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Children's author, Lori Conger, agreed to share with us her thoughts and testimony on Jesus Christ and His gospel:

I am an author, a teacher, and most importantly, a mother of four. I have been blessed in my life to be able to do many things I love, like writing (my children's picture book My Squishy Pants just came out, and I am working on many other writing projects as well), substitute teaching at the local elementary schools, reading great books, playing (and even coaching some) volleyball, and being a full-time mother. I also had the opportunity of serving a full-time mission in Utica, New York, which was a wonderful experience. I now live in Kaysville, Utah with my husband, Daniel, and our children. I have been given so much. (Lori Conger, 29 July 2008)

Candace: As an author of children's literature you have a unique love and connection with the children of the world. Will you please share with us the value children have in the eyes of our Lord?

Lori? From the time I was very small I was taught that I was a child of God, that He heard my prayers and that He loved me. I think it was the most valuable principle my parents ever instilled in me, for it gave me a sense of self worth and a knowledge of who I was and what my purpose was here on earth. I felt His love many times as a child and knew that He knew me, just as He knows and loves all of His children.

One of my favorite scriptural accounts is found in 3 Nephi, Chapter 17, when the Savior took the little children in his arms and blessed them and prayed for them. It is one of the most beautiful accounts of the Savior portraying His love, and He does it to the children. It is no wonder He always taught to "suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not" (Matt. 19:14). In the Book of Mormon we are taught to become like little children (Mosiah 3:19), and I love the scripture in Matthew 18, verse 10 that reminds us to not despise "these little ones," for their angels always behold the face of God. Yes, God loves little children.

Candace: What is your favorite scripture and why?

Lori I have many favorite scriptures, but one that I have relied on many times in my life is Helaman 5:12, where we are taught to build our foundation on the "rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God." As the influences of the world become stronger and many voices pull for our attention, this scripture reminds me that I need only to make sure I am firmly grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then, no matter what Satan tries or how strong his influence may seem, I will not--cannot--fall. What a remarkable promise!

Candace: Who is your favorite prophet and why?

Lori: I would have to say that my favorite prophet is whomever is the current prophet (is it cheating to say that?). I am so profoundly grateful for a living prophet and feel humbled and blessed to live at such a time when we have divine guidance through a prophet of God that I find myself loving and appreciating whomever is filling that divine calling. Each prophet in my lifetime has influenced my life in tremendous ways. Could you imagine the world without a David O. Mckay or Ezra Taft Benson, or especially a Gordon B. Hinckley? Me niether! So, right now, my favorite prophet is President Thomas S. Monson.

Candace: Will you please share with us your conversion? All of us, whether we are born into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, have a moment of conversion, please share?

Lori: I have to say that I do not have a "moment" of conversion, for my conversion came line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little until I found my heart full with a sincere and profound knowledge and love of the Lord and His church. I do distinctly remember, however, standing in the front of our chapel one Sunday morning in May of 1986, only a few days after our elementary school had been held hostage (miraculously no one but our captors had lost their lives--even after a bomb had exploded) and singing "I Am a Child of God," and knowing deep within my heart that I truly was and that He had been aware of our situation and intervened to save us. Then, as a teenager, when President Benson directed us to read the Book of Mormon every day, I took that challenge, and without really knowing it then, it changed my life. I grew to love and honor that sacred book, and it gave me a deep and abiding testimony of the Savior and a desire to live the life He would want me to live.

Candace: Will you please share your personal testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ?

Lori: I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know He is real, that He came to earth to do His Father's will, to live and die for each of us. I know that because He loves us deeply He has continued to call living prophets throughout time to help us know the truth and the way to live to gain eternal life. I know that every good thing in my life is because of my Savior and Redeemer, who made it possible for me to have true and lasting peace and joy, and I love Him so much for that.

Candace: Christians across the globe face an ever-increasing battle against those who would destroy and erase all that our Savior has done for us. What would you say to them, given the chance?

