MY TIME

Helaman 7:7-8, This is Nephi speaking, discouraged at the wickedness of the Nephities in his day: "Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land . . . Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy . . ."

I've always wondered what it would be like to live in a different time - would life somehow be better?  Many years ago, I remember sitting in the back of the room during a Relief Society meeting. I was a young mother at the time and for some reason I was feeling a bit down that day.  It was fast Sunday and in regular form they offered sisters the opportunity to bear their testimonies during the last few minutes of the meeting.

I remember being somewhat disheartened and thinking, "It would be so much better if I lived during the time of Christ and could see him walk and teach or visit with the prophet Joseph Smith, and hear his testimony and be a member during that early foundation of the latter-day Church."  I guess I had this idea because I was feeling a bit null and void that day and I considered living in times past would somehow bring a stronger feeling of the Spirit to buoy me up.

It was testimony time and their before me stood the most humble of sisters in our ward. By the standard of the world - she was literally nothing and yet she meekly rose and bore her testimony of Jesus Christ. From the small and weak came literally the most powerful of testimonies.  The Spirit was so strong, it was almost overwhelming as it permeated throughout my body. As this sister spoke her assuring words of Christ, and while my body was so full of light  and believe my words do not give the experience justice) these words came into my mind and my heart, "It doesn't get any better than this."

Nephi followed his plea for living in a different time, "But behold, I am consigned that these are my days . . ." (Helaman 7:9).  He lived in a particular wicked time and certainly I do too.  The Book of Mormon shares stories of  the past that help give us understanding today. The point that was made clear to me in that moment is that in spite of the world I live in, ". . . the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. . ." (2 Nephi 2:4).  The Spirit I felt that day in Relief Society is the same Spirit I would have felt in past times. I am consigned to my days to live in a world filled with wickedness, but I also have the happiness that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I can bask in the Spirit daily.  I am happy to live in my time, in the last days, doing my part in the winding up scene.

I know the Church is true, Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith is the latter-day prophet of the restoration, I know Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God today.  I want to share this with others.  The gospel of Jesus Christ brings us peace no matter where we are or what time we live in.  It is the same, yesterday, today, and forever!