Born Testimony to an Apostate

[Fair Dinkum]

Yesterday I had a client who is aware of my history,  bare testimony to me of the truth of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. He had just returned  from the temple and felt impressed to call me and bare his testimony. He bore a typical testimony that he knew the church was true and that as a former member of his stakes high council, I needed to get my arse back to church. I thanked him for his testimony and told him that while I appreciated his testimony I am very happy In my non belief. 
 

I have never been in a better place. While I no longer believe in an afterlife, I am satisfied in finding the greatest joy in the time I have remaining in this life. 
 

Belivers believe that there is no joy or happiness without the church. I am out here to testify that this is just not true. I love my post Mormon life. I can honestly say that  life without the church is amazingly joyful and wonderful. Having lived both within and out of the church. I am so thankful that all of the doubts and questions I once had have been satisfied. While I would love to live with my family forever, I am also content in knowing that I need to make the most of this life I actually know exists by loving those around me and building lasting memories today. This in my opinion  is how we live eternally 
 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Fair Dinkum

[jkwilliams]

1 minute ago, Fair Dinkum said:

Yesterday I had a client who is aware of my history,  bare testimony to me of the truth of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. He had just returned  from the temple and felt impressed to call me and bare his testimony. He bore a typical testimony that he knew the church was true and that as a former member of his stakes high council, I needed to get my arse back to church. I thanked him for his testimony and told him that while I appreciated his testimony I am very happy In my non belief. 

I find it hard to feel bad about these kinds of things. They mean well, and it shows they care about you. 

[HappyJackWagon]

Yeah...intentions may be good but its still annoying calling someone up out of the blue to bear testimony. 

If a non-believer called an active member to bear non-testimony, that would be considered a little rude.

If a non-christian called a member to bear testimony of their faith it would at least be a little odd.

If a person is having a conversation with a friend and the issue comes up, bear testimony. That would seem to be a good time  

 

[jkwilliams]

Just now, HappyJackWagon said:

Yeah...intentions may be good but its still annoying calling someone up out of the blue to bear testimony. 

If a non-believer called an active member to bear non-testimony, that would be considered a little rude.

If a non-christian called a member to bear testimony of their faith it would at least be a little odd.

If a person is having a conversation with a friend and the issue comes up, bear testimony. That would seem to be a good time  

I've been in that situation a few times. It is a bit awkward and uncomfortable, but I guess I don't let it annoy me. 

[Fair Dinkum]

31 minutes ago, jkwilliams said:

I find it hard to feel bad about these kinds of things. They mean well, and it shows they care about you. 

Bless their hearts. They just can’t help themselves 🤣

[Fair Dinkum]

3 minutes ago, jkwilliams said:

I've been in that situation a few times. It is a bit awkward and uncomfortable, but I guess I don't let it annoy me. 

I took it in stride. I thanked him for his testimony and told him he is welcome to call me anytime and share his testimony with me. 🥴

[jkwilliams]

Just now, Fair Dinkum said:

I took it in stride. I thanked him for his testimony and told him he is welcome to call me anytime and share his testimony with me. 🥴

What else can you do? 

[Fair Dinkum]

7 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

Yeah...intentions may be good but its still annoying calling someone up out of the blue to bear testimony. 

If a non-believer called an active member to bear non-testimony, that would be considered a little rude.

If a non-christian called a member to bear testimony of their faith it would at least be a little odd.

If a person is having a conversation with a friend and the issue comes up, bear testimony. That would seem to be a good time  

 

Can you image the reaction I would get had I been the one to call him out of the blue and bare my testimony of non belief?  😂 

[jkwilliams]

Just now, Fair Dinkum said:

Can you image the reaction I would get had I been the one to call him out of the blue and bare my testimony of non belief?  😂 

"I feel prompted to bear witness that every cherished belief you hold is a load of crap." Yeah, that would go over well. 🤣

[ttribe]

Been there. I always especially appreciate it when such a bearing of testimony is accompanied by condescending 'teaching' of gospel principles, scriptures, and church doctrines as if I'd never heard those things before, let alone spent hours upon hours studying them, praying about them, and living them.

[Fair Dinkum]

2 minutes ago, jkwilliams said:

"I feel prompted to bear witness that every cherished belief you hold is a load of crap." Yeah, that would go over well. 🤣

😂. Yeah. Literally 😝 LOL

[jkwilliams]

Just now, Fair Dinkum said:

😂. Yeah. Literally 😝 LOL

I just tell people I respect their beliefs but do not share them. 

[Rain]

40 minutes ago, Fair Dinkum said:

Yesterday I had a client who is aware of my history,  bare testimony to me of the truth of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. He had just returned  from the temple and felt impressed to call me and bare his testimony. He bore a typical testimony that he knew the church was true and that as a former member of his stakes high council, I needed to get my arse back to church.

Seriously? He told you this?  It's not that I don't believe you.  Just wondering if that is what he actually said.

