"I have a burning in my bosom..."
Posted on 09/20/2009 2:46:15 PM PDT by Colofornian
SNIP
Sharing testimonies is an important part of the Latter-day Saint experience. We bear testimonies in many settings — in the home with family and among friends and associates or in missionary experiences. In Church, one Sunday is set aside every month for the bearing of testimonies during sacrament meetings.
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In his address at the October 2004 general conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve...said that his experience throughout the Church leads him to worry that too many members' testimonies linger on "I am thankful," and "I love," and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, "I know." As a result, he noted, meetings sometimes lack the testimony-rich, spiritual underpinnings that stir the soul and have meaningful, positive impact on the lives of all those who hear them.
He...counseled, "We need to replace stories, travelogues and lectures with pure testimonies. Those who are entrusted to speak and teach in our meetings need to do so with doctrinal power that will be both heard and felt, lifting the spirits and edifying our people."
SNIP
As we listen to general conference this October, we will hear many bear pure testimony. Numerous times over the years, we have heard President Thomas S. Monson, first as an apostle and now as president of the Church, bear such testimony. May we, as Primary children sing, be inclined to "follow the prophet" in our endeavor to nurture, strengthen and share our testimonies that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us, that Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was the prophet who was raised up to restore the fullness of the everlasting gospel...
(Excerpt) Read more at ldschurchnews.com ...
That's because Mormonism is an outward-oriented "to do-list religion" vs. Christianity's KNOWING relationship -- knowing "the only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ" -- which John says IS "eternal life" (John 17:3)
From the article: He...counseled, "We need to replace stories, travelogues and lectures with pure testimonies."
Well, between this quote and the one above, Mormons note this: even your testimonies are "graded" by your leaders!!!
Here, the heart of Mormonism is experiential feelings -- and that apparently is reflected by the "stories" and "travelogues" as testimonies...and somehow Lds leaders want to squeeze out something else from the inside that's just not there!
From the article: According to Lds' current "prophet" May we, as Primary children sing, be inclined to "follow the prophet" in our endeavor to nurture, strengthen and share our testimonies that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us, that Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was the prophet who was raised up to restore the fullness of the everlasting gospel...
OK, well if Lds leaders can grade their members' collective testimonies, here's a simple "scorecard" for Monson's testimony above:
God the Father, a single mention
Jesus is a savior, a single mention
Joseph Smith as prophet, 2 mentions
(Now we know which personality gets double testimony coverage in the Lds church!)
Ping
I read the article. I do not understand why anyone would need instructions on how to testify. I do not understand it no I do not.
This testimony has been posted on my page here for years.My Testimony
I know that my redeemer lives. I know that though I will grow old(er) and die, I will in my Flesh stand before him to be judged. I testify that Jesus Christ is my redeemer, My Judge, My God. I know that only through his grace can I be saved. I know this with every fiber of my being. I have put the Promises contained in the Book of Mormon at Moroni 10:4, and in First John 4:1-3 and Prayed to God about the Book of Mormon and was told that it was true and that Jesus was my savior and walked in the flesh on the earth. I am far from perfect. Any errors in my page here, or in my posts or anywhere else, are my mistakes, attribute not to God my faults for mine are many and he is perfect. Blame me if you must blame anyone for the imperfections of my works, but know this, I tried to do a Good work, My failings are my own, and not my masters.
Last of all, I testify to you that Jesus lives! The bonds of death and hell cannot prevail against him nor against any who he calls his in the last day, my hope is to be among them and to have him wash me clean that I may enter in and dwell with him forever.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I need no one to tell me that Jesus LIVES, and that He is the only way to Salvation.
Religion is my choice or not. No one has the right to tell me what to believe.
Jesus is my Saviour and that’s IT!!
My Redeemer LIVES!!
Your Testimony parallels my own.
I cannot imagine my life without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in all of the Scriptures, including the “Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”
Anyone wanting more proof of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of our Earth is cheating him/herself by not reading this book prayerfully. The testament of Jesus Christ is overwhelming!
This is where terms need to be defined, lest Mormons come across sounding "Christian."
When a Mormon talks about "salvation," they usually mean, "Just about everybody is saved. Jesus is the only way to just about everybody being saved." [near universalism -- Mormons teach just about all people will go to one of 3 "degrees of glory"]
IOW, to the Mormon, Jesus dying on the cross gives everybody a chance to be resurrected. But then you need to ask the Mormon, "well, to you, please tell me what's in store for some of those so 'resurrected'?"
In response, you won't usually hear Lds volunteer the following -- that a resurrection unto damnation is also what Jesus talked about (see below)...so much for resurrection = a form of "salvation":
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:29)
(Lds: Please note for future reference: damnation is NOT a degree of glory!!!)
