高剑斌弟兄 Brother Gao Jianbin

2014年2月6号，我只身来到美国，这片疯狂的土地，也开启了我的美国之路。2月10号，在朋友的介绍下，我来到了伊丽莎白街，来到了耶稣基督后期圣徒教会。原本以为，去教会会是一件很严肃，很严谨的事，里面的人说着各种客套话的对白。当我走出电梯，迎面走来一个长老，他姓翁，他对我说了一句，“你好吗？欢迎来到我们教会。”然后我们经过了简单的寒暄，那位长老问了我一些个人问题，算是对我进行一个初步的了解吧。那天恰好是星期天，我就应翁长老的邀请，进到大厅里，和其他的慕道友，成员等一起进行了聚会。聚会结束后，长老要了我的电话。从那以后，长老每周都会打一个电话给我。有时候就算不能来教会，长老们也会通过电话或者网络来给我上课，来帮我学习更多的耶稣基督福音，帮我进步。这个对我而言，真是觉得很温暖。并且让我感觉，在美国，在唐人街，有一个温暖的港湾。。。

6月8号，在主教，传教士以及弟兄姐妹们的见证下，我接受了洗礼，正式成为了耶稣基督后期圣徒教会的成员，我真的很荣幸可以成为这个大家庭的一员。从那以后，我觉得生活变得比以前更加丰富多彩，更加充实，也更加有意义。。

在受洗后的这几个月里，我感觉自己有了很大的进步，特别是在灵性方面的培养上。我记得有一次，在上班的时候，忙完一阵了，有两个师傅就到后门那里去抽烟（抽烟不好，也是智慧语里很重要的一条诫命，我们不要抽烟。），可能出去的时候没注意，门被关上了，他们就被关在了外面，而且他们俩都没带手机，要想到店里来，就得绕道前门进来。而当时，我刚好去过卫生间，回厨房时候经过后门，不知怎么的，我就去开了一下那个门。当时，那两个师傅就说了，“太感谢你了，不然我们就要绕一圈了。”然后我们就回去继续工作。。。这件事，我后来反反复复想了很久，我很确定，我当时不知道为什么要去开那个门。而且，更神奇的就是他们俩都没带手机。我觉得这么多的巧合就注定不是巧合。。我相信，这是天父给我的启示，是给我的见证。。

我想和大家分享一段经文，“我会去做主所命令的事，因为我知道，主决不命令人类儿女去做任何事，除非他为他们预备道路，来完成他所命令的事。（尼腓一书3:7） ”经过几个月的学习，长老们也会邀请我和他们一起去教导其他的慕道友。我感觉到很快乐，因为「為人服務，生命就變得更具體實在──我們確實更易於『找到』自己，因為自己還有那麼豐盛的內在可供發掘！」（總會會長的教訓：賓塞．甘，第85頁）。而我更快乐的是，我能够有幸成为天父手中的工具，去做那些天父为我准备好的服务。

作为来自于中国，在国内完成了高中学业的我，从前是一个无神论者。可能，以前觉得好像没这么强烈，直到来到美国，来到我们教会以后，这种感觉就更强烈，好像天父填充了我内心最缺乏的东西，整个人都变得充实了，而我的生活也越来越好，越来越幸福。。。

所以，我见证。。上帝是我们的天父，耶稣基督是我们的救主，摩尔门经是真实的，我们的教会耶稣基督后期圣徒教会是由圣职权柄领导的真实的教会，我们的总会长多馬‧孟蓀
是活着的先知。

我以上所说是奉耶稣基督的名，阿门。。

      On Feb 6th, 2014, I came to the United States alone, and started my journey in this crazy land. On the 10th, one of my friends brought me to Elizabeth Street, and introduced me to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Originally, I thought church would be a very solemn, serious place, where people can only say extremely polite things. But when I got off from the elevator, I saw an elder, Elder Cook. He said to me, "How are you doing? Welcome to our church." Then he asked me some questions,and got to know me. Since that day happened to be Sunday, I accepted Elder Cook's invitation, went into the
chapel, and joined the Sunday service with other investigators and members. After the meetings, the elders asked for my number. Ever since then, the elders have called me at least once a week. Sometimes I can't come to church, but the elders will still teach me more of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the phone or over the internet to help me to progress in the gospel. For me, I feel so warm in my heart. In America, in Chinatown, the church has been a home to me.

     On June 8th, with the bishop, elders, brothers, and sister witnessing, I got baptized. I became an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am honored to have become a part of this big family. After joining the church, I feel like my life has become progressively more colorful and meaningful.

In these last several months, I feel I have been progressing a lot, especially spiritually. One time at work, two of my coworkers went out to smoke after rush hour (smoking is not good, it's in a commandment called "The Word of Wisdom". We shouldn't smoke). They weren't paying attention and locked themselves out. And to add to that, neither of them had their phone. At the same time this was happening, I had to go to the bathroom. And for some reason, I felt like I needed to open the outside door. I didn't know my co-workers were out there and had locked themselves out. My coworkers were really happy and thanked me as we went back to work. I kept thinking about it after it happened. I have no idea about why I would've opened that door, especially at that moment. I don't think it was a simple coincidence. I believe it was a revelation that Heavenly Father gave me for my testimony to grow.

     I want to share a scripture with everyone: "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." ( 1 Nephi 3:7 ) After studying the gospel for months, the missionaries asked me to help them teach the gospel to others. I feel so happy about it, because President Spencer W. Kimble taught us:  "We become more substantive as we serve others--indeed, it is easier to 'find' ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!" Something that's made me even happier is that I have this opportunity be a tool in Heavenly Father's hand, to do those things that He has prepared for us to do.

      When I came from China and graduated from high school, I was an Atheist. I had never felt a feeling like this until I came to church in America. And now it's getting stronger and stronger, Heavenly Father has helped me fill something missing in my heart. I feel happier and happier, my life has become better and better.

      So, I testify, God is our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is our savior. The Book of Mormon is true, our church -- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church with the true priesthood authority. Our President Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet who is called by God.

      I say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen..