What do Mormons mean when they use the word “testimony”? What is a testimony and why do Mormons bear them? Or do they bare them?
1 For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, … Read more
Over the years I’ve come across a similar story from many who have left the LDS Church, and it goes something like this: I really wanted to know if the Church was true, if the Book of Mormon was true, and if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I went to church, studied the Book … Read more
I’ve carried on a few rather extensive conversations on this blog regarding the matter of a testimony of what the LDS Church teaches to be true. Some of the people with whom I’ve been discussing this topic are former members of the LDS Church who have left. Similarly, I’ve had family members, friends, and friends … Read more
I have commonly been asked, in light of my defense of LDS doctrine, what proof I have that what I believe is true. Recently I have gone through an extended and extensive discussion with a fellow on this matter, which has clarified some thoughts for me, which I now present for your consideration. First, let’s … Read more
This is a bit of a follow-up to my recent post We All Believe What We Want to Believe. Today at church we had an activity wherein everyone sat in a circle. We were given notecards and pencils and instructed to take 60 seconds to look around the room and memorize everything we could see … Read more
In talking with various people who have left the LDS faith I’ve heard a common remark that has caught my attention. Nobody has given it as the reason, or even a reason, for leaving the Church, but many of them have brought it up. “I hate it when someone stands up and says ‘I know … Read more
Just some philosophizing here… In the past two weeks I’ve had multiple experiences with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons) who are struggling with doubt regarding the veracity of the religion. It’s curious to me that all these experiences between unrelated individuals happened within such a short time-frame, but … Read more
From a question asked by John on 10 May, 2010 here: And, what, if anything would lead you to the conclusion that Mormonism’s foundational stories, personalities and writings are not what they claim to be? Yes, there is. What leads me to believe they are true is God telling me so, and so the way … Read more
Mormons use the word “testimony” so much that many Mormons don’t realize that nobody else knows quite what they’re talking about. Mormons will say things like “I have a testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet” or “I have a testimony that this church is true.” But what do they mean? What are they saying? … Read more
A brief discussion between my friend and I, taken from a longer discussion of various anti-Mormon ideas. Q: One time I asked a Mormon Elder if something came up that definitely, without a doubt, showed that the BOM and/or the LDS Church was wrong, would he still remain an LDS member. His answer was YES, … Read more