A Permanent Witness

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

As a freshman in college, I was trying to find who I was. I was also wrestling with my faith. What would I believe? Where would I find the truth? I have shared before that during this time, I was taking a class on the Book of Mormon. My instructor was Dennis Largey, an inspiration in finding the truth. He shared his story of learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and receiving a witness of that truth through the Comforter, just as John recorded.

His instruction and passion for the gospel added to my search. That is, until I decided to receive a witness for myself. I had the opportunity one night in my dorm room. Alone, I kneeled in the middle of the room and began to pray. I wanted, no, had to know if the Book of Mormon was God’s word, if Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration. Finally, I had to know if God was there, that He loved me, and I was worthy of receiving the truth.

God answers prayers, and in that moment, He answered mine. I got a tingling feeling, like an electric current running from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. With that came a peace unlike any I had ever experienced. My prayer had been heard and answered. I could not deny that God, through the Holy Ghost, gave me the truth. That night, the Holy Ghost gave me the gift of testimony, one that has stayed with me ever since.

In “The Eternal Gift of Testimony“, Elder Kevin G. Brown states: “Brothers and sisters, a testimony of Jesus Christ was never meant to be a temporary gift. Nothing about it is temporary—not the giver, not the gift itself, not the deliverer of the gift, not who the gift is about” (emphasis added). A testimony, delivered by the Holy Ghost, is permanent.

In Matthew 25, verses 14 to 30, Jesus relates the parable of the talents. In it, three men were given talents and commanded to provide an accounting of them when their master returned. I want to focus on the man who buried his talent. In the parable, this man was afraid and did not do anything that would increase his talent from one to many, as his fellow servants did. Instead, he thought he could hide his talent and present it as it was to his master, and all would be well.

The talent that the man had didn’t get lost, didn’t deteriorate, didn’t even lose its shine. It was a permanent gift from his master. A testimony of Jesus Christ given through the Holy Ghost is the same. It is permanent. It will always be there. We may, as the servant in the story, bury it. It may feel as if we have lost it. However, it is a part of us.

Oliver Cowdery learned this truth. The Lord told Oliver: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:22). The event of Oliver receiving the truth had never faded, was not erased, nor lost. It may have been forgotten, but it was always there.

For everyone who has received a witness of the truth from the Holy Ghost, the question of “What will you do with this gift?” is relevant. I know there have been times in my life when I have hidden this gift. Whether through sin or embarrassment, I chose not to use the gift of my testimony. However, my testimony has never left me. That is the true blessing of this gift. It never leaves you. You always have access to it. Even if you need to “cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto [the Lord] in your heart.”

I quoted John 14:26 above. We find other examples in the scriptures about the Holy Ghost giving us this gift. Some of these are: Moroni 10:3-5, Matthew 7:7-8, and Luke 11:9-10.

The last two references are the Lord’s invitation to get answers through the Holy Ghost. The promises are wonderful. If we ask, it will be given. If we seek, we will find. If we knock, the door will be opened, and we will be invited in. I know that those promises are real. I have experienced them in my life. I know that anyone can have them fulfilled in their lives.

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth” (Choices for Eternity, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults with President Nelson, May 15, 2022). Even though the testimony received is permanent, we must do something with it. It won’t wither and die, but it can be strengthened.

I will never forget the day the Holy Ghost bore witness to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a permanent witness to me from God. I am as Joseph Smith who, talking about his first vision, stated: “I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation” (Joseph Smith—History 1:25). I know that God gave me that witness through the Holy Ghost.

I challenge you to ask, seek, and knock. Get your permanent witness of the truth from the Holy Ghost. I promise that it will bless you and that you will have peace.