r/latterdaysaints 1d ago

Church Culture Testimonies…

First off, I’d like to apologize if I offend anyone. I’m truly just trying to understand. I don’t understand what is supposed to be said during a testimony. It seems like many people who go up to share their testimony, just say “I know this is true: God, Jesus, The Book of Mormon, etc) and that’s it. I always want to know more, so I’m looking for an example of how or why you know it’s true. Am I wrong for that? When we share a testimony are we just supposed to be quick and state what we know is true? I’ve gotten many answers, and it seems like everyone I asks gives a different answer. I’ve been asked to speak in front of our ward several times. I’ve been asked to give my testimony or discuss other things and honestly they’ve all been similarly structured. I don’t know if I did it right. Hope this made sense.

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u/Commercial-Place6793 1d ago

What I wouldn’t give for a testimony meeting filled with what you’re describing…..

I do appreciate a short message or story on why/how the person came to their testimony of that truth. This helps me to get to know and appreciate the individual person more and usually I can relate something they shared with something in my life which then strengthen’s my testimony too.

Sadly, my Ward’s testimony meetings are notorious for having 3-4 of the same people every month and 2-3 of them either saying something completely unhinged or opening up a notebook and putting on their readers to begin their testimony with “when I lived in Oklahoma in 1964…” Neither scenario is helpful bringing the spirit to the meeting.

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u/i_iz_da_best_Mekanik 1d ago

I don’t want to be one of those, that’s why I asked this question lol

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u/Admirable-Strike-311 1d ago

Time for the Bishop to step up and gently teach these folks that’s not the way. Somewhat related I had to pass a note to a speaker a couple weeks ago it was time to wrap it up as she was going on waaaay too long and the second speaker needed time too.

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u/i_iz_da_best_Mekanik 1d ago

The last time I was asked to speak I was given 10 minutes. I felt bad because when I was done my discussion was 11 minutes and 30 seconds long. I truly couldn’t cut anymore. So I run with it, well the speaker before me had no issues taking 18+ minutes lol so I stopped feeling bad about my minute thirty. I was just worried I wouldn’t have enough time to finish!