LDS Testimony!

[_Ceeboo]

Hello kind and fuzzy people,

From my past 2 years or so playing around in the Mormon sandbox (I say "playing" with much respect and gratitude as I have really enjoyed my time spent with some way cool Mormons, way cool x-Mormons, way cool atheists/agnostics, and way cool "others") I have heard the word testimony mentioned about 345,934,551 times.

If you would, tell me what testimony meant?
What it means now? (If it has changed in your view)
Does/can it change?
Do you think people who are non Mormon (Guys like Ceeboo) fully understand LDS testimony?
Did anyone used to have one and now you don't? How does that happen?

Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance!

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Obiwan]

A testimony is most often given at Testimony Meeting which is the first Sunday of every month. People who feel impressed get up and share their testimony about some aspect and impact of the Gospel of Christ in their lives. Members often share brief testimony's when they are in general speaking, such as at the end of a talk.

A testimony is essentially the sharing of spiritual impressions and feelings about the Restored Gospel of Christ, and this can take the form of various aspects, Christ Himself, the Father, Joseph Smith, some Gospel Doctrine/teaching, good members of the Church, etc.

A testimony shared generally has the focus of "knowing" a particular thing is true or good to that person and/or to the world itself. It is an expression of gratitude, humility, etc.

People gain testimony's through study, prayer, and experience with the Restored Gospel compared to other things in their lives, seeing it as good and true and sometimes above other things the world has to offer. People loose their testimony's by embracing some other ideology's, and then believing the Church to be false etc. and thus the testimony is lost. Nearly all who loose said testimony's believe they are now "smarter" than the rest, especially Mormons, or even any religious person depending on the ideology's they now embrace. Those of us who have lost our testimony's and then regained them know very well that we were simply "ignorant" during those times of apostacy, thinking we knew more of the Church and were making sound judgements when we in fact didn't actually know and understand enough, only knowing a little more to be dangerous but not enough to be actually right, just thinking we were due to the additional knowledge.

Anyway, a testimony is simply ones gratitude and the expression thereof of the Gospel of Christ in our lives. We believe it is important to share it regularily.

[_Ceeboo]

Hey Obiwan,

A testimony is most often given at Testimony Meeting which is the first Sunday of every month.

Really! How long do these testimony meeting last?

A testimony is essentially the sharing of spiritual impressions and feelings about the Restored Gospel of Christ, and this can take the form of various aspects, Christ Himself, the Father, Joseph Smith, some Gospel Doctrine/teaching, good members of the Church, etc.

Thanks for the information!

Nearly all who loose said testimony's believe they are now "smarter" than the rest, especially Mormons, or even any religious person depending on the ideology's they now embrace.

Really? It isn't because they simply no longer believe there is truth in what they used to testify as true?

Those of us who have lost our testimony's and then regained them know very well that we were simply "ignorant" during those times of apostacy,

I find this interesting (Thanks for sharing it).
You lost your testimony and then got it back? Could/would you tell me a litter more about this?

Anyway, a testimony is simply ones gratitude and the expression thereof of the Gospel of Christ in our lives. We believe it is important to share it regularily.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_moksha]

Ceeboo, I think a testimony is a recitation or listing of your beliefs. Usually they are religious in nature, but I see no reason not to list preference in cola drinks as well.

I know Coke is the real thing. If I were in testimony meeting I would save that for summation, but first I would give either a travelogue of my latest vacation or the itinerary of the previous week. Good form dictates that this be no more than 5 minutes, unless I deem my previous week to be more important than the previous week, travelogue or whispered testimony of my fellow ward members tykes.

Hope that helps.

Hey, could you analyze this with mulitquotes?

[_stemelbow]

Hello kind and fuzzy people,

From my past 2 years or so playing around in the Mormon sandbox (I say "playing" with much respect and gratitude as I have really enjoyed my time spent with some way cool Mormons, way cool x-Mormons, way cool atheists/agnostics, and way cool "others") I have heard the word testimony mentioned about 345,934,551 times.

If you would, tell me what testimony meant?
What it means now? (If it has changed in your view)
Does/can it change?
Do you think people who are non Mormon (Guys like Ceeboo) fully understand LDS testimony?
Did anyone used to have one and now you don't? How does that happen?

Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance!