WHAT??? Are you telling me that even though the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is, INDEED another testament of Jesus Christ; that the "Mormons" who are INDEED members of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, you still believe we are NOT CHRISTian???
Where does that come from, pray, tell? How can you say Mormons are not "Christian" if you haven't prayerfully studied the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Stop concentrating on "Mormon" and start looking at the messages that Jesus Christ has to give you.
Well, religion may be your choice -- but not a born-from-above relationship with God the Father:
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
#1 Before you can be a genuine son of God, you must first receive his authority (word for "power" in Greek in John 1:12 is exousia -- the authority). Since the Mormon god was always a god wanna-be -- and never had ultimate divine authority (he was always beholden to a higher god)...he has no ultimate authority.
#2 Our being so born from above is never according to "the will of man" -- says John the apostle in John 1:13. So who should we believe -- your "pro-choice" theology or John's saying that it comes down to the will of God?
#3 Notice, too, that John 1:12-13 wreaks havoc with Mormon theology that you were all sons & daughters of Elohim in "the pre-existence." Haven't you ever noticed that underlined word above "become" in John 1:12?
And that word isn't particular to the Bible, either:
...for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. (Mosiah 5:7)
And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. (Mosiah 27:25-26)
So, unlike what your parents may have taught you...
...or your seminary & institute instructors...
...or others...
...Mormons or others "can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God" (Mosiah 27:26) based upon some titled linkage to either some "pre-existence" or simply bearing the Mormon identity.
No, Mosiah 27:25 makes it clear: We have to be changed (past/present tense) from a carnal/fallen state to a current state or righteousness. Are you currently righteous? Are you, as Mosiah said, a new changed creature? -- 'cause if you're not, you "can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
(Is that why an angel, Moroni, stands atop Lds facilities? 'Cause Lds are "concentrating" on Christ? Where's the cross of Christ in any Lds facility? Why is not the ultimate act of "proxy" substitution -- Jesus dying on the cross for our sins -- not symbolized in any place where Lds do "proxy" baptisms???)
Gordon B. Hinckley, lds "prophet," told Larry King 11 years ago that there wasn't any such thing as a "fundamentalist Mormon"...(so Hinckley had a right to define Mormonism, but Christians don't have a right to define Christianity? Anything under the sun is made to be under the Son?)
Sounding remarkably like the teachings that Smith was exposed to - that of Swedenborg.
In response, you won't usually hear Lds volunteer the following -- that a resurrection unto damnation is also what Jesus talked about (see below)...so much for resurrection = a form of "salvation":
Nor do they volunteer the 12 steps required for 'salvation' either
Step One: Faith
Step Two: Repentance
Step Three: Baptism by Immersion in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Step Four: Laying on of Hands by a Member of the Melchizedek Priesthood in Order to Receive the Holy Ghost
Step Five: Ordination as a Melchizedek Priest (for males only - sorry ladies, your only salvation is to be eternally pregnant as one of a god's harem)
Step Six: Receiving the Temple Endowments
Step Seven: Celestial Marriage
Step Eight: Observing the Word of Wisdom
Step Nine: Sustain the Prophet
Step Ten: Tithing
Step Eleven: Sacrament Meetings
Step Twelve: Obedience
Since the bom contains the fullness of the gospel, how come these items are not in it?
Yah, OK...
I got it. Call me when you’re read enough to debate...
My Salvation Testimony (not the first time I've shared this on a thread):
Well, I testify that Jesus' blood was powerful enough not only to atone for Adam's sin, but mine. I have his rich blood streak running over every part of my sinful body, my sinful mind, my sinful soul, my sinful spirit. I am drenched in His blood; saturated in it; bathed in it. It cleanses me entirely of all past sins, my present sins, and every sin I'll commit (or action I'll fail to responsibly commit) because I entrust that His blood is sufficient for me.
His blood,
His mercy,
His grace
...makes me "worthy"--tho the fact that He went to the cross for me shows my ultimate value.
Like any heir, I'm an heir by His death [or did you think you could become an heir & gain a "testimony" only by His life???] and by His ensuing gift to me...NOT an heir based upon...
...my works,
...my obedience,
...my self-promotional worthiness,
...my commandment-keeping,
...my bishop-graded temple recommend,
...my Word-of-wisdom keeping,
...my exaltation checklist,
...who I marry,
...if I marry,
...and all the other plural "My-s" I can ever list--as if my life was to center on... ...me
...or as if all my good works were primarily or unconsciously done to boomering back on my bootstraps to kick me into divinity...
...rather than simply to love the One I serve.
Mormonism runs in my family blood...
What's vitally more important is Jesus' blood...
The key to being part of that heavenly Zion isn't whether you were born Mormon...
But whether we're reborn of the Spirit
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