The young girl walked up to the chapel pulpit during the ward fast and testimony meeting. Thinking she was repeating a phrase often used by participating members in the monthly worship service, she started by saying:
"I want to prepare my testimony...."
A mistake of adolescence, but an expression worthy of a sermon itself as all should prepare in order to bear testimony.
Such is the admonition of the Lord, "that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony" (Doctrine and Covenants 58:6).
In a May 2, 2002, letter, the First Presidency stated: "Parents and teachers should help children learn what a testimony is and when it is appropriate for them to express it. It may be best to have younger children learn to share their testimonies at such times as family home evening or when giving talks in Primary until they are old enough to do so in a fast and testimony meeting."
Similar encouragements can be found in the Church Handbook of Instructions and Church publications (see "When Children Want to Bear Testimony," Elder Carl B. Cook, Ensign, December 2002).
The primary responsibility for helping young children learn how to bear testimony lies with the parents. By making it a matter of teaching and encouragement in a family setting, parents help children understand that public testimony is a natural expression of faith, beliefs, commitments and witnesses.
Then the expression of a testimony can be derived from desire and promptings from the Holy Spirit, rather than the result of encouragement or even pressure from family members.
Also then, the testimony is a true and natural expression of one's own feelings and convictions, rather than a prepared message, repeating phrases from a prompting family member or an exercise to seek the approval of others.
But the preparing of one's testimony and understanding exactly what a testimony is and how it is best expressed in a public gathering such as fast and testimony meeting is something all can apply and appreciate.
It is not a "thank-you-mony" in which individuals focus on expressing gratitude to others. It is not a "travelogue-mony" to alert others where we've been and what we've seen.
A public testimony is not a time for the preaching of sermons or lengthy narratives, the unveiling of personal challenges, the revealing of personal and sacred experiences nor the collection of repetitious statements.
In short, members should avoid anything that detracts from the spirit of a worship service.
In the same May 2002 letter, the First Presidency — expressing concern that some
expressions in fast and testimony meeting were precluding the opportunities for all members desirous to bear testimony — suggested that we "learn to express a brief, heartfelt testimony of the Savior, His teachings, and the Restoration, so that more members may have the opportunity to participate."
Those stated principles — brief, heartfelt, based on the Savior, His teachings and the Restoration — are not merely to ensure brevity in meetings and enhance increased participation. They are also the foundations of a powerful witness and expression in a public testimony.
As summarized in the gospel reference guide "True to the Faith," a testimony begins with a righteous, sincere desire; comes through the quiet influence of the Holy Ghost, grows gradually through one's experiences; and increases as one shares it.
It continues: "Pray for guidance, and the Spirit will help you know how to express the feelings in your heart. You will find great joy as you help others share in the hope and assurance the Lord has given you."
And enjoy the lifelong processes of first preparing, then bearing and, in turn, nurturing your testimony.
