Comments on: A Simple Testimony http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/ Am I not a woman and a sister? Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:44:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Testimonies of the Bloggernacle | Times & Seasons http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-21490 Testimonies of the Bloggernacle | Times & Seasons Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:32:44 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-21490 [...] Exponent:  A Simple Testimony (by Kelly [...] [...] Exponent:  A Simple Testimony (by Kelly [...]

]]> By: Peace « The Exponent http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-20646 Peace « The Exponent Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:52:13 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-20646 [...] harmony of spirit, a comfort of [...] [...] harmony of spirit, a comfort of [...]

]]> By: Kelly Ann http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-19146 Kelly Ann Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:07:06 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-19146 Thank you Carol, AS, and Racy. Like I said before, being honest is about all I can be and I have found a lot of peace in doing so. I hope people will always feel comfortable doing the same because more than any "loss of belief", what frightens me is how afraid I was to share any kind of imperfection. It has taken me awhile but I have learned I'm not perfect and that's ok. Thank you Carol, AS, and Racy. Like I said before, being honest is about all I can be and I have found a lot of peace in doing so.
I hope people will always feel comfortable doing the same because more than any “loss of belief”, what frightens me is how afraid I was to share any kind of imperfection. It has taken me awhile but I have learned I’m not perfect and that’s ok.

]]> By: Racy http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-19108 Racy Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:24:52 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-19108 My daughter got up one sunday for her first sacrament meeting testimony, she started with "sometimes I see other people who don't believe in our church and I think they are doing wrong" oh no."But then I remember hey, it's none of my beeswax, and I know Heavenly Father loves all his children, Amen" I had women telling me for months how much they loved her testimony and how they needed to hear it. I think real testimonies are the best kind. My daughter got up one sunday for her first sacrament meeting testimony, she started with “sometimes I see other people who don’t believe in our church and I think they are doing wrong” oh no.”But then I remember hey, it’s none of my beeswax, and I know Heavenly Father loves all his children, Amen”
I had women telling me for months how much they loved her testimony and how they needed to hear it. I think real testimonies are the best kind.

]]> By: AS http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-19106 AS Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:22:45 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-19106 What a beautiful, honest testimony. What a beautiful, honest testimony.

]]> By: Carol http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-19096 Carol Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:56:53 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-19096 I love your honestly and your humility. How wonderful it would be if every comment in Church and every testimony was as sincere and pure as yours was. And, since all temple recommend holders vow to be honest in all their dealings, perhaps we need to work a little harder at that when we speak or testify in Church. Hugs from me, too. I definitely would have hugged you if I had been in your ward and would want to be your friend. I love your honestly and your humility. How wonderful it would be if every comment in Church and every testimony was as sincere and pure as yours was. And, since all temple recommend holders vow to be honest in all their dealings, perhaps we need to work a little harder at that when we speak or testify in Church.

Hugs from me, too. I definitely would have hugged you if I had been in your ward and would want to be your friend.

]]> By: Kelly Ann http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-18986 Kelly Ann Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:49:45 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-18986 Ziff, while I did surprised myself with the ability to express what I did, I don't think I'd ever have the courage to get up and enumerate all my doubts and state what I really do and do not believe (like I have started to in blogging, although I still restrain myself here to a certain extent). It is all relative, I guess. But yes, I wish all testimony meetings were filled with heartfelt expressions of either faith or doubt, rather than the story telling or proselytizing that I have often seen in my experience. Ziff, while I did surprised myself with the ability to express what I did, I don’t think I’d ever have the courage to get up and enumerate all my doubts and state what I really do and do not believe (like I have started to in blogging, although I still restrain myself here to a certain extent). It is all relative, I guess.

But yes, I wish all testimony meetings were filled with heartfelt expressions of either faith or doubt, rather than the story telling or proselytizing that I have often seen in my experience.

]]> By: Ziff http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-18934 Ziff Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:50:41 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-18934 I appreciate your testimony, Kelly Ann, and I admire the courage it took to share it. I wish people shared more heartfelt testimonies like yours in my F&T meetings. Certainly I don't have the guts to say what I really feel there! :) I appreciate your testimony, Kelly Ann, and I admire the courage it took to share it. I wish people shared more heartfelt testimonies like yours in my F&T meetings. Certainly I don’t have the guts to say what I really feel there! :)

]]> By: Kelly Ann http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-18844 Kelly Ann Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:50:06 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-18844 Emily, Alisa, and Petra, thank you. I still don't know how I mustered the courage to get up. It didn't come out perfectly but well enough I guess. D'Arcy, there is tremendous potential everywhere as people muster the strength to share their experiences. As much as I love my new ward, I don't agree with everything that is said and I just hope that the good continues to outweigh the bad. I'm sorry to hear about your friend's experience. I hope people will continue to be much braver than I actually was. Emily, Alisa, and Petra, thank you.

I still don’t know how I mustered the courage to get up. It didn’t come out perfectly but well enough I guess.

D’Arcy, there is tremendous potential everywhere as people muster the strength to share their experiences. As much as I love my new ward, I don’t agree with everything that is said and I just hope that the good continues to outweigh the bad. I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s experience.

I hope people will continue to be much braver than I actually was.

]]> By: D'Arcy http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/01/a-simple-testimony/#comment-18836 D'Arcy Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:48:39 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3645#comment-18836 I have dreamed of doing this often, but I'm not to that point yet. However, my friend went to F&T meeting yesterday and was faced with this: "The testimonies, and more importantly, dialogue from the Bishop was a bit rough. Bishop said that we all needed to be Celestial ready right now because we never know when we’re going to die. Then, he went into a ten minute dialogue about all the young people he knows that have died suddenly and tragically and how he hopes they were ready to meet the Celestial Kingdom. Then, A young adult (this was a singles ward) bore her testimony about how out of five kids she is the only one that has stayed close to the church and is preparing for a Temple marriage. She noted how a couple of other siblings have gotten married, but weren’t worthy of the Temple so their weddings were very sad. Sad weddings, and very, very sad for her parents. She talked about how her Temple wedding is a great gift to her parents and about how she is proud to be the only child to give that gift to them." I've been in FAR too many meetings like that one that it makes F&T meeting the LAST Sunday I'd ever choose to attend. And yet, and yet....with your testimony, can't you just imagine the possibilites of what could happen in that sweet hour? I have dreamed of doing this often, but I’m not to that point yet.

However, my friend went to F&T meeting yesterday and was faced with this:

“The testimonies, and more importantly, dialogue from the Bishop was a bit rough. Bishop said that we all needed to be Celestial ready right now because we never know when we’re going to die.

Then, he went into a ten minute dialogue about all the young people he knows that have died suddenly and tragically and how he hopes they were ready to meet the Celestial Kingdom.

Then, A young adult (this was a singles ward) bore her testimony about how out of five kids she is the only one that has stayed close to the church and is preparing for a Temple marriage. She noted how a couple of other siblings have gotten married, but weren’t worthy of the Temple so their weddings were very sad. Sad weddings, and very, very sad for her parents. She talked about how her Temple wedding is a great gift to her parents and about how she is proud to be the only child to give that gift to them.”

I’ve been in FAR too many meetings like that one that it makes F&T meeting the LAST Sunday I’d ever choose to attend. And yet, and yet….with your testimony, can’t you just imagine the possibilites of what could happen in that sweet hour?

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