You know what tomorrow is …

[Anonymous]

Fast & Testimony. I know what you’re probably thinking: here he goes again.

This time I’m trying a different approach. Instead of focusing on what it is, in my ward, I want to focus on

what is it supposed to be. The following is from a church source. This constitutes what Fast Sunday should be:

– Fast.

– Keep your testimony simple.

– Use “I know statements”.

– Include these truths:

.God lives.

.Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God.

.The Book of Mormon (all scriptures) is the word of God.

.The Leadership of the church… (you know where I’m going.)

Some background, I live in a ward that is very diverse. In every sense of the word. The membership is a very interesting group of people.

We also have some members that have mental or emotional problems. And they will bare their testimonies every F&T meeting.

For example, there is one who is Schizophrenic. His time at the podium is to express his problems with his landlord & his neighbors.

There are no time constraints or limits.

I haven’t bore my testimony in a very long time. Most of the older member can’t, don’t or won’t. I wish they would it. I know they have lived

very interesting lives. So, my questions are:

– do you go to the F&T meeting?

– do you bear your testimony?

– what do you receive in return?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been all over the map with respect to fast and testimony meetings. At one point I didn’t like when people went off script. Now I think I prefer it when people go off script.

If you follow the prescribed formula, where the testimony is nearly dictated, I don’t see much of a point. Members of the ward filing up one by one to say the same things?

– do you go to the F&T meeting?

No, I stopped attending them several years ago. I purposely avoid the meeting. The only time I attend, it’s inadvertent. Because they moved it off of the first Sunday and I failed to get the memo.

I know not every testimony is this way, but the focus of the meeting often feels like professing loyalty to the church. Some people need that, I’m not knocking it, I’m just not one of those people.

[Anonymous]

nibbler wrote:

I know not every testimony is this way, but the focus of the meeting often feels like professing loyalty to the church. Some people need that, I’m not knocking it, I’m just not one of those people.

This is pretty much my take on it as well. Too much “I now this church is true” and “I know Russell M. Nelson is a Prophet” and not enough “I believe Jesus is my Savior” for my liking. Once upon a time F&TM was my favorite Sunday because I believed people got to say what they really felt. Now they are my least favorite and like Nibbler I avoid them (I’m currently avoiding all meetings, but were I not I would still avoid testimony meetings).

The good ole General Handbook doesn’t say a lot on the subject (of course).

Quote:

Purpose

Partake of the sacrament and strengthen one another by bearing testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Members are encouraged to come to the meeting fasting if they are able to fast.

Participants

All are invited to attend.

Frequency

Once a month, sacrament meeting is a fast and testimony meeting. Usually this is on the first Sunday of the month. It may be on a different Sunday to accommodate general conference or stake conference. (See also 20.5.4.)

In a fast and testimony meeting, there are no assigned speakers or special musical selections. Instead, the person conducting bears a brief testimony. He then invites members of the congregation to bear their testimonies. To bear testimony means to declare gospel truths as inspired by the Holy Ghost. Testimonies should be brief so that many people can participate.

Young children are welcome to bear testimony in fast and testimony meeting. It may be best for them to learn to do so at home until they can bear testimony without help from others.

Under the bishop’s direction, children are usually named and blessed during fast and testimony meeting (see 29.2.1.1).

I will say that I have noticed a difference in GA, particularly Q15, testimonies over the last couple decades or so. Any “I know” phrases seem to much more sparse than in the past. I appreciate it, because one of my pet peeves about F&TM meetings is that the 14-year-old speaking does not “know” this church is true any more than the 84-year-old speaker up next. Nobody knows that.

[Anonymous]

Well, it wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. (I have a tendency to make things worse than they have to be.)

I noticed that most of the testimonies this month focused on Jesus Christ. Nothing more.

I’m beginning to believe that is where more of my attention needs to be focused on.

I need to zone out on the rest. Or, focus more on other things when I can’t relate to what’s being said.

Or, find something more meaningful to do.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I attend.

Yes, I share my testimony occasionally. I focus on things I believe and for which I am grateful. I rarely use the word “know”. I doubt anyone notices that, and nobody ever has mentioned it.

I get to be part of my tribe and frame things that are important to me in authentic ways that I hope help someone else in some way.

[Author]

Posts