EllenMaksoud Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I have been told that there is a manual on how to share your testimony. If it takes that, why bother?
JLHPROF Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I have never heard of such a thing. There are probably instructions out there for witnessing to non-members.But a manual wouldn't hurt - it might cut down on the preachamonies, thankamonies, and weepamonies, and actually have people "bearing testimony" of things.
Avatar4321 Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 There are alot of people who don't understand what testimonies are.
EllenMaksoud Posted January 25, 2014 Author Posted January 25, 2014 There are alot of people who don't understand what testimonies are.And there are actually people cheeky enough to think to define what a good testimony is? A testimony comes from the truth in your heart and is a witness of the power of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I can include but is not always necessary contain a comment about the truth of the BOM, the prophet hood of Joseph Smith and the reality of a present day prophet. I do not like at all the idea that someone is going to teach what a good testimony is with a test afterward.
Calm Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 "heart and is a witness of the power of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ"And this is exactly what any suggestion points to. Some people have forgetton this and focus on some pet hobby or other things that have little or nothing to do with witnessing of Christ and they need to be reminded that Testimony Meetings are not a time for their favourite story or latest version of family crisis, but a time to share and strengthen each other in their faith in the Father, Son and Spirit.If you are still concerned, you should go to lds.org and see how they teach what it means to share such a testimony. I suspect the Gospel Topics section under the Teachings menu is a good place to start, if not just search on "testimony". 2
Coreyb Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I don't think a manual is needed. If a person studies their scriptures, they will soon come to see what it means to testify of Christ. That will naturally cut down on the non testifying testimonies. But who would study scripture if you could just have a handy booklet about it.
Storm Rider Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I have never heard of a pamphlet or instruction book on how to bear a testimony. We do encourage and/or teach people to testify of Christ. Our social nature does produce immature testimonies at times that follow a rather rote pattern; this is not encouraged, but it should be understood. As we mature in the gospel and in Spirit we tend to listen better to the guidance of the Spirit and to follow His guidance. If there were a booklet to guide/teach people how to bear a testimony I doubt there would be directions on the words to use, but to learn to follow the Spirit and gain an understanding that our testimony is based in our knowledge and love of the Godhead.
PtolemyGlenn Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Could it maybe be more of guidelines. As in the format. Things which would be good to say etc etc
Garden Girl Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Ellen...There's no such thing as a "manual." There are guidelines about what is appropriate... believe it or not there are people who get up and meander along with ramblings about their last trip to Cousin Hortense's, or their health issues or last operation, personal problems, etc without regard to time or to others who want to get up and bear a Christ-centred testimony... No one "teaches" or gives a test about testimonies. It's not a matter of being "cheeky." There are a lot of people, particularly converts, who've never borne a testimony... it is appropriate to help them understand what testimony meeting is all about... GG
rpn Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 (edited) Seems to me that I read recently mention of a manual to teach how to use social media to testify. If I'm recalling correctly it had to do with use of the fora, and not about the content. You are quite correct that it would be chutzpah of the greatest sort to deign to tell people of faith what they had to say in expressing it. I could see human being getting all PR'd enough to do something like that, but no the Lord. But the church is suggesting ways to hasten the work, for sure. Edited January 26, 2014 by rpn
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