Testimonies and what they contain

[_moksha]

I have noticed that most of the testimonies in my ward offered during our Fast and Testimony Meeting time, contain no reference to God or Jesus but most all invariably contain the statement that "I know this is the true Church". Since I personally identify with progressive Christianity, I would like to hear more devotion to Jesus, but that's just me and I can't really impact what is important to my fellow members.

Has this been your experience as well?

[_personage]

My wife, a convert, while serving in the Primary Presidency was told that if children were going to bear their testimonies (at the time it was discouraged that they do so in F&T meeting but could during Primary) they must be taught to do it right.
1. I know this church is true. 2. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet 3. I know that Gordon B. Hinkley is our prophet in these latter days. 4.... I forget the last one but I know it had nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

[_Sethbag]

Would it have been "I know the Book of Mormon is true"? Or maybe you were thinking of "and I love my mommy and daddy".

[_personage]

That was it - I guess you're well versed in the correct testimony procedures.

[_The Nehor]

That was it - I guess you're well versed in the correct testimony procedures.

I would say traditional, it's certainly not correct.

[_ajax18]

My wife, a convert, while serving in the Primary Presidency was told that if children were going to bear their testimonies (at the time it was discouraged that they do so in F&T meeting but could during Primary) they must be taught to do it right.
1. I know this church is true. 2. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet 3. I know that Gordon B. Hinkley is our prophet in these latter days. 4.... I forget the last one but I know it had nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

I think you're supposed to speak about your local leaders as well and say, "I know they are men who are lead by God and what good men they are and how well they lead the Church in our area."

But Moshka I think the Brethren want Jesus Christ mentioned in every testimony as well. Didn't Spencer W. Kimball make a big deal about going to wards where Jesus wasn't mentioned in testimonies some 20 years ago?

[_Bond...James Bond]

With the list provided by Seth and personage it makes you wonder if the Testimony (or something new but very similar in nature) will become a standardized type of thing that requires the mentioning of specific things (like the Lord's Prayer or a Hail Mary) at some point.

[_The Nehor]

With the list provided by Seth and personage it makes you wonder if the Testimony (or something new but very similar in nature) will become a standardized type of thing that requires the mentioning of specific things (like the Lord's Prayer or a Hail Mary) at some point.

You mean like this:

14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying:
15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.
16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.
17 But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God.
18 And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen.

We have been warned.....we really don't have any excuse.

[_Bond...James Bond]

With the list provided by Seth and personage it makes you wonder if the Testimony (or something new but very similar in nature) will become a standardized type of thing that requires the mentioning of specific things (like the Lord's Prayer or a Hail Mary) at some point.

You mean like this:

14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying:
15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.
16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.
17 But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God.
18 And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen.

We have been warned.....we really don't have any excuse.

The difference being of course that Sethbag and personage's example have nothing to do with God, but instead have to do with sustaining the authority and "truthiness" of Joey Smith, Gordy Hinckley, the Book of Mormon, and the Church.

[_The Nehor]

With the list provided by Seth and personage it makes you wonder if the Testimony (or something new but very similar in nature) will become a standardized type of thing that requires the mentioning of specific things (like the Lord's Prayer or a Hail Mary) at some point.

You mean like this:

14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying:
15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.
16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.
17 But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God.
18 And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen.

We have been warned.....we really don't have any excuse.

The difference being of course that Sethbag and personage's example have nothing to do with God, but instead have to do with sustaining the authority and "truthiness" of Joey Smith, Gordy Hinckley, the Book of Mormon, and the Church.

True, but I've seen testimonies that fit my example. The focus on the periphery though is not healthy, as you say. A testimony is not and should not be a loyalty oath to the Prophet or the Church as a whole. Plus the "Church being true" is non-sensical. I prefer to say "the (restored) Gospel is true" which actually makes sense.