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TESTIMONY OF PEARL E. LAMBERT TO MY BELOVED FAMILY
My Testimony starts away back in the time of Columbus when he was directed to make an unknown voyage. He felt that he had been called to a Great Mission, so great that it could only be achieved by the assistance of God.
He said to the King, “I come to your Majesty as an emissary of the Holy Ghost.” His son quotes him as saying, “God gave me the faith and courage, so I was willing to undertake the journey.”
I Nephi 13:12 says, “I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles who was separated from the seed of my Brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the Promised Land.”
The Lord saw fit to hold this, the choicest of all Lands, in the hollow of His hand, in preparation for its Great Mission as “The Cradle of Liberty” and as “The Land for the Church and Kingdom of God to be established in.”
Joseph Smith said, “There is not another Nation on the face of the earth where God could have established His Church with so little difficulty, as in the United States, for it was a free country.” Columbus discovered America in 1492.
Now we see a little band of Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock. They were kneeling in prayer – what did they have to be thankful for? On one side there was a wilderness with savage Indians and on the other three months sailing to get back to civilization. They fervently thanked God for a safe arrival in a Land of Freedom. October 12 is Columbus Day – it would be wonderful if each family would have a Home Night and teach their children about the discovery of America from the viewpoint of the L.D.S. and read them I Nephi 13:10-19. It is dramatic – it is thrilling. They would never forget that the discovery of America is the most dramatic, interest in the History of Mankind.
Many other Gentiles followed in search of Religious Freedom, but in order to attain freedom from England the Revolutionary War must be won.
Next we see the great Washington kneeling in his tent. His men had told him they were going to desert him, their shoes and clothing were in rags, they had little to eat. They heard him talking in the tent and listened. He prayed with such power to the Lord for help, in the depths of deep humility, it touched their hearts and they remained true to the end of the war. Through the Power of the Lord and the wisdom of the great diplomat, Benjamin Franklin, they received word that 17 ships loaded with food, clothing and ammunition had arrived. With the help of the great God of Heaven, the war was soon over. II Nephi 10:11.
Read I Nephi 22:7-8 – A mighty nation to be raised up and marvelous work.
Now they had a critical time – A Congress without power. Thirteen Colonies falling apart. Fifty-five men met to form laws to suit all. They could not agree, they were ready to give up. Benjamin Franklin arose and said “Gentlemen, when we were at war, we trusted in the Lord for guidance, praying continually, now we seem to have forgotten God. Let us go home and fast and pray for three days. Then meet with Him to direct us in writing a great document that will insure peace and establish justice for all.”
When they met again under the inspiration of the Lord, the greatest document of government ever written was produced. The Constitution of the United States of America was written. Read Doc. & Cov. 101:77-78.
Now the scene changes. You see me perched beside my Father on a high seat in the wagon. He is telling me the story of the “First Vision” of Joseph Smith, who went out in the woods to ask God which church was right. In the splendor of the beautiful Spring morning, two Glorified Beings; God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, His Son appeared. He was told to join none of them. To know that Joseph Smith really saw the Father and His Son, that man is created in His form, that we truly are His children and Jesus Christ is our elder brother, to know the Being we worship is a glorified man, not a myth or an incomprehensible being, it thrilled me with joy and still does. I thought that was the most wonderful story I ever heard, it sank deep into my heart and has never left me.
Every word of the Gospel he taught me was like music to my soul. I loved it with all my heart. Then father told me that God had again established His Church on the earth with Apostle, Prophets and every officer that He placed in the Church He established while on the earth, that His people should be guided by modern revelation and enjoy all the blessings and privileges of the former Church. Oh, what a testimony burned into my soul, never leaving me.
I wanted to go to Utah and mingle with the Saints of God. Mother had taught me about God and His great love for His children, but she belonged to another Church and it broke her heart when my two brothers and a sister joined the Church and went to Utah. Mother received an invitation to Jessie’s wedding in Utah. I heard her say to father, “I have a very vital decision to make, I shall take it to the Lord to help me.”
That night mother had a wonderful vision. She was standing by a great mountain, so straight it looked like a wall, she heard a voice saying “Come up.” There was no place to place her foot. The voice said, “O, Trust, Oh Trust.” As she raised her foot a place appeared, only one at a time. When fear came she heard the same words, “O, Trust, O, Trust.” When she reached the top of the mountain, a young man said, “Lady you look weary, go to the first house, my mother will give you refreshments.” She gladly went and received cold water, that refreshed her very soul and grapes that invigorated her. She seen lovely scenery, a water fall and many old people seated at a table with young people waiting on them. She was amazed at the happiness of everyone. In the morning she said to father, “I have the answer, I am to go to Utah.”
Mother, Eva and I came to Utah and many scenes that we passed, mother would say, Oh, I seen that in my vision last night. When in Utah she saw, Old Folks Day Celebrated.
She heard President Wilford Woodruff give a sermon on “Obedience to the Laws of the Land.” She said, “O, how misrepresented the Mormons are.” She took me to Primary and found the women among the purest and best she had ever met. She allowed me to be baptized with the Primary children, and was baptized about three months later. She wrote to father:
“My Dear Husband – Long you have fasted and prayed that I might know the right. The Lord has answered your prayers Dear, at last I see the light. Sell the farm, I won’t be back again. I’ll be waiting in Zion to greet My Dear Old Jim.” The letter was pressed to his bosom as he said, “Thank God, for such blessings and who am I?”
I can never express our great happiness when Dear Father and Brother Judson arrived in Heber. Oh, the joy that thrilled our hearts when we all went to Church services together. The Elder John Giles who joked mother, when he was on a Mission in Kansas, saying, “Sister Tomlinson, I will baptize you some day,” lived in Heber and really did.
Oh, how faithful mother was, always found in her place at Church and when we moved to Salt Lake, she and father went to the Temple and did all their work for the dead.
You Dear Children all know how the Lord led us by the hand after your Dear Father was taken from us. How many times we fasted and prayed for wisdom. He always directed us.
Dear Children, we all have to have trials, to develop us and bring out the best in our characters. Let your faith be as strong as a rock that nothing good for you will be withheld – always say, “Thy will be done,” and trust, oh, trust. Sometimes the way may look as black as night, but if faithful, the clouds will break with blessings on your heads. Never lose your faith, be humble, God will lead you by the hand and give you answer to your prayers. Keep the Commandments, do your very best.
“I am bound when you do as I say, but if you do not, you have no promise.” A testimony is the highest type of knowledge, it comes as a Revelation through the Holy Ghost. It explains the purpose of life, it gives us eternal hope and leads us in the path of righteousness, testifying of all truth to your souls.
Love,
Mother
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