Category: Testimony

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. You Have To Want It To Be True to Know

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on January 18th, 2012 Categories: Testimony Comments: 1

    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 of friends who have either left the Church recently, or are struggling with their belief in the Church. Amongst all these people, perhaps 10 in number, I’ve noticed patterns in the words they use. In many cases the words are so close to being verbatim … Read the rest of this entry »

  2. Evidence, Subjective Proof, and Objective Proof

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on November 14th, 2011 Categories: Revelation, Testimony Comments: 71

    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 define some terms so that we don’t end up in an argument that is merely about semantics.

    Evidence.

    1. that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.
    2. something that makes plain or clear; an indication or sign: His flushed look was visible

      3. … Read the rest of this entry »

  3. We See What We Want to See.

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on July 31st, 2011 Categories: Testimony Comments: 4

    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 that was the color blue. Once the time was up, we were instructed to not look up, and to write down everything we had noticed that was the color green. I couldn’t remember a single thing. We were then instructed to right down everything … Read the rest of this entry »

  4. Those Annoying Testimonies

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on July 10th, 2011 Categories: Testimony Comments: 2

    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 that Joseph Smith was a prophet…’ They don’t know anything! They’re just saying it because that’s what they think they’re supposed to say.”

    “Then this one day I was listening to a lesson and the teacher says ‘I know the Book of Mormon is true’ … Read the rest of this entry »

  5. Faith as Power

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on April 10th, 2011 Categories: Testimony Comments: 14

    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 that’s neither here nor there…

    Each individual’s situation seems to be different, and yet they each also appear to be similar in certain ways, and it has got me thinking about various ideas that I’ve had in my head for a few years now that … Read the rest of this entry »

  6. Is There Anything That Could Convince You That Mormonism is Not True?

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on May 10th, 2010 Categories: Answer My Questions, Testimony Comments: 71

    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 I figure it, the only thing that could convince me otherwise would be for God to tell me that what he has already told me is not true. But that’s a bit like the age-old question “Could God microwave a burrito so hot that … Read the rest of this entry »

  7. What do Mormons mean by the word “testimony”?

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on September 20th, 2008 Categories: Mormon Beliefs, Testimony Comments: 2

    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? And what is this “testimony meeting” they have on the first Sunday of each month?

    When Mormons say they have a testimony of something they are not saying they know 100% that what they are saying is true. On the other hand, they’re also not … Read the rest of this entry »

  8. Would I leave the Mormon church if you could show me proof it isn’t true?

    Reviewed by: Joshua Steimle on September 16th, 2008 Categories: Testimony Comments: 2

    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, he would remain LDS even if it was unequivically disproved.

    That is one step away from DRINK THE COOLAID status.

    A: I heartily disagree with that elder. If someone could show me unequivocal evidence that the church was false I’d leave in a heartbeat. It’s … Read the rest of this entry »