Whisperings lds full#

Nourishing our testimony is best accomplished by diligently seeking God and thereby receiving the companionship of the Holy Ghost. When it is properly nourished it increases, when malnourished it stagnates or can even decline. In this sense our testimony is like a living thing-it needs to be nourished. Whatever the initial source of our testimony might be we’re taught that it needs to be cared for. If a loaned or hopeful testimony is the foundation of our commitment then it might be a good time to seek after a testimony that comes from the Holy Ghost. The values and way of life that the church teaches are logical, wholesome, and good, and the idea that God is there gives hope. Second, this testimony is derived from the “logic” of the church. Sometimes this is referred to as living on “borrowed light”. A loaned testimony is borrowed from someone else-mom, dad, the prophet, a friend, a teacher, our wife or husband, and so on.

įirst, we can own our testimony or we can have one on loan. These are the kinds of testimony that Alma spoke about when he referred to those who had “a desire to believe”.

In addition to the three kinds of testimonies described above there are two others that need to be noted. There is much we don’t know about ourselves because of the veil, but we are taught that what we did, or even volunteered to do, prior to our birth impacts our mortal experience in profound ways.Ī word about loaned and logical “testimonies” Being multi-dimensional many things need to be taken into account before we can understand our testimonies. Those who testify they were given a spiritual experience that resulted in their testimony might also relate that their parents and/or others were pleading with the Lord in their behalf. David O McKay’s sincere prayer as a young boy to know the truth wasn’t answered for many years until he was on his mission in Scotland. It took John Taylor only three weeks to acquire his testimony-while it took six years of searching before Wilford Woodruff found his. It took Brigham Young two years of studying the Book of Mormon before he acquired his testimony. If we need to seek after a testimony then we’re in good company. Those who testify they had to seek, and work for a testimony will often reveal that there was some kind of stirring within their heart that motivated them. It might come on a church mission or at some point where they are brought to their knees through a life event-like the death of a loved one, health challenge, job loss, severe disappointment, etc.

Whisperings lds full#

If one is born with a testimony it may take a moment of discovery before they understand the full extent of their testimony. For example, those who testify they were born with a testimony often reveal that they had a spiritual struggle discovering their testimony-it was there all along they just weren’t aware of it. However, when members share specific details about their testimonies it becomes apparent that the initial source of their testimony only tells part of the story. I was given a spiritual experience that resulted in my testimony I had to seek, and work for a testimony ģ. In general terms members refer to the source of their testimony in one of three ways:Ģ. Experience teaches that a testimony is acquired in various ways. The importance of a testimony is highlighted by the fact that each month, one Sunday meeting is set apart for the “bearing” of testimonies.Īt these monthly Fast and Testimony Meetings members stand and bear witness that they have a testimony of the truthfulness of the church.Ī testimony is very personal, very sacred, and is a gift. We are frequently reminded by our leaders that having, and maintaining a vibrant testimony is essential to our salvation. The word “testimony” looms large in the vocabulary of Latter-Day-Saints. After reading the footnote click the number again to return. Note: I’ve used footnotes in this post (26 to be exact).