I agree with the author, if I understand him correctly - and therefore disagree with the comments by David and Glen. We stand at the pulpit and say we know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God or we know the Gospel is true and that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, but do our lives reflect that? Do we really care about our neighbor, whether a member or not, who is unemployed and struggling from day to day? Do we do our Home or Visiting Teaching with the spirit that we are the eyes, ears, and arms of the Lord to actually see that needs are met and those we teach actually know that we care about them? Do we attend the temple, do family history work, keep the commandments? If someone accused you of having a testimony, would there be enough evidence to convict you? I remember when the song "I Am a Child of God" was first taught in Primary, the chorus said "Teach me all that I must know to live with God some day." The words were changed to "Teach me all that I must DO . . .." because it is doing (behavior) that will save us, not only knowing. Faith is a start, but it must impel us to action. This does not leave out the role of the Holy Ghost at all, as it all works together.
Ray A. JoranJuly 26, 2016
I agree that hope and faith are involved with testimony but it is also true that a witness of spiritual occurrences are also testimonies. A witness of knowledge is also a testimony. Bearing witness of that which we KNOW is also a testimony.
Marcia SmootJuly 26, 2016
Thank you, Bro. Durfee.
KLD2003July 26, 2016
As I read this article, I had a very unsettled feeling. I have learned this is the Holy Ghost telling me to be very cautious. I believe, without any doubt, that exercise is good for our bodies. That doesn't mean I will exercise each day. We aren't perfect people, we can KNOW principles and doctrine are true without living them perfectly. As a convert, I exercised my faith, and with the help of the Holy Ghost I was granted knowledge and belief. My testimony is strong, I love the Savior with all my heart, yet I fall far short of perfection.
David DurfeeJuly 26, 2016
According to the author, the Holy Ghost apparently has no role in testimony. A testimony starts out with hope and then a conversion of that hope into belief and faith by our actions and how we live our lives. But the promise of God in Moroni 10:4 is that if we do those things truth will be manifest to us "by the power of the Holy Ghost." That, brother, is testimony. It is not the time to "think differently" about testimonies -- it is time to trust in the promise of God and receive the Holy Ghost.
Glen DanielsenJuly 26, 2016
This one didn't ring right with me. For example: "Faith is how we live our lives." This might be a peripheral thought about faith, but it misses it's true, crucial definition: Faith is trust in God. Further, testimony is a core conviction that we receive from the Holy Ghost. We should maybe use care to avoid writing like journalists.
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Nadine AndertonJuly 26, 2016
I agree with the author, if I understand him correctly - and therefore disagree with the comments by David and Glen. We stand at the pulpit and say we know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God or we know the Gospel is true and that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer, but do our lives reflect that? Do we really care about our neighbor, whether a member or not, who is unemployed and struggling from day to day? Do we do our Home or Visiting Teaching with the spirit that we are the eyes, ears, and arms of the Lord to actually see that needs are met and those we teach actually know that we care about them? Do we attend the temple, do family history work, keep the commandments? If someone accused you of having a testimony, would there be enough evidence to convict you? I remember when the song "I Am a Child of God" was first taught in Primary, the chorus said "Teach me all that I must know to live with God some day." The words were changed to "Teach me all that I must DO . . .." because it is doing (behavior) that will save us, not only knowing. Faith is a start, but it must impel us to action. This does not leave out the role of the Holy Ghost at all, as it all works together.
Ray A. JoranJuly 26, 2016
I agree that hope and faith are involved with testimony but it is also true that a witness of spiritual occurrences are also testimonies. A witness of knowledge is also a testimony. Bearing witness of that which we KNOW is also a testimony.
Marcia SmootJuly 26, 2016
Thank you, Bro. Durfee.
KLD2003July 26, 2016
As I read this article, I had a very unsettled feeling. I have learned this is the Holy Ghost telling me to be very cautious. I believe, without any doubt, that exercise is good for our bodies. That doesn't mean I will exercise each day. We aren't perfect people, we can KNOW principles and doctrine are true without living them perfectly. As a convert, I exercised my faith, and with the help of the Holy Ghost I was granted knowledge and belief. My testimony is strong, I love the Savior with all my heart, yet I fall far short of perfection.
David DurfeeJuly 26, 2016
According to the author, the Holy Ghost apparently has no role in testimony. A testimony starts out with hope and then a conversion of that hope into belief and faith by our actions and how we live our lives. But the promise of God in Moroni 10:4 is that if we do those things truth will be manifest to us "by the power of the Holy Ghost." That, brother, is testimony. It is not the time to "think differently" about testimonies -- it is time to trust in the promise of God and receive the Holy Ghost.
Glen DanielsenJuly 26, 2016
This one didn't ring right with me. For example: "Faith is how we live our lives." This might be a peripheral thought about faith, but it misses it's true, crucial definition: Faith is trust in God. Further, testimony is a core conviction that we receive from the Holy Ghost. We should maybe use care to avoid writing like journalists.
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