How to Grow Spiritually. A Lesson on Building a Testimony.

How to Grow Spiritually

A lesson on building a testimony

Book Recommendation of Journey to the Veil by John Pontius, compiled by his wife Terri after his death.

A collection of blogs from John Pontius's "unblog", as he transitioned from healthy to dying, and the spiritual lessons learned.

Since I loved his other book, Visions of Glory, I knew this one would be good, but I didn't realize how much doctrine and how many new spiritual insights I would gain.

This book instantly vaulted to my Top 10 best books of All Time.

Because immediately after the first couple of chapters, Pontius invited me to pray differently.

So I did.

Then he invited me to fast--seeking more wisdom and light.

So I did.

And he invited me to listen to the spirit and be more obedient.

So I've tried.

And my life has really changed.

It's been several weeks since I got to the fasting part, but just as he mentioned in the book, once a person asks for more wisdom, if they diligently seek it, it'll come, 

bit 

by 

bit.

I've now fasted dozens of times, off and on, over the course of the past few weeks, as the spirit directed.

I'm amazed at how much stronger--spiritually, I became.

Well, actually, physically too, in that I was able to "put off the Natural Man" and my spirit was given priority over my body's constant whines and demands for care and attention.

Fascinating.

I've been blessed with dreams and ideas and thoughts that previously weren't my own, nor did they have any other way to come into my mind other than the spirit. It's been quite the bunch of tender mercies, or blessed insight.

I've felt my testimony grow. I've felt my spirituality grow. It is wonderful, I want it to keep growing, and keep going. I can see I've still got a long ways to go, and it's exciting.

Yes, reading the scriptures is excellent, and a person will surely grow simply by reading them, but there's something in the way John Pontius shares stories from his life that leave an impact. His stories and direction point us upward, they invite us to become different--better.

The part I'm still working on?

Actually jumping and moving fast on the instructions I'm given by the spirit.  Taking Action.

Often I'll get a command to, "do that, go there, or write that blog."

And I just delay, procrastinate, and put it off---don't know why, just the darky powers seem to struggle against this increase in light and truth too. So it's been a battle I've been able to witness. The sad part is, sometimes I do give up, give in, and fall.

But then later I get picked up and on we go.

For me to try it again.

The next time, it goes lots better.

I'm still working on being quickly obedient.

Once, it was hilarious, the spirit woke me up twice in one week, early--4 am early, and told me to get to the temple. So I did. Jess was not that pleased. I went, and it was terrific.

That was cool.

Now, I'd also like to incorporate, "Who can I serve today?"

asking the question, "Who needs my help today, dear Lord? What will thou have me do?"

and as I go on my way, act on the promptings. 

This book was so wonderful, I've got to read it again.

In the end of the book, Pontius lists his way of learning scripture mastery scriptures--with a wonderful chart. It's so terrific, I'm going to incorporate it into our daily school life as we work on memorizing and learning more from the scriptures.

I recommend this book to you, as you search for your own wisdom, light, and truth. This book shows you one man's journey. Yet he teaches principles that apply to all of us--in a way that we feel as if we've feasted upon the word.

It's so good, buy a copy for you, and a copy for a friend and family member.

Enjoy. Happy Reading.
In love, light, and peace,
Charlotte Reid