Brother Ronald McClain was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 1985, where he became a member of the Oakland First Ward, Oakland California Stake; he was ordained an elder in March 1986, and was endowed and had his family sealed on July 5, 1986, in the Oakland Temple. Brother McClain has served as the Young Men secretary and president, as a Varsity Scout leader, a Sunday School teacher, and in several branch presidencies. He was called as the Oakland Ninth Branch President in October 1999, and became the Bay Area Public Affairs Minority Relations Leader in April 2003. He was instrumental in helping set up the Genesis-style meetings in the Oakland area. After serving as a temple volunteer and an ordinance worker, he was called as a sealer and received the sealing authority from Elder Richard G. Scott on June 16, 2005. His testimony, which follows, helps us all feel the love of our Heavenly Father and the Savior.Brothers and Sisters:
My testimony is simply that I know my Heavenly Father lives, loves us, wants the best for us, is always there to guide, prompt us and, in all ways possible, help us to be the best we can be.
He prompted me to attend law school at the University of California, Davis, from among the options available to me at that time, so that I would meet a young woman with whom I became fast friends and subsequently married. My dear wife grew up in the Church, was instrumental in my eventually deciding to be baptized, and has been helpful to me beyond description as I’ve struggled to strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I know that He lives and that He loves me, for each day I experience the joy of the wonderful promise that I will be absolved of my sins by the precious and wonderful gift of the sacrifice of His Son if I follow Heavenly Father’s plan for how I can gain eternal exaltation with Him and my family. I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves me because He has given me the all-powerful tool of prayer so that I can communicate with Him at all times and the comforting and inspiring words of His scriptures.
I feel the magnificence of His confidence in me as evidenced by the ways in which He has called me to serve. Heavenly Father’s Spirit calms me as I struggle to magnify my priesthood, minister to those to whom He directs me, and administer His sacred ordinances in His Temple.
Heavenly Father’s hand in my life, as manifested through His Spirit and those who lead us, enables me to stand and, without equivocation, tell one and all that He is the true and a living God, that this is His Church, and that we are lead by those who commune with and are blessed by Him.
Of this I testify in the name of His Beloved Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.