Comments on: What Does Testimony Meeting Really Mean?

By: Tatiana

Tatiana — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:27:21 +0000

I love Fast and Testimony meeting, particularly the statements that are heartfelt and honest, no matter how odd or lame they seem. The church should be, in our contrived and glib society, one place, at least, where everyone can just be totally honest and open. If it’s all correlated and pleasant and noncontroversial, then it’s only a social club and those bore me terribly =). Some of the testimonies are long and rambling, and strange, others are smug, yet others are pushing the party line, but if I can’t be at least fond of those people for who they are, then what does that say about me? Christ is not just fond of them, but loves them ardently, poignantly, with a sacred passionate love. Learning to love people as they are, is the hardest lesson the church tries to teach us, perhaps, and it’s the one I know I need to work on most.

F&T meeting does touch me and help me feel at one with the membership. When I was an investigator, it was one of the things I liked most about the church. I admire people for their courage to get up (I never have), and I admire the flashes of real honesty that we see. The kids’ rote ones are cute for a different reason. They are getting comfortable speaking in front of people, and will one day be able to (as I don’t think I ever will be) speak the truth of their hearts in front of the whole ward. Those times, when people are honest and speaking their deepest feelings, are awesome. But it’s so hard to do. I admire those who can.

One thing about living in a culture that reinforces church might be that one tends to force oneself to go, and that tempts one to grow cynical. Like movie critics who are sour from being forced by their job to watch way more movies than they ever wanted to see, and therefore can’t stand any of them, I think the long time faithful members sometimes find it hard not to lose something, some naivete that lets them see these things with fresh eyes, and recognize the power and beauty that’s there. =)

By: tluck

tluck — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 00:00:48 +0000

Judy Brooks #14

Couldn’t agree with you more. When I last served as a counsellor in our bishopric we tried and tried to teach the people how to bear their testimonies but to no avail. Travel logs, faith promoting rumors, I love my cat, and the mumbles from the old folks, etc., etc…Awe inspiring to say the least…

So in these blogs recently we have seen a call to eliminate F&T meeting, cut GC time in half, eliminate SS…I’m liking this more and more all the time. When can I sustain some of you for GAs?

By: Nate Oman

Nate Oman — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

"Could the Mormon tradition of an open mic on fast Sunday actually be a vote of confidence in the average Mormon sitting in the pews?"

As opposed to the fact that the average Mormons sitting in the pews runs the rest of the ward as well.....

By: Steve E.

Steve E. — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dave, I don't know what you're grousing about. Today Mathew, Christina and I all got up and had a great time. The only exception were the horrible "Utah Mormons" that got up to hog the mic, esp. after our Bishop had specifically explained that the meeting was for members of our ward to create a community with each other.

But yeah, you distinctly get the impression that it's that way just to get a break from having to plan stuff.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dave, that’s because you ARE out of the loop. Man 1st ward is da bomb. Regular sacrament meetings are as ho-hum as anyplace, but not a week goes by that I don’t hear a few comments that are completely brilliant/insane.

By: John

John — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Elder Eyring said the following in October 1996 Conference:
Those who have prepared carefully for the fast and testimony meeting wonÂ’t need to be reminded how to bear testimony should they feel impressed to do it in the meeting. They wonÂ’t give sermons or exhortations or travel reports or try to entertain as they bear witness. Because they will have already expressed appreciation to people privately, they will have less need to do it publicly. Neither will they feel a need to use eloquent language nor to go on at length.

A testimony is a simple expression of what we feel. The member who has fasted both for the blessing of the poor and for the companionship of the Spirit will be feeling gratitude for the love of God and the certainty of eternal truth. Even a child can feel such things, which may be why sometimes the testimony of a child so moves us and why our preparation of fasting and prayer produces in us childlike feelings.

Sometimes I think that Bishops need to read that over the pulpit a few times a year. In a past ward a certain brother would get up every Sunday with up to 20 minutes of prepared remarks. Sometimes he would begin, "Today I have prepared a talk on..."

That said, our ward's meeting yesterday was wonderful and I am better for having been there.

By: Judy Brooks

Judy Brooks — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

For years I've sat in testimony meetings and noticed that 8 out of 10 people who bear their testimonies are about 10 beans short of a dozen.

I just can't imagine why this meeting is allowed to continue. It is a shock for investigators and an embarrassment to anyone bringing an investigator.

Maybe some of you are from college wards where people seem to have a bit more thought going into their thought processes, but outside college wards the testimonies consist mostly of cult like remarks, "I prayed and found my keys" testimonies, children reciting memorized testimonies, or testimonies that sound very evangalical because the person is a convert from some other religion.

OK, I admit there is an occasional heartfelt comment or two. But overall, it's dismal!

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I make an appearance at the mic once every three years. I think that’s enough.

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think F&T is part of the community building process. We go to church and serve in church in order to learn to love and help each other. As boring and weird as the meeting can be, it is a way to appreciate each other’s spiritual growth, particularly when we are in a ward for a long time and can understand other people’s development over a long period. I like F&T, but I hate participating. I find it feels much more exposed, maybe because I don’t say things like “I know this church is true”, etc.,

And I hate it when all the tourists get up and hog the mic for most of the hour. That’s just rude.

By: D. Fletcher

D. Fletcher — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think most of our unusual practices have a practical application hidden beneath the spiritual veneer, and talks/testimonies are included in this. The best talks reveal a personality to be known, and loved. Talks/testimonies are meant to give attention to those that need it, in order to strengthen their position in the community. And the fact that we have talks/testimonies given by our "lay" ministry only points up the model of democracy our Church has adopted.

Testimony meeting is often the best of the worship services, because it offers the most opportunity to hear personalities.

Maybe this should be a thread with anecdotes from testimony meeting.

Like the testimony of a young man saying that God had confirmed his goal of going to bartending school.