Testimony

My thoughts on Elder Oaks talk "Testimony"

Elder Oaks hold nothing back when he says, “A Testimony is not a travelogue, a health log, or an expression of love for family members. It is not a sermon. President Kimball taught that the moment we begin preaching to other, our testimony is ended.”

How many of us sit through fast and testimony meeting without hear a testimony. I know there are times we want to share our experiences of travel, or an event, but unless there is a testifying of why we know the gospel to be true, or who the Holy Ghost has worked in our lives, we realy shouldn’t stand up. I don’t begrudge anyone their time at the microphone, but I truly only want to hear testimony. If I want to know about their travels, stories or their sermon I will ask.

Knowledge: “…three different kinds of knowledge, each learned in a different way.” Scientific proof. As homeschooler we should understand this knowledge as we try to teach it every day. Personal and subjective can’t be proven scientifically but it is “still important.” Then there is spiritual knowledge. This truly can’t be explained, it has to be felt deep inside. Science can’t explain it and will not yield it.

I have a friend who loves to find facts that the Book of Mormon is true and can’t be a made up story from the mind of Joseph Smith. One day he taught a class on the first 13 chapters of Nephi. In the class he was going to attempt to prove that what Lehi and his family did was totally possible and even show us the route. But before he began he told us that what he was going to show us should NOT be the basis for our testimony and if it is, we should leave and come back when we knew the Book of Mormon was true because science and physical evidence does NOT make a testimony as evident in many of the witnesses to the Gold Plates. He had a long pause before he began his class. I’ve thought about that as I get travel brochures for Central America to tour the Book of Mormon ruins, etc. Those will only enhance my testimony but they are NOT the foundation of my testimony. My testimony of the Gospel comes through the Holy Spirit; one of the Godhead. It is only then that these extra stuff can help cement my testimony in the gospel.
I can liken this to have of the gospel because the Bishop is a good man or you like the youth program. What happens when the bishop is released or something goes wrong at YM/YW? Feelings get hurt and then we leave and have to come back ask Elder Bednar talked about in a conference address.

Elder Oaks then tells us how to get it. This shouldn’t be a secret to those who read the scriptures because it is all over. Nephi tells us how to get it just before he has the same vision as his father. Joseph Smith tells us in his history. The first thing you need is DESIRE! You can add fasting to your prayers to help in declaring your desire and to prepare the soul to receive the personal revelation the Lord has waiting for you. “As we desire and seek, we should remember that acquiring a testimony is not a passive thing but a process in which we are expected to do something.” DARN! I have to work? I wanted it free! Nothing worthwhile is free—especially a testimony of the Gospel.

Elder Oaks also tells us that we can strengthen our testimony by bearing it. “Someone even suggested that some testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them.”

But my favorite part of this is the scripture Elder Oaks quotes: “To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, … To others it is given to believe on their words,” I ask you where are you? Are you a bearer or a believer? We need to remember this with our children as well. They might not be a bearer but a believer and if that is the case who are they listening to? As Elder Oaks said, “Our children should also hear us bear our testimonies frequently.”

The last bit of this talk is about the relationship between obedience and knowledge. “…knowledge encourages obedience and obedience enhances knowledge.” DARN more work! “Obedience is not blind when we act upon knowledge suited for the subject of our action.”
I’m not blind!