--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - McAllister, Duncan M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 22 number: 2 published: 1918-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'McAllister, Duncan M., "A Testimony," *Improvement Era* 22, no. 2 (December 1918): 153–156.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2202unse 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: improvementera2202unse start_page: 153 end_page: 156 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1918-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2202unse publication_year: 1918 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 1918, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # A Testimony A Testimony By Duncan McNeil McAllister I have been associated with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nearly seventy years; for sixty years of that time I have been a member of that Church, conse- quently I have learned a good deal concerning its doctrines and the effects that the acceptance of those doctrines have had upon those who have faith- fully adhered thereto. I think that what I say concerning this Church and people should be accepted as truthful; it would be no personal advan- tage to me to declare anything else than the truth about those things. I cannot live much longer, and, when I depart, I de- sire to appear before the Great Judge of all as one who has made no false state- ments concerning the Gospel of our Re- deemer. And now, my dear brethren, sisters and friends, with a full realization of the importance and sol- ELDER DUNCAN M. McALLISTER emnity of this state- ment, realizing that I Born Glasgow, Scotland, April 18, 1842; bap- tized October 25, 1857, in the river Clyde; am and will be ac- served in Millennial Star office 1861-63; ar- countable before God rived in Salt Lake City, Oct. 22, 1863; filled a for it, I declare with- mission to Britain in 1887-9; and since 1893 out reservation that I recorder in the Salt Lake and St. George Tem- have learned that the ples. religion which the people of the world have nicknamed "Mor- — 154 IMPROVEMENT ERA monism" is in very deed the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, restored to the earth through a duly authorized servant of God, the Prophet Joseph Smith, through whom also the Holy Priest- hood was restored, with authority to minister in all the ordin- ances of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, imparted unto me through obedience to that Gospel, has illumined my soul, and I am thereby enabled to solemnly testify that I know this is the truth. I have learned that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an exact counterpart of the Church the Savior estab- lished in the former days, when he sojourned on this earth. I am familiar with all that is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and have learned that the doctrines taught by the Latter-day Saints conform to those scriptures in all respects, and their church organization is the same as that provided by the Great Head of the Church for the former-day Saints. I have had unusual opportunities to become well acquainted with prominent men of this Church, men whose lives have been governed by its principles, and who have devoted themselves to advocating, as well as living in accordance with those princi- ples, and I have learned that those men are God-fearing and righteous examples of all the best qualities that mankind pos- sess, whose characteristics all of us would do well to emulate. I have learned from "Mormonism" much that is satisfy- ing concerning what are usually termed the mysteries of life from whence we have come, why we are here and whither we — are going much that vitally affects our welfare here and here- after, and makes clearly evident the obligations that devolve upon us to properly perform our part while sojourning here, and that will insure to us eternal life and progress hereafter. I have learned that it does not pay to do otherwise than conform to the requirements of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that misery results from breaking God's laws or failing to comply therewith, and that joy and peace follow learning and doing the will of God. I have learned that there is more happiness and satisfaction in laboring to help others than in selfishly working always for our own benefit. Our elder Brother, our Lord and Redeemer, was the greatest exemplar of self-sacrifice for the good of all mankind that has ever lived on this earth; none other can man- ifest that divine attribute to equal extent. But it is possible for each individual to exercise it to the limit of his human ability and thereby earn the approval of God and his own conscience, which will impart satisfaction to the soul as recompense for help unselfishly rendered. A TESTIMONY 155 I have learned that in no direction, in which we may devote ourselves to unselfish labor for the good of others, is there greater joy realized than in performing the sacred work in God's Holy Temples for the salvation and redemption of the dead. That more nearly approaches the self-sacrificing work of the Messiah than anything else we can engage in; in fact, it is in the nature of assisting him to accomplish the great mission assigned — to him by the Father the redemption of all of the human fam- ily who can be saved. I have learned that the greatest gift of God to man is the gift of the Holy Ghost, an incomparably priceless gift; its pos- session is the key to wisdom, light and knowledge of all truth, consequently to happiness and endless progression. I have learned that there is a power and influence contin- uously striving to overcome that gift of the Holy Ghost, a power and influence always cunningly alert to prevent our acting upon the good, wise, truthful light imparted by the Divine Spirit, picturing the opposite as the most desirable, pleasure-giving course, too often succeeding in making us believe that error is the truth, that evil is the good. Many other things I have learned, in addition to these, that have imparted to me absolute faith in God, in his Son, the Messiah, and in the Holy Ghost; and given me similar faith in — the Holy Scriptures the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. I earnestly commend the study of these books above all others; they can greatly assist in "making us wise unto salvation." I devoutly wish that all mankind would seek for the faith that leads to obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Such obedience will assuredly give bodily health and peace of mind in this life, and open the pathway to eternal life and progress beyond the grave. To that end, let us unitedly petition the Throne of Grace: God, our heavenly Father, look in mercy on us, thy weak and erring children; forgive our sins we humbly pray; do not forsake us, but give us the help we need to always retain and be guided by that priceless gift, the Holy Spirit; in the name of thy beloved Son, our Redeemer, Jesus the Christ.—Amen. —