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One of the counselors in our Stake Presidency shared the following quote from a 16-year-old’s testimony in a previous Stake Conference: Quote:“I know the Church is true, even when I wish it wasn’t.”
We could nit-pick words and definitions, but it was wonderful to hear that statement echoed and affirmed by a member of the Stake Presidency. He is a good man, and the talk that followed was an excellent one. He doesn’t get into specific concerns and issues in any of his talks, but it is clear he cares about people and understands that members struggle with various things at various times – and that he cares far more about effort and service than about uniformity.
That’s awesome. Glad to hear that. 
I’m having a hard time understanding what is meant by that quote. I’d be interested in an explanation as to why it is meaningful to you. The person who said it was struggling with some aspects of the Church, including attending regularly, but he had received an answer to a prayer that “the Church is true”. He was saying that there were times he wished he hadn’t felt what he’d felt, and that he sometimes wished he could just stop attending, but that he still believed what he had felt. The counselor didn’t go into any details, but he did end his talk by listing some things he knows – and then he added:
Quote:“Even though there are lots of things I don’t know and don’t understand, I do know those things.”
I probably should have added that detail in the original post.
🙂 I feel much the same as the person who made that quote. I wish the Church wasn’t true — then I wouldn’t have to fork over thousands to move into a Ward that is good for my family just so we can have full fellowship. I wish I didn’t have to put up with systemized rules that quash creativity. I wish I didn’t have HT responsiblities gnawing at my ankles from now until the day I die. And I wish I didn’t have to act exactly as leaders think I should to avoid ostracization.
But all these things come with the church and my testimony of it.
It makes it hard to just pick up and leave, as I’ve wanted to at times.
Thank goodness GA’s have said we should be involved in the community and a light to others. That’s my out right now.
SilentDawning wrote:I wish the Church wasn’t true .
What does one mean when they say the church is true? A church, or in this case the Corporation of the First Presidency, is the bylaws of incorporation, with all the bureaucracy that goes along with it. Is that true? Or is it a church that teaches something that is true, so becomes true also by way of its teachings? If so the Catholic church is true, because it teaches about the life of Christ.
Or does one mean the LDS church is true because it is the only church that teaches the truths needed to get back to God, and all other churches fall short? And where do the falsehoods fit in a true church, like the BofA translation, Blacks and the Priesthood, etc , etc.
Can one say the church is Good, and that is good enough to stay in the church? Can I testify of the good church?
Sheldon wrote:SilentDawning wrote:I wish the Church wasn’t true .
What does one mean when they say the church is true? A church, or in this case the Corporation of the First Presidency, is the bylaws of incorporation, with all the bureaucracy that goes along with it. Is that true? Or is it a church that teaches something that is true, so becomes true also by way of its teachings? If so the Catholic church is true, because it teaches about the life of Christ.
Or does one mean the LDS church is true because it is the only church that teaches the truths needed to get back to God, and all other churches fall short? And where do the falsehoods fit in a true church, like the BofA translation, Blacks and the Priesthood, etc , etc.
Can one say the church is Good, and that is good enough to stay in the church? Can I testify of the good church?
Having recently took temple prep class, it was insistent that we were the only ones with the authority for all the essentail knowledge and authority to carry out all the covenants nesserary to return to god.
It was made absolutely clear by the class teacher/ bishop and SP in support.
Having said that, a new member of less then a year came up to fast and testimony and testified that the church was a good experience for her and then left the podium. The entire congregation leaned over and whispered to one another for several minutes afterword( talk about gossip central lol). I just smiled, she shared what she wanted to share. She hasn’t been “trained” yet to say “i know the church is true and isaythesethingsinthenameofjesuschristamen.”
I just smiled because she said what she meant without coaching. It was her pure thought, unmodified.
Why should a 16 year old have that kind of conflict in their life? Sheldon wrote:SilentDawning wrote:I wish the Church wasn’t true .
What does one mean when they say the church is true? A church, or in this case the Corporation of the First Presidency, is the bylaws of incorporation, with all the bureaucracy that goes along with it. Is that true? Or is it a church that teaches something that is true, so becomes true also by way of its teachings? If so the Catholic church is true, because it teaches about the life of Christ.
Or does one mean the LDS church is true because it is the only church that teaches the truths needed to get back to God, and all other churches fall short? And where do the falsehoods fit in a true church, like the BofA translation, Blacks and the Priesthood, etc , etc.
Can one say the church is Good, and that is good enough to stay in the church? Can I testify of the good church?
Mate, I’ve asked myself and my DW the exact same question – what does “the Church is true” even mean? I honestly don’t know what it means. Concepts, principles, etc., can be true, but an organization cannot be true (IMHO). I happen to be a big fan of CrossFit – I like the workouts, I feel better when I go, I like the people. But I don’t think CrossFit is true – I think it’s good, useful and positive in my life. But it’s not true. Many of the principles CrossFit teaches and uses, though, I would say are true: if you work hard, you’ll get more fit; if you intake fewer calories than you burn, you’ll lose weight. Those things are true.
I stopped saying anything about the Church being true about 2 years ago, even though I enjoy going to Church, I feel better when I go, and I believe the Church to be a net positive in my life.
Quote:Why should a 16 year old have that kind of conflict in their life?
Because he’s trying to figure out what he personally believes. I think part of the problem for lots of members is that they didn’t have that kind of conflict in their lives at that age.
I had that kind of conflict, although I wouldn’t have worded it that way, starting when I was 7. I would have worded it more like,
Quote:“I love the Church even while disagreeing with a lot of what others say. I wish more people believed like I do.”
My go-to testimony has for years been “The Gospel makes me happy.” And it does! Even now, when I can’t claim to “know” much more, I do know that.
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