Elder Ronald M. Barcelos, a General Authority Seventy, opened his address to students at BYU-Hawaii on Tuesday, February 24, by talking about “the greatest war known to all,” the war in heaven of the premortal world.
Elder Barcelos said when people think of war, they usually think of swords, arrows, machine guns, tanks and jet planes.
“But this war was different. It was a war of opinions and beliefs. On one side were those who loved and trusted God and Jesus Christ and chose to accept Heavenly Father’s plan. On the other side were those who trusted and chose to follow Lucifer. But what weapons did we use to win this great war?” Elder Barcelos asked.
The apostle John wrote, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11).
Elder Barcelos said: “We have overcome Satan and won the battle in heaven by the power of Jesus Christ and our testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Addressing the students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Cannon Activity Center on the BYU-Hawaii campus in Laie, Hawaii, Elder Barcelos encouraged the audience to diligently strengthen their testimonies. “As the vision of John teaches, (testimony) is a powerful weapon against Satan, as it was during the war in heaven and is as true now. As we strengthen our testimonies and follow Jesus Christ, we will be given the power to once again overcome Satan in this life and return to our Heavenly Father,” Elder Barcelos affirmed.
He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Karin SA Barcelos, who also shared her testimony during the devotion.
What is a testimony?
Elder Barcelos explained that a testimony is a personal, spiritual assurance of eternal truth and is confirmed by the Holy Spirit.
“A testimony is a gift from our Heavenly Father and is given to all of His children. To receive this gift, each of us must obey the Savior’s invitation and promise given in the Sermon on the Mount. Seek, and it will be given to you. Knock at the door, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7). In other words, we need to act.
Elder Barcelos quoted Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to explain that testimony is not just intellectual effort or physical evidence. “It is given to us as we ask, knock, and seek, and that is how we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives and receive spiritual confirmation.”
As a young missionary at the Missionary Training Center, Elder Barcelos said he realized that although he believed the Book of Mormon was true, he had never asked God. That night he prayed a simple and sincere prayer.
“I had barely finished speaking when my entire body felt like it was on fire, tears streaming down my cheeks, and an overwhelming feeling of joy and peace,” Elder Barcelos recalled.
Elder Barcelos explained that while powerful spiritual manifestations can occur and be a blessing, they are not the most common way the Holy Spirit confirms truth.
Most of the time, God speaks through a “still small voice” (Helaman 5:30) or puts thoughts into the heart with a feeling of peace and certainty in the heart.
In a sense, testimonies are like “heavenly puzzles,” growing bit by bit from truth to truth. “As we remain faithful to the revelations we have received, the Lord rewards us with further revelations. Little by little, the Lord deepens our knowledge and understanding and strengthens our confidence,” he said.
The elder Barcelos said he has seen people assembling a puzzle who had trouble placing one of the pieces and ended up throwing the entire puzzle away. “Dear brothers and sisters, please don’t let that happen,” he declared. “It is important to be patient and trust in the revelations you have already received and the timing of God to give you additional knowledge, knowing that in time God will continue to answer your questions and guide you.”
He encouraged his listeners to recommit to Jesus Christ and his gospel. “The Lord will pour out His Spirit on you. You will receive answers and confirmation of gospel truths that will strengthen your testimony. You will have an experience that confirms that God lives, that He knows you personally, and that He answers your prayers.”
“As your testimony grows, you will grow in confidence in yourself and your future, and you will grow in your ability to follow Jesus Christ. You will feel joy and peace, regardless of the uncertainties and uncertainties around you. You will more clearly discern the enemy’s traps and be empowered to make the right choices. You will be transformed and become a destined son or daughter of God.”
