The Restoration of All Things by Elizabeth Gillen

The Restoration of All Things

In my life I have experienced much joy and much sorrow. I know that is not unique to me; I have heard of many experiencing sorrow beyond what I believe I could handle. My best friend’s father is dying of cancer and she is currently trying to repair a broken relationship and to learn to love him before he passes on. She does not want to talk about it and I hope she knows that I will be there to listen to her when she is ready.

It is human nature to wonder why one person experiences great sorrow and great pain. It is human nature to question who we are and where we came from. It is human nature to try and have faith in something. The prophet Enos had an experience that I know many can relate to. He records: “I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins…My soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enoe, thy sins are forgiven thee…And I said, Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me…thy faith hath made thee whole” (Enos 1:2,4,5,7). Do you feel whole? Hath thy faith made thee whole?

I was introduced to the church more than 2 years ago before my senior year of high school. During high school, I experienced much trouble and had a difficult time being happy. I had a friend Braden who I became close with as we trudged through Chemistry our junior year. I did not know that he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I did know that he was always positive and was genuinely happy. As we moved into our senior year, I discovered he was Mormon. I didn’t know very much about the church, but I was intrigued. When I was a little girl living near Washington DC, my sister and I would beg my mom to drive by the Mormon “castle” so we could see it. I remember seeing commercials about The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ when we lived in Atlanta. When we moved to Pennsylvania, we lived near a Mormon church building. Having been exposed to the church but knowing nothing about it, I began to grill Braden about the church. I tried to figure out why he was so positive and why he seemed like a whole person rather than some teenager trying to figure out life.

The day I had my opportunity to ask him questions was a day for which I will forever be grateful. We were working on a French project and I began to ask him every question I could think of about the church. Why did the Mormon Church need to exist? What do you think about non-mormons? Why do you practice the Word of Wisdom? How does the Priesthood work? He offered me The Book of Mormon but I declined. What I was feeling scared me. Following that discussion, I continually visited Mormon.org and I felt the stirrings of a testimony in me. Three weeks later, I decided I wanted The Book of Mormon. For a week, I would go to speak to Braden to ask for the book, but I would be scared and not ask for it. One day, I went to go ask and then I started to say to myself I wouldn’t do it but a voice in my heart said, “Liz, you must go ask for the book. Your salvation depends on it.” I listened to that voice and asked.

I was surprised at how happy Braden seemed that I asked for the book. He checked his bag to see if he had one. He didn’t but brought one in it with his simple testimony written in the front cover. I reread it now and realize it wasn’t complicated nor was the language poetic. The spirit, however, made his words seem the most profound things anybody could ever say to me. The Lord said unto Enos: “Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it” (Enos 1:15). He encouraged me to read Moroni 10:3-5 before I read the rest of the book. I wanted to know the truth and I wanted to know if I could be made whole. I sought the Lord and I sought direction with all of my heart.

That night, after reading all of 1 Nephi on my way to a cross-country meet more than an hour away, I was made whole. I realize now that it was the beginning of the process of being made whole but the Spirit of the Lord entered my heart and enabled me to feel what I had never felt before. My whole soul did hunger, and my whole soul was fed. Psalm 4:1 says “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou has enlarged me when I was in distress.” My heart was enlarged as I began to seek for the truth. Through the Restored Gospel, I learned that as I followed Him “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).

I know that all things will be restored. All sorrow will be made to joy. I know that the atonement of Jesus Christ is the way we can be healed and made whole. My whole soul has been healed; the knowledge of the gospel has been restored to me. I know by witness of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ is the son of God, that He is the Savior of the World, and Redeemer of Mankind. I know that Gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that through it we can become closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. In His name. Amen.

--The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
--The Holy Bible

<-- Liz and Braden on the day of her confirmation 2/2007