In the days of Christ and his apostles it was common to see the gifts of the Spirit and of the Priesthood of God in action. In fact, it was so powerful and impressive that Simon approached the Lord’s chosen representatives in an attempt to buy their same power. The result, of course, is that he was told his money will perish with him because the power of the priesthood is not for sale at any price.

Only God can grant the powers the apostles possessed. The majority of contemporary Christendom has no concept of that power, nor do they readily accept the fact that it has been restored to the earth with the Lord’s one true church in this last dispensation. Therefore, they do not share in the joy and blessings that are the result of its presence among the believers.

Among the powers that were shown by the priesthood anciently was the power to heal the sick. That is restored again today. I have personally been the instrument of the Lord’s will in the healing of many people. Some have been relatively undramatic and others have been nothing less than miraculous.

Many years ago I and a missionary companion were urgently called to the home of a young woman possessed by an evil spirit. We knew that the person before us was in no way the same girl that we had previously been introduced to. We saw in her eyes a true resentment that was aimed at us. She seemed like an animal backed into a corner but attack might in an instant. After sitting her in a chair, we laid hands upon her head and I began pronouncing a blessing upon her promising that the spirit would depart. As these words were spoken, my companion felt a charge of electricity rush up his arms as the spirit withdrew from the girl. In seconds, she was again the girl we knew. She related how she was aware of the hatred that the evil spirit had felt for us and that she felt as if she were unclean and unworthy in our presence.

Another time, one of my own sons was stricken with a bout of asthma so severe that his chest nearly collapsed. I called a man who was not only a friend, but the home teacher assigned to our family. We laid hands upon my son after anointing him with consecrated oil. I then pronounced upon him a command that the affliction would leave him and he would begin to breathe again. As we finished, the attack left him totally and he, then ten years old, comforted his frightened mother with the assurance that he had felt it in his very bones that he was now all right.

Fairly recently I was asked to help give a blessing to a woman who was not a member of the Church, but is of the lineage of Israel. I trusted her faith; my eldest son and I proceeded to bless her with the Lord’s will. I had just found out that she had cancer and was due to have her bladder removed. In the blessing I was prompted to tell her that the cancer would begin from that very time to reverse and would then disappear altogether. My son said he felt the presence of at least two others in the room, although we could not see them. He felt the hand of one of them on his shoulder. The power in the room was so intense that I was barely able to speak the words of the blessing. Ten days or so later, my son called me to announce that she had just returned from the doctor and that he had pronounced her free of cancer.

The power of God is real and faith is a genuine scientific principle. I bear my personal and sincere witness that it is true and that the ancient priesthood of God is again on the earth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with its accompanying powers and blessings among the faithful.

I know that God lives – because I see and feel His influence in every moment of my life!

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior – because through the Atonement, I right my wrongs to feel clean again; my heart is healed; my mind is clear and free from worry and fear; I can use my body to serve and uplift those around me.

I know that Jesus Christ showed the WAY and is the LIGHT of the world – because of the way He leads MY life and guides me through the darkness into a ever-brighter life of LIGHT and LOVE.

I know that the Priesthood is the POWER of GOD – because I have witnessed and felt its’ holy power in my life through healing and comfort, guidance and direction.

I know that Joseph Smith, through the power of the Priesthood, restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ – because I have visited the Sacred Grove, I have prayed about Joseph’s experience and I KNOW, undeniably, that he saw GOD the Father and Jesus Christ; that he translated the Book of Mormon into a language we could study and understand; that he gave his life in defense of the Kingdom of God.

I know that I can be together with my family for ALL ETERNITY – because I have made sacred covenants in the holy temple, GOD’s HOUSE, and I diligently strive to keep those covenants each day. When I make mistakes and fall short of the covenants I’ve made to be a disciple of Jesus, I know that through the Atonement and GOD’s loving mercy, I can be made whole again – physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

I know we are guided and directed by living prophets – because I have the Spirit testify to ME every time I hear the prophet and apostles’ words. I know it is TRUE!

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart! I know that it is the ONLY way to have true happiness and peace in this life and the life to come. There are many ways that bring happiness nevertheless this is the BETTER PART. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Crystal Gwilliam
–Crysdawn 06:58, 1 June 2007 (MDT)