Lori I think I would say something similar to what Alma told Korihor in the thirtieth chapter of Alma. Korihor kept denying that there is a Christ. Alma shared with Korihor his testimony and then asked a profound question, "And now, what evidence have ye that there is no God or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only." Then he continues by saying that he had all things as a testimony that they are true.

I would hope to share a simple, powerful testimony and then encourage them to sincerely seek for truth, to be honest with themselves, and to go to God, rather than the world, for answers.

Candace: Please share your testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope it brings to every human soul.

Lori: I know God lives, that He is our Father, and that He hears and answers our prayers. I know He wants us to find true and lasting peace and happiness, and that is why He created a Plan that allowed us to come to earth to learn and grow. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, that He lives, and that He provided the way for us to return Home again someday. I know we are led by a prophet of God, President Thomas S. Monson, and that the truth was restored to the earth in the spring of 1820 when God and His Son appeared to Joseph Smith in a grove of trees in upstate New York. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it has the power to bring us to Christ. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom on earth today. I know that God loves us more deeply than we could ever understand and that is why He gave us commandments and guidelines so that we would know how to live and be happy. The Gospel is true and it is real. Of that I am sure.

Candace: You stand, as it were, on a world stage. In that circumstance, what message do you have for this troubled world?

Lori: We live in a miraculous time! There is so much to rejoice in and hope for. The truth is on the earth and there is a way for every human soul to find it. The heavens are open, God is waiting, and He will answer every sincere desire for truth. There is a way to live and be at peace, even in troubled times, for we need only to follow the living Prophet. We need not be in despair. God lives. He is aware of us, and He will lead and guide us if we let Him.

Lori, thank you for dropping by and sharing your testimony with all the readers of LDSBlogs.com.

I had the opportunity to sit down with author, Tristi Pinkston, and ask her about the Gospel and her feelings on the matter. What followed was a beautiful interview with a little about Tristi's ancestors, her thoughts and feelings on the Gospel and her testimony.

Candace: You are a well-known author in the LDS Historical Fiction genre, and as such you have spoken all across the west about the power of recording life histories in journals so that others might benefit from our experiences. Can you tell us why you feel it is so important you record in journals?

Tristi: If we think for a minute about the volumes of scripture we've been given, what are they? In essence, they're journals. These prophets of old experienced God's mercy in their lives, heard God's word, or learned through their trials, and they wrote it all down. Today, we have those words to rely on to get us through the hard times. If we, in turn, record the things we've learned, the times we've experienced mercy, and the times we've heard God's word, then our descendants can look to our words for encouragement.

What if those ancient prophets said they were too busy to take the time to write in their journals? Remember what the Savior said when He came to visit the inhabitants of the Americas--He rebuked them for not keeping their records. If they can take time, with their chisels and sheets of metal, to write in their journals, surely we can pull up a Word document or get out a notebook and write in ours. Our words will have tremendous worth to our children and their children--and to us, as well. I can't tell you how many times I've been reminded of past blessings from reading old journal entries of mine from years past.

Candace: Will you tell us a little more about your ancestor Benjamin Perkins and the role he played in the Hole in The Rock?

Tristi: Benjamin Perkins was an incredible man of faith. He came to America with only the money for his passage, worked his way across the continent to join with the Latter-day Saints, often referred to as the Mormons, in Utah, then continued to work to bring his family and his sweetheart across. After all that work, after toiling to build a home, he left it all behind when he was asked to serve a mission to colonize the southeast corner of the state of Utah. He, along with the other men on the trek, literally carved their path out of rock and wood. When they reached the sheer cliffs that comprise the bank on the west side of the Colorado River, rather than turning back or giving up, he came up with a way to create a road tacked on to the cliff face to lower the wagons to the water side. In every instance, he moved forward with faith in the Lord and didn't question the things he was asked to do, even when the command to practice polygamy nearly tore him apart.

Candace: Why is literacy so important to the children of God?

