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Why do Mormons bear their testimony that this church is true? Should we not bear our testimony that God is true?
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take seriously the scriptural charge to bear witness of the Gospel. Of course, there are the iconic youthful, clean-cut, full-time missionaries wearing their little black nametags who knock on doors and preach the Gospel, but as one of our prophets declared “every member a missionary!” We are a proselytizing, testifying people.
Every month, usually on the first Sunday of the month, every congregation holds a “fast and testimony meeting” during the normal worship service. Instead of assigning specific members of the ward to speak — as is the practice every other week of the month — fast and testimony meeting is essentially an “open mic.” It’s an opportunity for anyone who feels moved upon by the Spirit to get up and testify. (As the title of the meeting indicates, this opportunity to bear testimony is coupled with a 24-hour fast and a generous “fast offering” donation specifically given to help the poor and needy in the local congregation and neighborhood. But that’s getting away from the original question…)
As for the content of these testimonies, you’ll hear about a wide variety of topics and experiences, but you’ll also hear many commonalities. Yes, Latter-day Saints often bear testimony that “the Church is true.” That phrase is a common “Mormon-ese” idiom which essentially means “I believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe the Book of Mormon is of divine origin. I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God and that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today. My experiences with the Church have helped me be a better person and grow closer to God.” Many cultures and religions use idiomatic phrases whose meaning is unclear or puzzling to those not of that group as an in-group “shorthand” language and Mormons are no different in that respect.
But Mormons also often bear testimony that God is true, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, that we have gained a deeper understanding of the gospel principle of tithing or fasting or prayer through personal experience. We bear testimony that God loves all of His children, that He speaks through prophets today as He did in biblical times, that we have found comfort and guidance through the Holy Spirit. We bear testimony of the love we feel for our families, for those we serve, for the Lord, and of the truths we read in the Scriptures, including the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We bear testimony of the strength we’ve gained in the midst of our trials through Christ, of opportunities we’ve had to share the gospel with others, of the joy and love and peace we’ve found through Christ and how He’s changed our hearts. We bear testimony of Christ’s birth, miracles, and teachings, of His Atonement, crucifixion and glorious resurrection.
Fast and testimony meetings, like all LDS Sunday worship services, are open to anyone who would like to attend, so feel free to stop by your local LDS meetinghouse on a Sunday morning to see for yourself.
