Musings

    As member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we read 1 Nephi 1:1 over and over again in our life as we start to read the Book of Mormon.  That phrase, "having been born of goodly parents" is written deeply into our minds.  So I am NOT starting that way!  :)  Instead I wish to let you know of my testimony of Jesus Christ and how it came to be.
     I entered the Mission Home in Salt Lake City, UT on January 5, 1975.  Yes, this was in the good old days when we still went to Salt Lake City and then either to our area of service or to the Language Training Mission in Provo at the BYU campus.  The Mission Training Center in Provo did not exist and there were no Mission Training Centers outside of Utah.  The Mission Home was, as the MTC is, a spiritual pressure cooker.  I am convinced the Lord uses these facilities and the missionaries' time there as a spiritual preparation to help those elders and sisters who are not ready to go serve Him to come to a realization that they need to get their life in order so that they can serve Him with their whole heart and mind.  Any of those who are not worthy have intense internal pressure to become clean.  The Spirit of the Lord really does work very hard on all the elders and sisters.  While there you hear of many missionaries struggling to come to grips with the fact of their testimony and whether they have a testimony or not.  During my time there I was searching my soul to determine my worthiness before the Lord.  I was not as worried about my testimony.  However once I was actually at my mission and serving, after a period of time, I began to wonder about my testimony.  So I began sincere prayer to ask Father if this gospel, that I was there to teach, was true.  How could I teach and have the Spirit, unless I knew it was true.  As I prayed, the thought came to me, "You KNOW it is true.  You have always known it was true."  I realized that this was correct.  That this was inspiration.  I DID know it was true, and not matter how far I ever wandered off the path of correctness, no matter how often I sinned and fell short of who I should be, I had and would always know it was true.  This is one of the ways that the Lord has revealed things to me throughout my life, through thoughts that came into my mind.  Over time, it became more and more obvious when these were external thoughts, inspiration, and simply thoughts from within my own mind.
     I must add some commentary about this story.  Down through the years I have often queried the question of the truthfulness of my testimony.  Did I really know it was true?  Eventually you have to reach a point when you put that question behind you.  You have received an answer.  Make that your foundation.  It has been asked and answered.  One must make the choice, the decision, to move past that and to go deeper into spiritual things.  If you don't, you will remain stuck at that level.  The brethren have made this point many times in the past few years.  I believe this concept.  Once you have a testimony, once you know you have one, you must move on and stop questioning that,  You know have, as Alma states, a "sure knowledge" of that.  Accept the fact that Father has answered you.  Allow it to change your life.  This has been and will be, a pivot point where you make this decision and then continue on.  Or not.  Accept the Father's answers.  Please.

Love,
Dad

Introduction

Introduction:
     Throughout life we have trials, tender mercies and experiences that shape our life and who we are.  As life winds down, I think we want to share many of those with our children and their children.  Some of that might be in the hope that they don't make the same mistakes we do.  Some is to share who we are and what made us that way, so that those that follow might begin to glimpse some of what made them the way they are.  The experiences that shaped me into who I am, also shaped my children into who they are.  Whether they realize it or want it to.
     I hope to continue to add to this blog.  I hope to provide autobiographical insights into my life.  I hope to share spiritual moments with the reader.  I hope the following scripture, which comes to the front of my mind often, will touch your heart as it has touched mine.

"26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." 2 Nephi 25:26

Rules:
     I welcome and encourage feedback.  I will often respond.  I welcome discussion.  I will NOT argue.  I will NOT debate.  I will NOT allow denigrating nor disparaging remarks.  I also reserve the right to moderate and remove anything I deem as inappropriate. (Gives me a lot of leeway doesn't it?) :)  My intent and my hope is that this blog is to be up-lifting, spiritually enhancing, and a positive experience for all who read.  It is focused on the Bryant and Janae Austin posterity, but any who wander here are welcome.

My Love to all my family.
Bryant Austin