This I Know

THIS I KNOW

KELLY SUMMERS 10-2009


As a young boy in Monticello, Utah, I believed I was the most blessed person in the world because I was a Mormon, a cowboy and could ride my horse with my father working the cows. My father was my bishop for 16 years and I idolized him. My mother ran the Hyland Hotel and I helped her make the beds and clean the rooms before school. She had great faith. I came from pioneer stock who all crossed the plains in wagons and handcarts for the gospel. I have always been a believer.

Now I am 68 years of age. My father, mother and a sister have passed on. After 40 years, I have retired from practicing law. I have been called to serve in the Church as an 11 year old scout leader, a ward teacher, a home teacher, a Deacon’s Quorum President, a Teacher’s Quorum President, a budget collector, a missionary to the Northern States Mission, an MIA instructor, a home teaching supervisor, an Adult Aaronic Secretary , a seminary teacher, an institute instructor, a supervisor of seminaries on the West Slope of Colorado, a Teacher’s Quorum Advisor, an Elders Quorum President, a Stake Mission President, a Stake Missionary, a High Councilor, a co-chair for a ward history, a counselor in three stake presidencies, a Seventy, a Sunday School teacher, a Priest Quorum Advisor, a Ward Young Men’s President, a bishop, a Stake Young Men’s President and a Stake President. I still believe I am the most blessed person in the world with a dedicated wife and six wonderful and faithful children.

I have never seen an angel. I have never had a vision. But, by the Spirit, this I know:

1. HEAVENLY FATHER IS THE FATHER OF MY SPIRIT, HE LOVES AND CARES FOR ME AND KNOWS MY NAME. I feel very close to my Heavenly Father. The most comforting thing in my world is that he loves me, is concerned about me and that He knows my name. I don’t understand the process where He can know individually all His spirit children, but I know He knows me. This is a very easy proposition for me because I had a loving earthy father that I respected and revered so it is natural for me to feel the same toward Heavenly Father. I have felt His love for me so many times. I have gone to him in prayer numerous times about the problems I have faced and I have felt His love and concern for me and helped me through my immediate situation. We are all equal before our Heavenly Father. I remember the feelings I had when I led Elder Funk, our Area Seventy and I in prayer to Heavenly Father concerning an important matter in my stake. It wasn’t an Area Seventy and a Stake President petitioning Heavenly Father because of our church positions, but it was just two of Heavenly Father’s sons asking for help from a loving Heavenly Father because they were His sons and He loved and was concerned for us.

2. JESUS CHRIST IS MY SAVIOR AND FRIEND. HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF MY SINS IF I REPENT. I have felt the forgiving power of Jesus Christ. I know the peace I feel when I know I have confessed my sins and they have been forgiven.. It is a sweet peaceful feeling when I know that my life is acceptable to Christ.. I have felt His friendship and felt him carrying and comforting me in difficult times. I have witnessed so many times the peace and forgiveness members have obtained from Christ in my role as a common judge in Israel when they confess their sins and cast their burdens on the Lord. The peace that Christ brings surpasses any other peace.

3. THE HOLY GHOST TEACHES US, GUIDES US, WARNS US AND DIRECTS OUR LIVES. I have been guided by the Holy Ghost my entire life. It makes life easier when the Holy Ghost directs us. I am a witness that the Spirit of the Lord has told me so many times what to do and people have been blessed because I followed the Spirit. I remember the Spirit telling me to visit a totally inactive sister who was in poor health. Some time after our visit, she told me I had literally saved her life because she was planning to take her own life but was given hope by my visit and the blessing I gave to her. She subsequently changed her life and went to the temple for the first time when she was about 60 years old. This is just one of hundreds of experiences I have had in following the Spirit. I fear for my responsibility when I do not follow the Spirit and I was not there to help someone else. The Spirit also warns me. I didn’t follow the Spirit when it told me not to take a client and this deranged man later threaten to kill me.

4. JOSEPH SMITH WAS A PROPHET OF GOD. I have visited the Sacred Grove. I have been in Nauvoo many times. I am a witness, by the Spirit, that he was a prophet of God and restored the priesthood power and church to the earth. The Spirit has testify this to me numerous times that the church has been restored

5. THERE ARE LIVING PROPHETS ON THE EARTH TODAY. I have personally met Pres. McKay, President Hunter, Pres. Hinckley and many other apostles. The Spirit has witnessed to me in very powerful experiences that they are prophets of God. I have been interviewed by them and know they are men of God. I have been interviewed by a General Authority who knew me by the Spirit and knew what I needed and gave it to me in his blessing. The church is true and led by men of God.

6. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. It has been my experience to receive answers to prayers. I have seen miracles occur through fasting and prayers. I know that prayers make a difference. My prayers have been heard.

7. GOD IS IN CONTROL. WE JUST NEED TO FIND OUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER AND FOLLOW HIS WILL. I am amazed how simple our lives would be if we could just learn the will of the Father and then do it. He is in control and we need to find His will. I have called so many people to positions in the ward and stake who knew by the Spirit what the call would be. I have called many bishops to be bishops and they already knew they were being called as bishop and had their counselors already picked.

These things I know by the Spirit. I know that we live forever and that life doesn’t end at death. Families can be forever. The gospel is true.