Stake Conference Testimonies

A week ago, we had stake conference. As part of the Saturday night session and also the Sunday session, the visiting authority requested members of the congregation come forward and bear their testimonies. When I read on the program that we would have testimonies by invitation, I started to think about what I would say if called upon. No, I was not called from the congregation to bear my testimony. But, I was ready. If I had been called, I would have said something like this:

"I am grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am so grateful that he was faithful and endured many things. Because of his steadfastness, the restored gospel was once again placed here on this earth through him by Jesus Christ. After the gospel was restored, many other events took place. The priesthood was restored which has blessed many lives. As a result of the priesthood being restored upon the earth, temples were built so that ordinances could be performed allowing families to be together forever. I made a decision to be married in the temple and receive the ordinance of sealing. I am grateful for Joseph Smith who allowed my family to have this beautiful ordinance. As I look over this congregation, I see my beautiful wife and one of my daughters. She is one of four daughters. If I am faithful and obedient, then one day I have the promise that my wife, my daughter who is here, and her three sisters will be mine forever. What more could a man want? But wait, this is not all. My mother and father, my sister and two brothers and I will be together as well. And so, the welding link can be there between generations connecting and keeping us together. I am grateful for living prophets, for scriptures and for the sacrament to allow us to come closer to God. This is my testimony."

Footnote: The welding link reference comes from the 128th section of the Doctrine and Covenants:

Joseph Smith said: "I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other...".

What is the curse he is referencing? It is this:
Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.