Sharing a testimony about love and its source

On January 4, 2015, my mother, Myreel Smith Lewis, was in hospice and not expected to live. She is 94 years of age. We fasted today for her to be released sooner than later (on New Year's Day the doctor said she would live about two weeks and then choke to death from congestive heart failure). We shared a tender time on a Google Chat with our children this evening and later I sent our children details of the events leading up to where we are this evening. Grandmother's passing is expected any time.

Then I shared with our children my experience in a testimony meeting today that I felt was related to the events unfolding at this moment:

Thank you to all of you for your kind and sincere sentiments. This is a tender time for all of us, a time the Lord unites us and strengthens our faith.

I was in the Powell Valley Ward testimony meeting today. There was a baby blessing…a miracle baby for a couple, who for years couldn’t have children. Also the bishop’s father-in-law had passed away just yesterday. Both events prompted one of his daughters to bear her testimony about eternal families and how much she loved her grandfather.

There was a lot of love expressed in everyone’s testimonies. Because I preside and have the prerogative of closing every meeting, I opted to take the last 1 minute of the meeting to bear my testimony and thank everyone for the love they shared verbally that day. I didn’t feel I should reference Grandma’s condition in my testimony, but I had the feeling to bear the following in testimony:

“The scriptures say, ‘God is love,’ which can cause some confusion as to His identify. I testify He is a personage with a body, but from Him emanates the love we feel and express to each other. This love is tangible and real. It is not something that we psyche ourselves up with. He blesses us with greater love at the birth and blessing of a baby and at the passing of a righteous grandparent. This love we feel at these times is yet another manifestation that bear testimony of our loving and living Heavenly Father. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

I don’t know why I remember this testimony; I usually don’t remember much of what I say. Maybe because it was short. But I wanted all of you to know how grateful I am for the love we share, how it is a powerful witness that God lives and loves us deeply. We are all in His tender care and you are all indelibly written on our hearts.