My husband is on the high council. It drives him crazy when so many people hold him in high regard just because of the calling or act like it is something they need to congratulate him for.  

40 minutes ago, Fair Dinkum said:

I thanked him for his testimony and told him that while I appreciated his testimony I am very happy In my non belief. 
 

I have never been in a better place. While I no longer believe in an afterlife, I am satisfied in finding the greatest joy in the time I have remaining in this life. 
 

Belivers believe that there is no joy or happiness without the church. I am out here to testify that this is just not true. I love my post Mormon life. I can honestly say that  life without the church is amazingly joyful and wonderful. Having lived both within and out of the church. I am so thankful that all of the doubts and questions I once had have been satisfied. While I would love to live with my family forever, I am also content in knowing that I need to make the most of this life I actually know exists by loving those around me and building lasting memories today. This in my opinion  is how we live eternally 
 

 

 

[jkwilliams]

1 minute ago, ttribe said:

Been there. I always especially appreciate it when such a bearing of testimony is accompanied by condescending 'teaching' of gospel principles, scriptures, and church doctrines as if I'd never heard those things before, let alone spent hours upon hours studying them, praying about them, and living them.

The last time the missionaries were in our house, this kid said to me that the spirit told him the reason why I don't attend church: I don't feel worthy, and all I have to do is stop doing the things that make me unworthy, humble myself, and come back to church. My son said he was shocked that I didn't throw them out of the house. I was polite, though.

[Fair Dinkum]

Just now, ttribe said:

Been there. I always especially appreciate it when such a bearing of testimony is accompanied by condescending 'teaching' of gospel principles, scriptures, and church doctrines as if I'd never heard those things before, let alone spent hours upon hours studying them, praying about them, and living them.

It’s always condescending and presumptive for the testimony barer not to understand that we have literally factored every conceivable apologetic argument to justify belief into  the truth claims of the church  into account before leaving the church. 

[Fair Dinkum]

4 minutes ago, Rain said:

Seriously? He told you this?  It's not that I don't believe you.  Just wondering if that is what he actually said.

My husband is on the high council. It drives him crazy when so many people hold him in high regard just because of the calling or act like it is something they need to congratulate him for.  

 

Yup he called me at work. Mind you he is a client but still. This is exactly what he told me, not the arse part, but he did tell me that I needed to get back in the church
 

what can I say… the spirit moved him. 🤣

[jkwilliams]

1 minute ago, Fair Dinkum said:

Yup he called me at work. Mind you he is a client but still. This is exactly what he told me, not the arse part, but he did tell me that I needed to get back in the church
 

what can I say… the spirit moved him. 🤣

My dad is the only one who still tells me I need to “get back with the program.” He says my problem is that I took the church seriously, and I shouldn’t have. 

[Fair Dinkum]

7 minutes ago, jkwilliams said:

The last time the missionaries were in our house, this kid said to me that the spirit told him the reason why I don't attend church: I don't feel worthy, and all I have to do is stop doing the things that make me unworthy, humble myself, and come back to church. My son said he was shocked that I didn't throw them out of the house. I was polite, though.

Lol. Must be a push on. I just had the full time missionaries stop by our home also 2 weeks ago. I was kind and respectful but also firm in my non belief 

[HappyJackWagon]

2 minutes ago, Fair Dinkum said:

Yup he called me at work. Mind you he is a client but still. This is exactly what he told me, not the arse part, but he did tell me that I needed to get back in the church
 

what can I say… the spirit moved him. 🤣

Calling you at work is a little more jerky than calling at home. As a client he probably felt you would have to listen. A captive audience of sorts. 

Sorry- but I think this is rude.

[Fair Dinkum]

Just now, jkwilliams said:

My dad is the only one who still tells me I need to “get back with the program.” He says my problem is that I took the church seriously, and I shouldn’t have. 

Our problem is that we took the church too seriously. That makes perfect sense 😂

[jkwilliams]

Just now, Fair Dinkum said:

Our problem is that we took the church too seriously. That makes perfect sense 😂

Two bishops have also told me that. 

[Fair Dinkum]

Just now, HappyJackWagon said:

Calling you at work is a little more jerky than calling at home. As a client he probably felt you would have to listen. A captive audience of sorts. 

Sorry- but I think this is rude.

Yeah…I took it in stride. After all he was a acting under the  influence of the spirit 😂

[Fair Dinkum]

Just now, jkwilliams said:

Two bishops have also told me that. 

So we shouldn’t have taken it seriously? Ummmm ok. I don’t any more does that help 🤣

[ttribe]

19 minutes ago, jkwilliams said:

The last time the missionaries were in our house, this kid said to me that the spirit told him the reason why I don't attend church: I don't feel worthy, and all I have to do is stop doing the things that make me unworthy, humble myself, and come back to church. My son said he was shocked that I didn't throw them out of the house. I was polite, though.

I would not have been polite.

[Nemesis]

Unless we allow testimony bearing on this site,  We can’t allow this thread to continue.  
 

-Nemesis