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Good morning brothers and sisters, it is such a privilege to be able to speak during this stake conference. Frankly speaking, I am a little excited because I’ve always gained so much from the speakers at stake conference, so today, I hope my testimony can be of help.
I want to speak about how keeping the Sabbath Day holy and how seminary both help strengthen my relationship with Christ.
Keeping the Sabbath Day holy is one of the simple things that we’ve been counseled about numerous times by our leaders, but actually doing the things we are counseled is another thing.
Being born in the church, I’ve been taught to keep the Sabbath day holy since young and for me personally, it is not an issue at all. Being a student, if I need to study, I’ll just wake up earlier at 3am to get work done before seminary, rather than do it on the Sabbath. However, one day after church a question suddenly came into my mind. ‘Am I keeping the Sabbath Day holy out of habit or is it because I understand the need to keep it?’
I thought about it, reflected on it and prayed and the answer actually came one day during seminary. I connected my ideas to my actions and this helped strengthen my testimony of keeping the Sabbath Day holy.
Through my four years of early morning seminary, the four books (standard works) that are covered each year has a message that answers my questions and doubts; it feels like it is specially made for me every year and I cannot testify enough of how great seminary is and how much I’ve learned from the scriptures through personal scripture study and thanks to my teachers.
As General Conference draws closer, I would like to invite you, brothers and sisters, to think about the purpose of keeping the Sabbath Day holy and find ways to better perfect it. President Monson said that we are not like Alice (in Wonderland); we know where we want to go. With this as a purpose and direction, I hope that it will serve to strengthen all of us.
I know the Church is true, that the Book of Mormon is true and that President Monson is our living prophet. Heavenly Father is our Father and He sent Jesus to die for us; He loves us and wants us to strive to return to Him - thus, we should do our best. I testify that keeping the Sabbath Day holy can really help us draw closer to God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.