SALT LAKE CITY — Elder Robert D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve, testified of the existence of God and Jesus Christ in the Sunday morning session of the 184th Semiannual General Conference.
“Do you remember the first time you knew there was a God and could feel His love?” asked Elder Hales. He continued by instructing listeners on how to gain their own testimony of Christ and Heavenly Father.
In the process, Elder Hales said, seeking is key. Using his own personal experience, he taught that as he exercised faith and obeyed the commandments, the Holy Ghost testified to him that what he was learning was true.
Elder Hales continued, relaying stories of Christ’s life and highlighting Christ’s relationship with Heavenly Father.
“When he taught his doctrine, he explained, ‘It is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me, and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me,’” said Elder Hales, quoting 3 Nephi 11:32. “Verily, the Father and I are one.”
Elder Hales clarified, saying Jesus is a God yet distinguishes himself as a separate individual. This is made further present, he said, by Jesus praying to his Father and saying he is doing his Father’s will. It is therefore no surprise, Elder Hales said, that the Restoration of the gospel began with the appearance of two beings.
Elder Hales then extended an invitation to listeners, saying that they, just like the Prophet Joseph Smith, can seek Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
“As you seek, you will discover that Heavenly Father has provided a special way for you to know the truth for yourself,” he said, “through the third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit we know as the Holy Ghost.”
Closing with a testimony, Elder Hales said Heavenly Father wants us to seek the knowledge of Jesus Christ now.
“When we build our house upon (Jesus Christ), the rains of the latter days may descend, the floods may come, and the winds may blow, but we will not fall, for our home and our family will be founded upon Christ,” Elder Hales said.
