I Believe
Choosing Faith When Others Aren’t Doing the Same
The author lives in Taiwan.
Once I gained my own testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it was easy to choose to stay in the Church when others around me were leaving.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been a part of my life, but I didn’t really have my own testimony until I was a teenager.
My father frequently changed jobs when I was young, so my family had to move every few months. I didn’t have the chance to make close friends, and I didn’t feel like I fit in. In Taiwan, most people have one or two children and follow the traditions of Daoism or Buddhism. My family had five children and belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Living like this was hard as a child, and I sometimes felt shame and embarrassment about being a member of the Church.
The Foundation of My Testimony
When I was a teenager, I tried reading the Book of Mormon several times. The first two times, I didn’t feel anything. My heart wasn’t in it. But by the third time, I had a different experience.
As I sincerely read and pondered the story of Ammon teaching King Lamoni—a Lamanite king who was willing to give up all the traditions he had always lived by to follow Christ—I began to feel deeply that the book was true. I felt inspired by Lamoni’s joy as he chose to live differently and follow Christ (see Alma 19:13).
When I read Moroni’s invitation to “ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true” (Moroni 10:4), I felt the truth of the gospel with all my heart. The Spirit confirmed it to me and filled my life with newfound purpose.
This experience formed the roots of my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which continued to grow as I sought more spiritual experiences. My testimony gave me hope and joy when others around me faltered.
Rooted Faith
Not long after I began deepening my faith, my parents divorced. As the oldest child, I became a main provider for my mom and siblings and worked hard to support my family and give my siblings a better life. I did what I could to attend institute, young adult activities, and church to strengthen my testimony, and it grounded me and helped me to feel joy, even as I sacrificed so much for my family.
As years passed, more of my siblings and friends left the Church behind. They decided that they didn’t want to live differently from the people around them. It was hard to see those I loved leave the gospel I love, but because of my personal spiritual experiences, I chose to hold on to my faith in Jesus Christ.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared insights on this principle, saying: “We must ask ourselves: Is my testimony based on what I hope to happen in my life? Is it dependent on the actions or attitudes of others? Or is it firmly founded on Jesus Christ, ‘rooted and built up in him’ [Colossians 2:7], regardless of life’s changing circumstances?”
Feeling the truth of the gospel rooted in my heart made it easy to choose faith.
Tested Faith Is Strong Faith
As I have continuously nourished my testimony, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has become more than just my religion—it is my entire life. My testimony is the most important thing in my life and pulls me through when my faith is tested.
Elder Uchtdorf also taught:
“Faith is strong when it has deep roots in personal experience, personal commitment to Jesus Christ, independent of what our traditions are or what others may say or do.
“Our testimony will be tested and tried. Faith is not faith if never tested. Faith is not strong if never opposed. So don’t despair if you have trials of faith or unanswered questions. …
“… We can trust Jesus Christ as we keep moving forward and upward because He is our Savior and Redeemer.”
If you ever have questions or struggle with holding on to your faith, seek Jesus Christ with a desire to believe in Him and His gospel. The Lord has promised to show you the truth as you turn to Him. And as you strengthen your testimony, it will help your faith endure, no matter what you may face.