testimony – Page 2 – What Do Mormons Believe?

How do we ‘know’?

Today at church we had a testimony meeting. This is a somewhat unique sermon style where the bishop invites the people in the congregation to come to the microphone and share their testimonies or personal witness stories. They simply go up to the front if they feel like they should, and it is usually very uplifting and enlightening. You can learn how the gospel impacts a person directly.

You’ll often hear phrases like, “I know that God lives,” and “I know Jesus died for my sins,” and “I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.” Sometimes visitors come away from these meetings non-plussed by our uber-confident ‘knowledge’ of things. It got me thinking.

Whenever someone says they know something, they are saying they have high confidence that their belief coincides with objective truth. We do this all the time. You say, “I just know the dentist is going to lecture me on flossing” because 1) he’s done it before and 2) you still haven’t been flossing. Your previous experience and the evidence of your behavior lead you to this prediction. There are many ways we gather knowledge; I’ll list a few here for illustration:

Personal experience (five physical senses, sense of balance, pain, hunger, etc.)
Emotion and intuition (love, fear, instinct, etc.)
Experiences of others (advice, anecdotes, biographies, etc.)
Logical and mathematical proofs (a priori)
Found evidence (archeology, historical documents, paleontology, forensics, etc.)
Robust scientific experimentation that controls for all variables (physics, chemistry, etc.)
Scientific experimentation/observation that controls for variables where possible (sociology, political science, economics, etc.)

We all tend to have some level of confidence in these methods, some more than others, depending on many factors, but each of these can lead a person to say “I know…” if the learning method is compelling enough. Even so, many would argue that none of the methods I listed above are capable of producing reliable knowledge of things as transcendent as God. Archeological digs might lend credence to a religious belief, but surely not firm knowledge. These critics have a point, so I would add one more item to the list:

Revelation from God

God speaks to His children in various ways. He gave Joseph prophetic dreams that came true; He spoke to Moses from a burning bush (and also face-to-face). He sent an angel to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. Joseph Smith saw and listened to the Father and the Son in a grove of trees.

To Joseph of Egypt, Moses, Mary, Smith and many others, those experiences were indisputable. They had every right to declare, “I know” instead of “I believe,” and they did.

For most of us, though, the glorious visions and visitations of heavenly beings haven’t yet happened. For us, God has promised another form of revelation: a personal witness of spiritual truths through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is available to bear witness of the Father and the Son. “By the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). This witness may be less dramatic or conspicuous than an angelic visitor, but its convincing power may be even more sure than a vision (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:151; 1 Nephi 17:45-46). Because of His subtlety, it may take many prompts for you to hear the Holy Ghost and again many more before you trust them enough to say “I know.” But it can happen. This is how I know God lives and that Jesus is the Christ.

You can know, too. Like other modes of learning, it won’t necessarily come in an afternoon of mild curiosity, but it will with dedicated seeking, knocking, and asking over the course of weeks and months and years. Begin now and you will taste the deliciousness that is the knowledge of God.

Become as Little Children

I’d like to share a personal experience with you all today. I was recently doing a Family Home Evening Lesson on prayer. For those who aren’t already familiar, let me explain the concept. Family Home Evening is traditionally held Monday nights, every week. It is a time in which families sing hymns, read scriptures, have a lesson, an activity, and of course, pray together. It is a beautiful melding of family bonding time and teaching important gospel truths, sharing testimonies with the people who matter most in your life. I love Family Home Evenings.

Anyway, so in this particular Family Home Evening lesson we read the scripture Alma 33:11 which describes praying in faith through one’s afflictions. I asked my children if they knew what the word “affliction” meant and explained to them that it is something difficult: when something hard happens in life and we maybe don’t know what to do or how to get through that experience and I told them it is important to pray to make it through these times of difficulty. My four year old son has been playing a video game with my husband and when I talked about afflictions, he immediately drew a corollary to this game. They’d stopped playing last time at a point in which the characters were stuck on one side of a large crack in the ground and my son commented that he just didn’t know what they were going to do about it or how they would get their guys around or over this big hole in the earth. When he said the closing prayer that night, he asked Heavenly Father to help them to find a way to get around that big crack in the ground in their game.

