Whatever is in Your Heart...

I've had a rough start to the New Year and was seriously contemplating starting it over on Monday. Although that's not really possible, one can dream I suppose. I felt sick yesterday, probably because of New Year's Eve junk food, and I just didn't get the start on the New Year that I wanted too. I felt a little lonely too, and even lonelier this morning when Jon left for Georgia on business.

Going to Church was hard today. I'm not going to say that I almost didn't go, because that's not true. The moment I thought, "I don't want to go to Church today" I thought again, "then you should probably go." I was grumpy and less put together than a normal Sunday, but I didn't want to continue the awful start to 2011 by not going to Church.

I sat next to my cousins and their kids like we usually do. Jon wasn't there, so I wasn't going to sit by myself. They were noisy and distracting as usual and it bothered me at first. I was trying to pay attention and listen to everyone's testimonies. Then Colten tapped me on the shoulder and said "I want to go up and bear my testimony, but I don't know what to say." I looked over at him and smiled. "Well," I said, "just say what you believe; whatever is in your heart." He then looked straight ahead and started mumbling to himself, no doubt practicing whatever it was he wanted to say. Then he looked over at me nervously. I asked him if he wanted me to go up with him, and sure enough he did. We stood up together and walked up to the podium.

As he spoke, tears came to my eyes and I wished that I didn't have to follow him. He said, "I'd like to bear my testimony. I know the Church is true, and I know that Jesus is my Savior. I know that my family loves me, and I love them. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." He then went and sat down next to his family and it was my turn. I don't remember what I said exactly, but I do recall stating my knowlege of the same things that Colten did, and expressing gratitude for my Savior and family. I closed my testimony and sat down next to my cousin.

I had expressed what I knew to be true, and what was in my heart, and it felt wonderful. I enjoyed the rest of Church that day, and even the rest of my Sunday. A 9 year old boy did indeed teach me a lesson about faith and testimonies. He kept it simple, yet still expressed exactly what he felt and knew. I hope we can all be like Colten. I know that his testimony touched many hearts today, including mine.

May the rest of 2011 hold as much hope and faith as today did for me.