Is there a right way and a wrong way to bare a testimony?

[ruthiechan]

Originally Posted by Justice

There is a spirit of the law and a letter of the law, if you will, and if it can be applied to this topic with a bit of imagination.

The letter of the law is to bear pure testimony.

The spirit of the law is that if you feel you need to relate a short personal story to help others understand why you are saying what you chose to say, I see no harm. They can actually help edify.

Like many on this forum, however, I get uneasy during travel logs and get lost fairly quick.

Short and brief, and to the point is never the wrong way to go when bearing a testimony.

Amen.

[Misshalfway]

I think that the only way to botch a testimony is where you stop bearing it and move into stuff like gospel lessons, preaching, thanking, analyzing, and otherwise waxing profound. A testimony can be born in silent ways....in how you treat another or how you live thru a crisis. A testimony at church is only one way in a long list of ways one can share belief and truth with the world and help others to feel the Spirit of God.

[Elgama]

There was an article in the Ensign many years back don't ask me to find it lol it made an impression on me

It contained a father who was talking with a child about baring their testimony on Sunday, he talked about how for years he had cringed when small children had got up and just said I love Jesus and I love my Parents,

His child asked would he like to hear her testimony, she said I love Jesus and I love my parents in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen - he said would she like to say some other things and tried coaching her, she burst into tears and said Daddy you don't like my testimony. He then he realised she didn't know the other things he said, but she did know she loved Jesus and she loved Mummy and Daddy. That was where her testimony was at.

That came in an Ensign about the time I think it was President Hinckely talked about there being no such think as a bad/boring sacrament meeting if we listened with the spirit

Our branch has always been a bit cuckoo lol at the time our testimony meetings were as follows, one Brother got up and told about his prostate, his wife got up and we heard about her market stall, another got up and we got the tales of the brass band for that week, another brother had, had a dream, a sister usually got up and cried for half an hour and we went home lol

Those 2 things combined in the Ensign at the time made me realise it was upto me to feel the spirit, and realise actually those things were were their testimony was at. The General Authorities are encouraging us to grow and learn but until we get to that stage the testimonies given in my funny branch at the time were what the people baring them were able to give

Most of the people that used to bear their testimonies like that are now dead, but the two that are still alive have really grown up their testimonies in the past few years and can actually reduce me to tears (doesn't happen very often) not very well educated people have gained great wisdom in their current trials and their testimonies are now where the Brethern want them to be, Although we could have done without the moral lectures from the serial adulterer but the rest were learning or a bit off their trolley
-Charley

[Just_A_Guy]

I hate it when Fast and Testimony meeting turns into group therapy.

Ironically enough, the best testimony meetings I've ever been to were LDS Addiction Recovery group meetings.

[pam]

Originally Posted by Just_A_Guy

Ironically enough, the best testimony meetings I've ever been to were LDS Addiction Recovery group meetings.

Though I have never been to one of these groups I can believe that. Here you have people that have sunk to the lowest in their spirituality, relationships etc and are pulling themselves up. With the help of the Gospel etc. I bet those testimony meetings are tear jerkers.

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Yeah, there's a wrong way to bare a testimony. I've personally witnessed the following in wards I've been in:

* One lady called fat people to repentance during her testimony.

* One lady called denim-wearers to repentance for wearing pants in the chapel. She closed her testimony with "And don't pee on the trees either! innanamajesuschristamen!"

LM

[pam]

I remember once during a fast and testimony meeting a gentleman (I use that loosely) got up to bear his testimony. He was visiting the area. Instead of a testimony, he berated our ward about our lack of reverence etc. We were a very young ward at the time with LOTS of babies and children. The Bishop quietly asked him to sit down. First time I've ever seen that done...

But yes..testimony meeting is not a time for things like that.

[Moksha]

The folks in my ward frequently give thanks for something that recently happened in their lives or else talk of their grief from a death or injury and how they were comforted by their beliefs.

No matter what they say, it is invariably important to them and so I see this expression as acceptable and healthy for their wellbeing and the wellbeing of the ward. On the other hand, I see the testimonies of children whose parents have whispered the words to them, not being helpful to the child and causing increased neuroticism in the parent.

Just a thought...

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by Moksha

No matter what they say, it is invariably important to them and so I see this expression as acceptable and healthy for their wellbeing and the wellbeing of the ward. On the other hand, I see the testimonies of children whose parents have whispered the words to them, not being helpful to the child and causing increased neuroticism in the parent.

Just a thought...

What if the child asks the parent?

I used to agree whole heartedly with you until my own child taught me lol asked to go up when she was about 18 months (she is massive show off), so I sent her up but she froze blew a raspberry and said Amen.

Now she asks me to come with her and help, but we have discussed what she wants to say beforehand

-Charley

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by Elgama

...my own child taught me lol asked to go up when she was about 18 months (she is massive show off), so I sent her up but she froze blew a raspberry and said Amen.

Now she asks me to come with her and help, but we have discussed what she wants to say beforehand

-Charley

Charley, I find that delightful. A child of 18 months blowing a raspberry and then saying Amen, on her own, was certainly meaningful to her. Besides, "making a joyous noise unto the Lord" is very Biblical. If I were in the audience, it would help keep me awake during the testimonies.