Maybe it’s one of those “you had to be there moments”, but this touched my heart and I know my children and I were both taught that night by the Holy Ghost. My eyes got a little misty as the scripture Mosaiah 3:19 came to my mind elijahwsaviorpic and I marveled at the simplicity and depth of my son’s faith. I know that he believes and accepts what I’m teaching him. I know that he loves his Redeemer, Jesus Christ. My son was taking my lesson to heart and applying it to his sphere of understanding. Would that we all prayed with such faith! Would that we never doubted that our omnipotent Father in Heaven cares about us and whatever we may be experiencing. I know this to be true. Jesus is the Christ, he suffered for your sins, died for you and was resurrected again because of that great love that our Father has for each and every one of us. Just as my son prayed for help to get through what he truly saw as a difficulty in his world, we can pray for any difficulty in our world and I know our prayers will be answered.

Do Mormons ever have questions about what they believe?

In the course of my journey as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, there have been numerous times where I have questions come up that challenge my faith. I can’t speak for all Mormons, but I would assume that we all go through these cycles from time to time. I picked this topic to write about, because I want others who are not of our faith to know that I do have questions and from time to time finding answers to these questions causes spiritual turmoil. However, it is during these times that I grow the most spiritually.

The foundation of my belief is rooted in Joseph Smith’s testimony that he was in fact visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ. This visit came in response to Joseph’s prayer to know which church he should join. They gave him specific instructions — he was to join none of the churches, because none of them were right (Joseph Smith History 1:1-20). What followed next in Joseph’s life is phenomenal: through him Jesus Christ re-established his Church, the Book of Mormon was translated, the authority to act and perform ordinances in God’s name was given to man again, and the list could go on. I will always remember the day that the truthfulness of this man’s testimony was written upon my heart by the Holy Ghost. I feel much the same as Joseph did: I know it and I know that God knows it and I cannot deny it (JS-H 1:25).

However, even though I know Joseph Smith’s story to be true, from time to time, something will come up that causes me to wonder. For example, polygamy, or how the priesthood was distributed prior to 1978. These challenges of faith, no matter how big or small, cause me to reflect and evaluate. Sometimes, they cause me to think, “how could God’s prophet do this, or say that?” I learned a long time ago that there is a reason; however, in these times I have yet to discover the puzzle piece that makes the picture complete. Often I have to go back to the basics that I know to be undeniably true–that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he did in fact translate the Book of Mormon. In other instances, I have to sit down and think about other confirmations that I have received from the Holy Ghost about a particular piece of doctrine, whether it is prayer, fasting, scripture study, marriage, or the priesthood for a few examples. As I do this and ponder my question throughout the day or weeks, eventually someone will say something, or I will have a thought that comes to me, always accompanied by another confirmation through the Holy Ghost. Then I can clearly see what I was missing.

These experiences strengthen my faith and further buttress my basic testimony of God. In this way I have been able to move from truth to truth and from grace to grace, learning about God and the grand plan that He has designed for our eternal happiness. I am grateful that there is a God and that He loves me perfectly (as He does all of us), even if that means that from time to time I have to struggle in my faith, because it helps me to grow stronger.

The Living Christ

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued this declaration in January 2000 as their testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—”built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY		THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE

Choose Your Own Adventure: Experimenting on the Word

summer-peaches The other day I was visiting a friend and she had the most beautiful peach tree in the backyard. It grew enormous, sweet peaches—I ate three of them after we had lunch. I asked her which nursery she had bought the tree from and she said that she actually grew it herself—from a peach pit! She offered me one of the discarded pits from lunch and told me that if I wanted to grow a tree too, she would tell me what to do and help me whenever I needed it. I gladly accepted, anticipating an abundant supply of those divine peaches.

Her instructions were to take the peach pit home and bury it in a small pot. Give it plenty of water and sunlight. When the seedling gets to be about 6 inches high, plant it in a bigger pot. When it reaches 2 feet, transplant it outside where it will receive lots of sunlight and water. It seems like a lot more work and a lot more time than I originally counted on. I decide to…

the pit A.   Throw the seed out the car window as I am driving home and resolve to just come by her house occasionally and ask for a bushel of peaches. (Go to {A})
B.   Take it home and plant it outside in the spot where I am eventually going to put it in the yard and save myself a few steps. (Go to {B})
C.   Take it home and plant it in the small pot and water it faithfully for a few days. At least, as long as it’s still interesting to me. (Go to {C})
D.   Take it home and do exactly as she says. (Go to {D})

{A} As I throw the seed out of my window, I think—how would I know if this particular peach pit was even going to germinate? I’m pretty sure it was faulty. If she asks, I’ll just say it never came up, so would she mind just sharing her peaches once in a while? I just saved myself a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, my friend moves away the following year and my peach supply ends. (Matthew 13: 4, 19).

