David and Corrie, Faith, and Prayer

Today was General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and, as always, feel uplifted and enlightened.  Today our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, spoke about the power of prayer and the blessings our Father in Heaven gives us as we pray to him and follow his commandments.  I have a real testimony of that power and have seen in work in miraculous ways in my own life. 

Besides being strengthened by modern prophets and apostles and by ancient scripture, The Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon, my testimony is strengthened when others share their testimonies with me.  Often times this sharing is through books.  I wanted to mention two of my favorite faith-promoting stories today.


Corrie ten Boom was a woman admired the world over for her courage, her forgiveness, and her memorable faith. In World War II, she and her family risked their lives to help Jews escape the Nazis, and their reward was a trip to Hitler's concentration camps. But she survived and was released--as a result of a clerical error--and now shares the story of how faith triumphs over evil.  I have read her book several times as I have needed a lift of faith and her story inspires me every time.  Her faith is real and her experiences remind me and reassure me that there is a God and he is aware of his children, even in difficult times and through trials and tribulations.

 

David's entire twelve-year life has been spent in a grisly prison camp in Eastern Europe. He knows nothing of the outside world. But when he is given the chance to escape, he seizes it. With his vengeful enemies hot on his heels, David struggles to cope in this strange new world, where his only resources are a compass, a few crusts of bread, his two aching feet, and some vague advice to seek refuge in Denmark. Not far into his journey, David decides that he needs some help and the only help available to him is in the form of a god.  He then must choose a god from among those he has heard about in the camp.  He chooses the God of David.  Then, he begins to pray to his God.  His prayers are so simple and sweet and sincere.  David's faith is so young and new and he is completely ready to turn his whole life over to God and trust in Him.  There is no pride and no holding back in his belief; David trusts in God. 

Both Corrie and David remind me that faith is simple and to trust God is to let go of the stress, the pain, and the pressure of life and let him take you in his own way and in his own time.  If I could just remember these lessons and perfect my own faith like Peter and Nephi and Esther and all the other heroes that I have that build my testimony in my God.


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