Tristi: We need to be able to read and fully comprehend the words of the scriptures, the words of the prophets, and the words of our own patriarchal blessings. In addition, we've been taught that our knowledge is the only thing we'll be able to take with us to the next life, and we'll use that knowledge in our eternal progression. We must be literate in order to attain that knowledge. The glory of God is light and truth, is it not, and how else can we gain that light and truth for ourselves than by educating ourselves in the gospel?

Candace: You are a lifelong Latter-day Saint, can you tell us when you gained a testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Tristi: I've always had a testimony of the Church. I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't have it. However, I've had certain experiences that have taught me more deeply about certain aspects of the gospel. During my parents' divorce, while seeking comfort in prayer, I gained a rock-solid assurance that our Heavenly Father listens to every single word we offer up to Him. While visiting Nauvoo as a sixteen-year-old, my testimony of Joseph Smith became unshakable. When faced with unemployment and the prospects of losing my home, I learned without question that God is in charge.

Candace: What gospel principle plays the most important role in your life and why?

Tristi: I don't think I can pick just one. I love the principle of eternal families, knowing that I can be with my dear ones forever. I love knowing that I can turn to my Heavenly Father in prayer any time I want. I love the blessings that come from paying tithing. If I had to narrow it to one, I would say that knowing I'm a daughter of God is the most priceless to me, knowing that He loves me so much that He sent His Son to pave my way, and knowing that my Brother loves me so much that He died the most painful death imaginable for me.

Candace: You stand on a world stage now, as it were. What message do you have for those seeking Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

Tristi: We live in a time where chaos and confusion are kings. We can look to the media, to drugs, to fame, to money, to being skinny, to chanting mantras -- we can look in a thousand different places for peace and happiness, but we never will find it until we have come unto Christ. And not just come unto Him, but accepted the very reality that He is the way, and if we just listen to the promptings we receive and follow the guidance we've been given, we will know what we should do. When everything around us is falling apart, we will know what to do.

For those who have been seeking Christ but aren't sure where to find Him, He's so easy to find. Just kneel down and offer up your heart, and He will be there immediately. You don't have to struggle to find Him. You don't have to go through a priest or a minister or any other form to ecclesiastical leader to find Him -- you can approach Him directly and He will listen and He will respond immediately.

As far as seeking out a church that worships Him as He would most like to be worshiped, I know for a fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church restored to the earth. It is set up after the same pattern Christ Himself showed us while He was on the earth. The Church has His power, His authority, and His approbation to act in His name.

Candace: What is your favorite scripture and why?

Tristi: Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 -- "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

I have the tendency to fear, and this scripture keeps me grounded and reminds me that I'm not the one in charge. I don't have to make things all better. Someone Else can do that a whole lot better than I can, and I need to just let Him.

Candace: Who is your favorite prophet and why?

Tristi: My favorite prophet is always the one we have right now. I love the fact that ours is a living church, and that we are entitled to and do receive new revelation. This revelation doesn't contradict what we've learned in the past, but rather adds to it and makes it richer. I love hearing the voice of the modern prophets and learning what the Lord wants me to do in this day and age, to add to the lessons we've already learned from prophets of old.

Candace: When did you gain a testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer and what does He mean to you now?

Tristi: That question of "when" is hard to pin down. It's something that I've always known, and yet, as I mentioned, I've had experiences along the path that have strengthened what I've always known. He has seen me through some pretty agonizing times. He has comforted me when I've been in despair. He has been patient and kind and loving with me, sometimes gently correcting me but never blasting me with lightning, like I'm sometimes sure He will. Knowing that He loves me so much that He suffered the greatest pains of all, for me, is the most wonderful, validating, empowering thing I can imagine.

Candace: Any last words or thoughts you wish to share?

Tristi: I'm grateful for this opportunity to share my testimony and to publicly express how grateful I am to my Heavenly Father and my Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, for my life, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for my family, and for the many ways in which They walk beside me every day.

Tristi Pinkston is the author of three published historical fiction novels and the mother of four adorable children. She writes for Families.com and works as a freelance editor. She and her husband make their home in Utah Valley, where she homeschools her children and serves as a Cub Scout leader in her ward.