{B} I take the seed home and wonder if it is even a viable peach pit—will it germinate? Or did she just get lucky with her peach pit? Maybe she wasn’t even telling me the truth about growing her pit into a tree! I talk to a lot of my friends about it, we look stuff up on Wikipedia about peaches and what the likelihood is of them germinating. I go to cherry growers websites, too (they are also stone fruits), to see if they have hints or facts about growing peaches. I discuss it with people in the supermarket line. I’m getting a lot of good information about peaches and I think I’m almost an expert on them. I guess the time is right for me to have my own.

I decide just to plant it in the yard and see if it comes up. I’m not going to bother with all the fussy details. I plant it and, mercifully, the rain and sun cooperate. One day as I’m out playing with my toddler in the yard, I notice a little seedling unfolding in the sun–the peach tree! The only problem is that it is surrounded by thick Texas grass and weeds. I check on it occasionally, but after a few weeks, the grass and weeds have won the battle for water and sun and the seedling is gone. Hmm, I guess I should have just planted it inside like she said. Turns out it was a good pit. Unfortunately, my friend moved away before peach season came again and I didn’t get another chance to try it. (Matthew 13: 7, 22)

{C} As I leave her house, I am so excited and empowered by the idea that I could seedling grow my very own peach tree! I’m going to start a blog about it! I’m going to take pictures every day to show the progress! And maybe I will be able to find a little ruler that I can plant right along with the pit and then I can tell how much it is growing every day. What should I name it? Tabitha. Definitely Tabitha. Full of adrenaline, I rush right in and find a small pot (my first attempt at ceramics in 9th grade), fill it with potting soil and plant the seed. I faithfully water it for a week. Then less faithfully the next week. Then we go on vacation for three days. When I get home, I have kind of forgotten about it and it never really gets to be part of my daily schedule, besides, now I am too busy teaching myself Tae Kwon Do from YouTube tutorials. Two months later, as I do the dishes, I look up and see it there. Brown and lying in the dirt. The sun and drought has fried it. Poor Tabitha. I just got really busy. (Matthew 13: 5, 20-21; Alma 32: 38-40)

{D} As I leave her house, I am excited about the possibility of having my own peach tree, growing right out my back door. I already have a pot on my window sill with some dirt in it from another plant that didn’t survive the winter. Maybe this tree will be luckier. I decide to empty the old dirt out and put in some fresh, moist potting soil. The kind with MiracleGro right in it. This little pit needs all the help it can get. Then I put it back up on the windowsill and remind myself that every time I make dinner, I will give it a little drink. As soon as it is part of my schedule, it is easy to take care of. My kids and I watch the little sprout grow and grow with fascination.

After a few months, we put it in a bigger pot and it continues to grow. It only takes a year and a half to be hardy enough to plant outside. A year and a half! And now we’ll have fresh peaches each summer for the rest of our lives, if I continue to care for it. I’d say it was a solid investment of time. Good thing I did, too, because my friend moves away the next year and her peach tree is razed when the new owners take over the house. We still talk about gardening stuff on the phone though. It’s so great to have that in common. As soon as my tree starts producing, I plan to send her a peach pit so she can grow her own again. This particular variety is sweeter than any other I’ve tasted. (Matthew 13: 8,23; Alma 32: 28-37).
Our own peach tree

If you are wondering what in the world I am talking about, read Alma 32: 28-43 and Matthew 13. A gospel-centered life is a lot sweeter than peaches. I know that it is viable and will germinate if you give it a sincere chance with diligent effort. You can know the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is true fairly quickly (a sprout), but to be able to stand on your own testimony takes a little time (say, a year and a half of dedicated effort) and finally receiving the fruit (a life changed through Jesus Christ) can take even longer, though I promise that it is worth the effort.

“And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. Then, my friends, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.” (Alma 32: 42-43)