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

[Lyle]

Wow there is a lot of core material here when i read the part about the letter i also remembered why my mom cant attent church any more because of another letter that was put out about wereing perfumes and cologns to the chapel , my mom has a severe sensitivity as many elderly people are developing.... back to the topic on hand

i have always believed that some peoples testimonies are ment to be silent and sustain the spirit in the room during the testimony meeting by not letting those whose misuse of the pulpit offend the spirit remove the spirit from the room. i have seen a bishop or stake president get up at the end of a meeting and correct some of the things said. which means that occationally the spirit and the congregation have been so offended that someone had to do something

i think that testimony meeting is great in some wards and very sad in others. i went to one ward when the pulpit was open to bear testimonies the entire congregation got up. my testimony was weak so i sat and basked in the wealth of love and great testimonies. the meeting ended nearly an hour after it was supposed to and the bishop and other members of council each had to get up and comment on the spirit the bishop said he couldnt bear to stop the meeting .... i had never seen such a thing all growing up i had been in wards were there was long silent moments between speakers. all of the testimonies there were simple doctrinal beliefs.... by contrast there are times when i have sat and couldnt hear the words of those speaking over the loud and confessing words of my own testimony confessing to myself. since i have recovered from my near mortal experience i cant hardly sit in my seat for ten minuets of the sacrament meeting without thanking the lord for his love in my life for the power of repentance and the calling of such great people to share in the gospel with.

[Captain-Jack]

When I was a young child living in east Texas, many people had thicker accents that caused me to think they said "bury" their testimony. I never really understood why they would bury their testimony, and even tried to make a joke of it when I first moved to Utah, but no one understood. I didn't realize until years later why I found it so funny, but no one else did.

[lilered]

Testimonies are something I view as very special. It grows only if one bears it. It starts out as faith, but when one start to vocalize it, then the testimony is initiated. A testimony has the power to be uplifting and bless, it also has the power to redeem and exalt. It has the power to strenthen those who bear it as well as those who listen.
For some they bear their testimony but never expose it.
To bear ones testimony first means not only to carry it but to bare it or expose it. It must be shared. To grow, a testimony has to be vocalized. The witness actually occurs when a testimony is being vocalized. In my view a testimony does not come from a single grand spiritual event but rather from ordinary events in ones life. It will not come to one who is a skeptic, because they will never meet the requirements of faith, humility, or obediance.

Personally, I find Testimony Meetings enlightning and edifying. True, some give travel logs, etc. but the majority speak in attendance with the spirit and are uplifting and testify of the Savior and his mission as well as some part of the Plan of Salvation. I also try to thank those whose testimonies I found particularly edifying. And yes, that goes for young children too.

[nimrod]

Originally Posted by BenRaines

There have been several great talks on the subject in General Conference of the last few years. One is Pure Testimony, a couple of years ago. Another was by Elder Oakes at the last conference.

Ben Raines

Yep! Elder Oaks said it best. Read his talk. He also said that when start preaching our testimony ends.

Please avoid travel-logs, thank-you-monies, and preaching.

We are also advised in our Stake that little children should give their testimonies in primary....versus using all the time in Sacrament meeting.

[jameslentz]

Originally Posted by lilered

...It grows only if one bears it. It starts out as faith, but when one start to vocalize it, then the testimony is initiated...

just as faith comes after the trial i believe that testimony growth comes after the baring of it.

[martybess]

Wow we had a great testimony meeting Sunday!!!! Every testimony was awesome! Many tears were shed. The best testimonies came from a Elder preparing for his mission and a young sister attending byu. (Both young, interesting) I was the first up and there was a line until the end of the meeting. I remembered this topic while I was up there and it did help me get to the core of my beliefs. Thanks all for you comments it helped.