The message given by Elder Kevin G. Brown was powerful. You could feel the power of his words as he taught and spoke about testimony. He shared many things that have caused me to reflect since I heard his message and began studying it.
I loved what he shared about agency. Agency is our responsibility to choose well based on the knowledge and gifts that we have. We have agency so that we can choose good and choose Christ, again and again. Personal accountability is something being twisted so much in our day, but we must personally choose Christ. And we have to choose to receive Him. We have to choose to believe. We have to choose to connect with our testimonies and rely on them.
And I loved what he shared about the eternal nature of our testimonies. They are the product of the witness of the Holy Ghost speaking truth to our hearts. Their strength may ebb and flow (only due to our mortal failings) but the truthfulness of them do not. They are eternal. And as we make every effort to strengthen them, sure witnesses do come that go beyond just faith and belief. We are promised this sure knowledge if we choose to receive it and live worthy of it. It is worth every effort.
Three Powerful Truths
Elder Brown shared “three powerful truths from the Restoration” that can guide us on our journey toward a sure witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ:
- God Is Our Loving Heavenly Father
- Agency Is the Gift to Choose and Act for Ourselves
- Our Testimony Comes Through the Power of the Holy Ghost
Invitation
Think about your path to a sure witness of Jesus Christ and His gospel.
Promise
As you choose to believe, your testimony will be a “well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.”
Promptings
I want to take charge of my testimony. Similar to Elder Brown, I remember the moment when the desire to believe, turned to belief. That was a long time ago. I have had several testimony strengthening moments since then. But I have also let it be a casual part of my life at times. I want to trust God. I want to never let doubt of His love and care for me personally enter my heart or mind. I want to choose Christ every day. Choose to trust Him and the knowledge that I have been given.
My Favorite Takeaways
“I have been reflecting on three powerful truths from the Restoration…I would like to share with you how these truths have guided me on my journey toward a sure witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
First, God is our loving Heavenly Father…Through the Light of Christ and the ministration of the Holy Ghost, His influence is everywhere. It is in His nature to bless us.
He sees our past, present, and eternal destiny. Nothing can be hidden from Him.
Because of His divine attributes, our Heavenly Father gives us every good gift, each with His eternal perspective and vision in mind.
Agency is the gift to choose and act for ourselves. It is also the responsibility to choose well.
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for that privilege with His precious blood.
We are responsible for the choices we make based on the knowledge we have and the gifts we are given. We cannot make a choice without being responsible for the consequences.
Why do we have agency?
To choose good.
To chose Christ.
To choose eternal life – again and again.
Our testimony comes through the power of the Holy Ghost.
A testimony through the Holy Ghost can come in many ways.
The gift and witness of the Holy Ghost are available to everyone.
Brothers and sisters, a testimony is not given for temporary use. This gift from our loving Heavenly Father is meant to be eternal because the giver is eternal. A testimony should not have an expiration date. It should not weaken or diminish because something in my life has changed or something in the world has changed. It should get stronger because…my personal testimony is a gift to be multiplied – not buried.
It is worth every effort to pursue this path to testimony.
Every son or daughter of God can gain a deeper, firmer, and surer knowledge for themselves.
My dear brothers and sisters, let the small seedling of testimony work in you until it springs up to an everlastingly glorious sure knowledge.
In whatever way a testimony is given…it still requires a choice to receive this precious gift.
Choosing to believe is a wise and powerful way to use our agency.
I cannot see a better way to use my agency than in defense of my testimony.
I invite you to think about your path to a sure witness of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Take charge of your testimony; use your agency wisely and acknowledge the giver and all His glorious attributes. I bear witness that the power is within you. No one can choose for you. No one can take this gift away. You can choose to believe.
I promise that as you do this, your testimony will be a “well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.” It will be an anchor and a motivator, and it will sustain you through difficult times. It will enable you to develop spiritual gifts. It will help you in your personal ministry and service. It will be a weapon against Satan and your adversaries. Your testimony will be a joy as you see it replicated in your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and in those you love and serve. It will be powerful when you share it and use it to testify.
If you know, you know…We need more sure witnesses of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Get there! Seek it! It is urgent! This is the final dispensation – the dispensation of the fulness of times.
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…Now is the time to lay hold on this precious gift.”
FULL text and video of Elder Kevin G. Brown’s message can be found HERE.
Other messages from the October 2025 General Conferenc that I found particularly impactful:
- The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ by President Dallin H. Oaks
- The Lord Looketh on the Heart by Elder Ronald M. Barcellos
- Cheering Each Other On by Sister J. Anette Dennis
- Do Your Part with All Your Heart by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
