point of course). I no longer had a belief. I had knowledge.

I can't deny the Spirit. I cant go against how I feel. The church is true. The scriptures are true. Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. They all go together.

"D&C 93: 30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it"

If the church is true, it's always going to be true. If the scriptures are true, they're always going to be true. I know this because I felt the Holy Ghost tell me it. I can never deny this lest I be condemned.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth. Through it we can be saved. Without it we will be condemned. Because the church is true, we know that the scriptures are true. The scriptures tell us

"1 John 4: 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Three basic commandments that He gives us are go to church, read the scriptures, and pray. When we don't do these things we fall away. When we don't do these things, we only believe. We go through the motions, but we don't know. I know that when we do these things, when we follow the doctrine of Christ, when we keep the commandments, when we seek God, we will return to live with God at the last day. Every time I feel the Spirit, I know that that's just a small portion of what it will feel like when I'm in Their presence. I want that. I need that. I will do anything to get that.

I will not fall away. I will not deny what I know. I have lost myself in Christ and found something better. I found what I can become.

Don't just believe. Know.
Elder Garcia