I needed a fresh start! A New beginning. I was a new person with a changed life and a new outlook. I talked to mom and she thought it was time I was Re-Baptized.
In our Church we believed in Re-Baptism to make yourself clean once again. A fresh start after turning your life around. So I was re-baptized. 16 years old and still struggling with my Testimony.
I had a Testimony of Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, Baptism, Prayer, Temple work, and all the basics of the Gospel... But when it came to other aspects of our church, I tried to get a testimony of them but nothing came. I figure I just wasn't ready for it yet.
I remember being re-baptized and feeling nothing. No warmth, just empty. I had a hard time with it. I knew my Savior wasn't happy with me and therefore didn't accept it. If he accepted it, I would have felt something... anything! I tried to live my life as if I was forgiven of my sins. Maybe it was a test and the confirmation and warmth would come later. I soon let it all pass and just lived the best life I could.
More times then I can count did I expect to "feel" something spiritual and nothing came. I just chalked it up to "you're not ready yet" and moved on. One day I would be forgiven of my sins and be able to join my Father in Heaven in the Celestial Kingdom. I would not be deterred!!
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Update 11-9-12
This will probably be a good time to talk a little bit about feelings relating to religion. We were taught to pray and wait for a warmth.. a warm feeling as being an answer to a prayer. It's usually called a "burning of the bosom". I received this burning when others talked about Joseph Smith, Prayed about the Book of Mormon, Polygamy, Temple Work (That I was never able to take part in as a polygamist because they never did it accept in marriage) One thing we weren't taught is that the bible warns of such feelings. You can get those same kinds of feelings when your given a gift, or excited about something. Those feelings are something that is not consistent and are different for each individual at different stages in life. How can we trust something so inconsistent when it comes to spiritual answers and eternal salvation?
You can't always trust your feelings, because feelings have nothing to do with the facts of God's Word. Feelings come, feelings go. And feelings can fool you. Trust the facts, not your feelings.
Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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Update 11-9-12
This will probably be a good time to talk a little bit about feelings relating to religion. We were taught to pray and wait for a warmth.. a warm feeling as being an answer to a prayer. It's usually called a "burning of the bosom". I received this burning when others talked about Joseph Smith, Prayed about the Book of Mormon, Polygamy, Temple Work (That I was never able to take part in as a polygamist because they never did it accept in marriage) One thing we weren't taught is that the bible warns of such feelings. You can get those same kinds of feelings when your given a gift, or excited about something. Those feelings are something that is not consistent and are different for each individual at different stages in life. How can we trust something so inconsistent when it comes to spiritual answers and eternal salvation?
You can't always trust your feelings, because feelings have nothing to do with the facts of God's Word. Feelings come, feelings go. And feelings can fool you. Trust the facts, not your feelings.
Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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