A Redditor reports that the girls in his/her ward were told at camp how to correctly bare their testimonies, so as to avoid what ’normally’ happens, wherein people use the pulpit as a chance to address their community, air a grievance, give a shou-out of thanks, tell an amusing story, or just to feel connected to the community.

    "While not ’harmful’, these aren’t testimonies" went the explanation.

    The girls were instructed to start with the phrase, “I believe in Christ because …".

    This Christ is brought to the center of their "...meetings, lessons, conversations, and daily lives, and the spirit can work His wonders…”



    I recognize the basis for this thought and I'm only really wondering if this was a local idea or is SLC getting more involved in mormon daily life and practice?

I got the same lecture 50 years ago. the only difference I can see is that back in the day, a testimony would be about "I believe that this is The One True Church™ because..." rather than "I believe in Christ...".

This would be consistent with their program of "hey, world, we are too Christian, because the word 'Christ' comes out of our mouth (or is chiseled into our wall) every <bleeping> chance we get. So STFU and start treating us better. We are just as <bleeping> good as you are. Better, actually, but we can't say that out loud, since our humility is part of what makes us better than you."

Don't know if this is local or from the top but it surely sounds like something that could be a nocturnal emission from Ye Olde Lighted Pen.

In the last ward I attended it would go something like this: "I believe in Christ because he gives me the opportunity to tell you about taking my wife to a specialist about the polyps on her...."

"I would be remiss if I did not stand and bear witness that I believe in Christ because once again He helped me find my keys AND a parking spot at the mall yesterday afternoon, which I confirm in Jesus name, amen."


Yeah, they're not going to take the mormon out of LDS!

For some reason "remiss" is a terrible thing to be if you are a Mormon over age 60. I think women are supposed to avoid being remiss at an even earlier age.

Nothing new, since I was BIC, they (teachers and parents) began the testimony indoctrination from when I can first remember. I always thought that the side stories and such from my teens into my adult years were not testimonies, but someone's desire to air their guilt, dirty laundry, or add glitter to their image.

But regardless of the topic, the indoctrination was real. I remember sitting in a class when I was about eight and my teacher presented a popsicle stick figure mounted in the center of tin plate, while she had a match in hand. She then asked if I would be willing to be burned at the stake rather than deny my testimony to the truthfulness of the church.

I knew exactly what she wanted to hear, and because I was around eight and wanted everybody to like me, I excitedly said, "Burn me at the Stake".

Of which she lit the match and set the stick figure on fire, and praised me for my willingness to sacrifice my life for the true and living church.

If I could relive that moment with my present state of mind and understanding, I know that I would spend eternity (if there be one), with an sly grin on my face from the reply that should have been given.

Repeat it often enough and you will start to believe it.

I believe this is true. This week visiting a ward we were told at beginning of testimony meeting to keep testimonies short and to bear testimonies about Christ in our lives. So one new member got up and talked about how Jesus worked wonders in her life. I felt bad because I did not have that type of relationship with Jesus. To me this whole "Christ this, Christ that" that the Church is pushing takes out the reverence and respect that I grew up with when talking abut the Saviour and Heavenly Father. Call me old fashion. I think that the Church is going to regret this move in the long run.

As I listened to this new convert and many others over the past year, they do not really express anything new other than the old Christian view that they grew up. It's easy to say Christ did this in my life and that in my life. But if you listen closely nothing in their life changes over time. They are still stuck in the same pit. With me I know I have moved forward and give thanks that I listened to the promptings. But I had to put effort into it. I do not get the impression the new members are into putting effort into changing.

Is it still necessary for Mormons to declare that they "know" the Mormon church is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God? That was the acceptable testimony when I was TBM. It wasn't even necessary to mention Christ. Seems that today's TBMs only need to say they believe in Christ. It's a different church than the one I joined years ago.

Yep, It sure is.

"I believe in Christ because I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and the church is true."

I got tired of people telling me how to bare a testimony that I feel like I'm casting pearls before swine so I
don't even try to do it in testimony mtg anymore. And I thought I had a pretty good one and still do.

"Everyone has the best testimony they can morally afford, based on their take-home pay and their tolerance for criticism."

--Judic West, ascetic pedantic to the stars

I never once stood to bear my non existent testimony. Glad it wasn't mandatory.

“A testimony is made in the bearing of it” so with that level of brainwashing it makes sense the mormon organisation would choose their words carefully. Makes me wonder what a mormon testimony will sound like in years to come. But the problem is theyre trying to appear more mainstream (must mention jesus!) without actually becoming so; they’re painting themselves into a corner.

Starting this way is how many who don't really believe Mormonism have been doing it for a long time now.

Careful to express belief in Jesus as a foundation while sounding like a believer even when you are finding so may lies couched as "truth".

Shhh! It was a hidden - secret subconscious part of correlation…



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2022 11:48PM by GNPE.

Strange, but I was thinking the other day if a member of the Church of England says "Vicar, I don't have a testimony that Ezekiel was a true prophet of God" the vicar would say "OK. That's fine."

If a Mormon said "Bishop, I don't believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God" how long before he would be up before a Church Court?

You'll SAY what "we" want you to say.

What you say is more important than you!

So you BETTER NOT say it...
Or, you had BETTER say it!

Or else you test-a-monkey is null & void...
And NOT WELCOMED here.

Say THIS,
And THIS,
And THAT,
OR ELSE ..

How about a new meeting called "Testivus" which can include the airing of grievances and a testimony.

It might go a little something like this:

I believe you are an asshole....... and Jesus. Amen