38. All Things Testify of God’s Love with Nova Sonomura

When Nova looks back on his spiritual journey, he often thinks of Alma 30:44, a verse that reminded him of God’s love during a time when he felt really discouraged. In this powerful passage, Alma teaches that we don’t need dramatic signs to know God is real because “all things denote there is a God,” from the scriptures to the earth and heavens around us. Feeling the Lord’s compassion through that scripture sparked a desire in Nova to recognize and share God’s love everywhere, and that theme has followed him throughout his life. When he was twelve-years-old he took on a challenge to bear his testimony every fast Sunday and read the entire Book of Mormon. As he thought and prayed about everything he began to feel the Spirit. Over the years, small promptings opened unexpected doors and strengthened his desire to serve. Eventually he served in the Japan Kobe Mission, where teaching people who knew very little about Christianity taught him to rely completely on the Spirit and to share the gospel in simple, genuine ways. Today, Nova’s life reflects steady faith, quiet consistency, compassion, and a sincere love for God and the people around him. These qualities that continue to guide him as he strives to walk with the Savior every day.