In Alma 5, the prophet Alma explains how he received his testimony. You will recall that he, the son of the prophet, Alma, and the four sons of King Mosiah were apostates, actively trying to destroy the Church of God. An angel appeared to these five men said to Alma: “If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God” (Alma 36:9). By trying to destroy the Church, Alma was destroying himself. The earth shook and the angel’s words changed his life forever. But this is not when he gained his testimony.
Later, telling of his conversion, Alma said: “I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? …. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself… for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit” (Alma 5:45-46).
In 2008, the Friend magazine published a story with an illustration of a testimony glove. When Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his wife, Kristen, were living by assignment in the Philippines, Sister Oaks noticed that the Primary children did not understand what a testimony included. She received the idea of a “testimony glove” to teach children five fundamentals of a testimony:
- I know that God is our Heavenly Father and He loves us.
- I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer.
- I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. He restored the gospel of Jesus
Christ to the earth and translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.
- I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on
the earth today.
- I know that this Church is led by a living prophet who receives revelation
(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2008/10/testimony-glove?lang=eng).
Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge of the Seventy gave a devotional talk at BYU in 2019 about primary questions and secondary questions. His list of primary questions is much like Sister Oaks’ “I know” statements.
- Is there a God who is our Father?
- Is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior of the world?
- Was Joseph Smith a prophet?
- Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the kingdom of God on the earth?
Elder Corbridge explained why these four questions are crucial to staying faithful and that all other questions are secondary and not deal breakers, not worth a so-called “faith crisis.” He shared his perspective: “As part of an assignment I had as a General Authority a few years ago, I needed to read through a great deal of material antagonistic to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the events of the Restoration. There may not be anything out there of that nature I haven’t read. Since that assignment changed, I have not returned to wallow in that mire again. Reading that material always left me with a feeling of gloom” (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/lawrence-e-corbridge/stand-for-ever).
Both Sister Oaks’ statements and Elder Corbridge’s questions teach important concepts for children and adults. In our gospel journey, whether convert or life-long member, different aspects of our testimonies may ebb and flow, weaker or stronger, at different times in our lives. Currently on the Internet, diabolical winds encourage “faith crises,” which Elder Corbridge calls “a swamp of doubt.” He delegitimizes doubt: “I heard someone say recently, ‘It is okay to have doubts.’ I wonder about that. The Lord said, ‘Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not’ (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36).” Elder Corbridge continued: “I have a lot of questions; I don’t have any doubts.”
Elder Corbridge gives examples of secondary questions in a list he called “unending.” “They include questions about Church history, polygamy, people of African descent and the priesthood, women and the priesthood, how the Book of Mormon was translated, the Pearl of Great Price, DNA and the Book of Mormon, gay marriage, the different accounts of the First Vision, and on and on.”
You can find all that “on and on” on the Internet. Enemies of God are out there trying to destroy the Church of God much like Alma and the four sons of Mosiah attempted to do before the angel came. The current trend is to undermine the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by attacking everything connected to Joseph Smith, which is the third component of testimony on both Sister Oaks’ and Elder Corbridge’s lists. The negatives about Joseph Smith multiply as one apostate quotes another. Such attacks are salacious, intriguingly alluring, in an addictive way. They tantalize, pique interest, and feed doubt.
Instead of feeding doubt on doubtful Internet sources, testimony can be fed in fast and testimony meetings. The General Handbook (August 2022) reads: “In a fast and testimony meeting, there are no assigned speakers or special musical selections. Instead, the person conducting bears a brief testimony. He then invites members of the congregation to bear their testimonies. To bear testimony means to declare gospel truths as inspired by the Holy Ghost. Testimonies should be brief so that many people can participate. Young children are welcome to bear testimony in fast and testimony meeting. It may be best for them to learn to do so at home until they can bear testimony without help from others” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/title-page?lang=eng).
The Gospel Topics essay on testimony reads in part: “Testimony comes through the quiet influence of the Holy Ghost. The results of a testimony can be miraculous and life changing, but the gift of testimony usually comes as a quiet assurance, without spectacular displays of God’s power…. Testimony grows gradually through experiences. No one receives a complete testimony all at once. It grows as individuals show willingness to serve in the Church and to study, pray, and learn. It increases as individuals obey God’s commandments. Testimony grows as it is shared” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/testimony?lang=eng).
In President M. Russell Ballard’s most recent conference address, he used the word testimony thirteen times. President Ballard’s talk is his testimony. He tells what a testimony is and is not:
“Often in our testimony meetings on fast Sundays, we hear the phrases “I am thankful” and “I love” more than we hear the phrases “I know” and “I believe”.…. I invite you to bear your testimony of Jesus Christ more often. Bear testimony of what you know and believe and what you feel, not just of what you are thankful for. Testify of your own experiences of coming to know and love the Savior, of living His teachings, and of His redemptive and enabling power in your life. As you bear testimony of what you know, believe, and feel, the Holy Ghost will confirm the truth to those who earnestly listen to your testimony.
“I love Him. I believe Him. I testify that He is the Resurrection and the Life…. I pray that someday when I pass to the next world, I may do so with my testimony burning brightly” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/52ballard?lang=eng).
In Testimony
Obtain
Maintain
Sustain
Explain
Proclaim
When needed
Repair
Regain
Remain
In Testimony