Peace,
Ceeboo

I am not surprised that you've seen the word being used so many times and not know what we mean by it. You should sit through one of those testimony meetings Obiwan mentioned to get an idea about how varied the concept seems to be among the LDS folks. Some LDS treat their time "sharing their testimony" much differently than others.

My take: A testimony consists of statements made to evidence the claims that spiritual experience has witnessed to truth for the speaking individual. Done monthly to invite the Spirit of God among us.

[_Ceeboo]

Hey ya Stem (Thanks for the reply)

I am not surprised that you've seen the word being used so many times and not know what we mean by it.
You should sit through one of those testimony meetings Obiwan mentioned to get an idea about how varied the concept seems to be among the LDS folks. Some LDS treat their time "sharing their testimony" much differently than others.

My take: A testimony consists of statements made to evidence the claims that spiritual experience has witnessed to truth for the speaking individual. Done monthly to invite the Spirit of God among us.

Can/would you be willing to share a few examples of the testimony you have given at these meeting?

Thanks again stem

Peace and pep pep
Ceeboo

[_stemelbow]

Hey ya Stem (Thanks for the reply)

Can/would you be willing to share a few examples of the testimony you have given at these meeting?

Thanks again stem

Peace and pep pep
Ceeboo

Just for you, I can. To be sure, its tough to get into the groove of it, while in the midst of this atmosphere--that's my disclaimer incase this doesn't turn out so hot. Here goes:
Seemingly, each day I find myself pondering the notion of what it means to "know that there is a God". Why do I ponder such? Mostly because I encounter people who tell me they know there is not a God. These people are often reasonable, wonderful, intelligent people. How do they know this? How can I proclaim the opposite? Perhaps my favorite explanation I've found is this:

We are, assuming the truth of Christianity, to rely on "faith" in our lives. We are to truly base our actions, our purposes on our level of confidence in what we believe. You would assume that's quite the contrary to those who deny a belief in God. I'm not so sure. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". If its substance, if its evidence that is my faith, then what is substance and evidence? What drives my belief? What provides me confidence so much to live by that which I can't see? What constitutes the substance and evidence? I submit it is this, I have burning hope. My hope is not empty...it is not purposeless to me. It is placed in something very substantive. Someone so substantive, as I see it, that personal, spiritual witness has provided me this hope. that witness is substance. that substance has provided me so much meaning, so much purpose.

I cannot see our God, for He has not felt the need to provide me the sight to see. but I believe He exists anyway. The evidence He has provided to me to believe is personal and sacred. It is the witness of the Spirit of God. That is what I call evidence. Surely it is not knowledge. Surely the possibility exists that I have been mislead. But that does not discount that it is so wonderful to me, I do not know how exactly to put it into words. He has taught me, He has instructed me as I meekly submit to His will and as I meekly plead for His forgiveness, His mercy. My conviction is strong in these moments, as strong as at any moment. My sincerity is deep. I still recognize I’m weak and foolish…yet He provides. He instructs me, miraculously. My testimony is that He has given me reason to believe. He has given me hope. He is living, and true.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[_moksha]

I know Coke is the real thing.

Hey, could you analyze this with multiquotes?

Since Ceeboo has not deigned to answer, I will take this as his tacit approval that Coke is indeed the real thing. Truth, Justice and the American way triumphs once again!

[_Obiwan]

Hey Obiwan,

A testimony is most often given at Testimony Meeting which is the first Sunday of every month.

Really! How long do these testimony meeting last?

After the Sacrament is partaken, instead of talks on the Gospel the time is then given to the members of the ward to voluteer when prompted by the spirit to share their testimony's. A normal sacrament meeting last about an hour and 5 minutes. Testimony's would last about 35-40 minutes.

by the way, just as an asside, not as an attack. One thing I don't understand about people is that how do people spend so much time with something, but then don't even do the most basic thing (such as regularily attending a church and it's activities) to try and understand that thing better? Just seems weird to me....

Nearly all who loose said testimony's believe they are now "smarter" than the rest, especially Mormons, or even any religious person depending on the ideology's they now embrace.

Really? It isn't because they simply no longer believe there is truth in what they used to testify as true?

If you noted my previous sentence or two, that's basically what I said, so what you've stated is also correct. They embrace some other ideology thus no longer believing something is true, thus that testimony is lost.

