---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Andrus, Robert
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 2
number: 9
published: 1899-07
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Andrus, Robert, "How to Get a Testimony," *Improvement Era* 2, no. 9 (July 1899): 691.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera29unse
start_page: 691
end_page: 691
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-07)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29unse
  publication_year: 1899
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# How to Get a Testimony

<!-- page:691 -->

LIFE INFLUENCING MAXIMS.                              691

I got out of the hall as soon as I could and hurried home and went

to bed, where I lay and wept and prayed for some time.                      My
prayer was soon answered.          I   had asked the Lord to tell       me why
I   was afflicted.    I    asked him   if I   had sinned   in   my first estate,
that I should be required to pass under such a severe affliction in
mortality.     I soon felt a good,     peaceful influence take possession
of me, and I knew the Lord had sent me comfort.           A still, small
voice whispered in          my ear, "The Lord is displeased with none
except those who         will not acknowledge his hand in all things.

Your     affliction   was placed upon you as a check against your
impetuous nature.   It is for your good and for your salvation." I

wish to say to others who sorrow because of their afflictions, be
comforted, for the hand of the Lord is in all things for some wise
purpose.

                          HOW TO GET A TESTIMONY.

BY ROBERT ANDRUS, SECRETARY OF THE BINGHAM STAKE M. I. A.

    Two passages of scripture have wielded a great influence over
my mind, and together they are bringing to me a testimony of the
Gospel: the first, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and
                                                         his right-
                                                             of the
eousness," led me to fasting and prayer for a manifestation
truthfulness of this         work— the work of the Lord as established
                                                              and
through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
kept me from doing many wrong things. In my search
                                                            for  a
                                                    three days  at
manifestation, I often fasted and prayed, sometimes
                                                           to receive satisfac-
 a time, but each time without result; I failed
        Time passed on, and I was still unsatisfied and
                                                           somewhat
 tion.
                                                   of scripture fast-
 discouraged, but at length this second 'passage
                                                      "For whosoever
 ened itself upon me and has shown me the light:
                      my Father which is in heaven  shall know of the
 shall do the will of