Those of us who have lost our testimony's and then regained them know very well that we were simply "ignorant" during those times of apostacy,

I find this interesting (Thanks for sharing it).
You lost your testimony and then got it back? Could/would you tell me a litter more about this?

First, I'm a convert to the Church in my early youth, having been a part of several religions prior to that. Saw how those religions didn't really fit the Bible accurately, consistently, and fully. Came upon Mormonism and here was a religion that did fully fit. Was active in it about 2 years before joining. In my late teens and early 20's I had been studying everything for years, went through basically my atheist anti-religion faze. Had some issues related to the LDS Church namely Priesthood (blacks & women) and Polygamy. Basically believed all religion was man-made. Humbled myself, and decided to study further, other religions first, none could qualify again, and then Mormonism, especially studying those issues, as well as comparing anti-mormonism with LDS scholarship. Learned the actual facts of those problems I had, and that anti-mormonism on every issue did nothing but take a little truth and used it to tell great lies. Had a profound experience the moment I realized that God's literal Church was on the earth, that it was the real deal, not another man-made religion. Became active again, and forever knower of the truth, still studying everything, but nothing stands against the latter-day work.

The problems I had had with the Church were based on my own youthful inexperience and lack of knowledge and understanding of those issues. I falsely judged the Church somewhat racist, bigoted, and pervert based when the actual truth was anything but. It's the same kinds of judgments nearly all anti-mormons have about the Church. Of course, I was different in some ways because I was already well experienced and knowledgable about most things, I most anti-mormonism I already knew was crap. But, those 3 issues, I could understand how they could be a part of a "true" Church from God. I was right while being wrong. Those things in the simplistic ways I knew of them was not actually a part of the Lords Church. Resolving of those issues, and the Church was/is true.

Anyway, a testimony is simply ones gratitude and the expression thereof of the Gospel of Christ in our lives. We believe it is important to share it regularily.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Peace,
Ceeboo

You're welcome. :)

[_Ceeboo]

After the Sacrament is partaken, instead of talks on the Gospel the time is then given to the members of the ward to voluteer when prompted by the spirit to share their testimony's. A normal sacrament meeting last about an hour and 5 minutes. Testimony's would last about 35-40 minutes.

by the way, just as an asside, not as an attack. One thing I don't understand about people is that how do people spend so much time with something, but then don't even do the most basic thing (such as regularily attending a church and it's activities) to try and understand that thing better? Just seems weird to me....

If you noted my previous sentence or two, that's basically what I said, so what you've stated is also correct. They embrace some other ideology thus no longer believing something is true, thus that testimony is lost.

First, I'm a convert to the Church in my early youth, having been a part of several religions prior to that. Saw how those religions didn't really fit the Bible accurately, consistently, and fully. Came upon Mormonism and here was a religion that did fully fit. Was active in it about 2 years before joining. In my late teens and early 20's I had been studying everything for years, went through basically my atheist anti-religion faze. Had some issues related to the LDS Church namely Priesthood (blacks & women) and Polygamy. Basically believed all religion was man-made. Humbled myself, and decided to study further, other religions first, none could qualify again, and then Mormonism, especially studying those issues, as well as comparing anti-mormonism with LDS scholarship. Learned the actual facts of those problems I had, and that anti-mormonism on every issue did nothing but take a little truth and used it to tell great lies. Had a profound experience the moment I realized that God's literal Church was on the earth, that it was the real deal, not another man-made religion. Became active again, and forever knower of the truth, still studying everything, but nothing stands against the latter-day work.

The problems I had had with the Church were based on my own youthful inexperience and lack of knowledge and understanding of those issues. I falsely judged the Church somewhat racist, bigoted, and pervert based when the actual truth was anything but. It's the same kinds of judgments nearly all anti-Mormons have about the Church. Of course, I was different in some ways because I was already well experienced and knowledgable about most things, I most anti-mormonism I already knew was crap. But, those 3 issues, I could understand how they could be a part of a "true" Church from God. I was right while being wrong. Those things in the simplistic ways I knew of them was not actually a part of the Lords Church. Resolving of those issues, and the Church was/is true.


You're welcome. :)

Hey again Obiwan,

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to offer your perspectives (Appreciated!)

Peace,
Ceeboo