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<< At The Movies: One Good Man (B-) | Home | "Did You Attend 'The Lord's University'?" -- A Look at BYU and Church Schools >>

Local Testimony Meeting Controversy

By: Eric Nielson

Last month we had a typical testimony meeting, but for some reason the bishopric decided to do some enforcement on 'improper' testimonies. 

A young couple was brought into the bishop's office and told that their daughter should not bear her testimony unless she could say it without any help from parents.  A single older man was told not to tell such long stories in his testimony.  Those involved were hurt by the instruction.  The older man declared that he would not bear any more testimonies - at least for a while.  And the younger couple said they were not going to change their practice - but did not show up at all this week, which is very unusual for them.

In between these two testimony meetings, the Deacon's quorum advisor instructed the Deacons regarding what a proper testimony consists of, and challenged each deacon to bear their testimony.

This month, much of the meeting consisted of several Deacons repeating basically the same testimony.  It was nearly word-for-word identical.  My #2 son could not wait to get back to his seat to check off the testimony requirement in his Duty to God pamphlet.  Seriously, he literally checked off bearing his testimony!

This was a difficult meeting for me to sit through, because I knew what was going on with all parties.  I can see both sides on this.  I don't want to listen to long non-testimonies, but I don't want to listen to people repeating the same basic testimony over and over again.  And in this case, a few people got their feelings hurt in a way that I felt was so unnecessary.

Where should lines be drawn about censoring testimony?

What is the risk/reward involved with criticizing a testimony?

How do you balance encouraging people to bear testimony, yet controling what they say?

This little controversy seems so unnecessary, in that I do not think it was worse than any other testimony meetings I have attended.

Print | posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:38 PM | Filed Under [ Eric Nielson Mormon Culture ]

Comments:

#1: KevinR

How do you spell "control freak"? The spontaneity, an important element of the Holy Spirit being there, of a testimony meeting will be lost if this practice is allowed to continue in your ward and/or stake.
11/1/2009 9:02 PM

#2: Rusty

I'm of the firm belief that the only needed instruction is a brief reminder from the bishopric member at the very beginning of the meeting (right after his opening testimony) inviting everyone/anyone to bear a brief testimony focused on Christ. That's not controlling and it usually works out just fine. If there are still crazies, they'd be there regardless.
11/1/2009 9:20 PM

#3: Jimmy

I agree with Rusty... No one should seek to "control" or "censor" a testimony - it's someone's personal belief and expression of his/her beliefs. I think those Deacons should also learn a little self expression... they are beyond the Primary ones that go like "I know Jesus loves us. I love my family. The Book of Mormon is true." etc... and yet we all need those little testimonies. I have felt the Spirit strongly a few times when a little person was sharing it in a heartfelt way. Jesus didn't turn away any of the children - "suffer them to come unto me"... Yes, it is within the Bishop's duties to make sure Sacrament meetings go well and that the meetings invite the Spirit, etc. And yet, seeking to discourage free expression isn't a good thing... neither is monotonous repetition... neither is long "oh no there goes Bro/Sis so-and-so to again"... sometimes we all just need to be reminded of the purpose of the meeting - to bear a testimony. There have been general conference talks on this... Dallin H Oaks "Testimony" - Liahona/Ensign May 2008... And it may offend the "crazies" when they feel that they aren't being heard... sometimes those "crazies" just need a good home/visiting teacher visit... and some even need visits from their own children :-( ...
11/1/2009 9:50 PM

#4: Eric Nielson

KevinR:

I tend to agree with you.

Rusty:

That sounds a little like teaching people correct principles and letting them govern themselves.

Jimmy:

Thanks for the reference. Sometimes I think we need to be charitable and patient with the 'crazies', and hopefully help them improve with time. It is often difficult to know just how to do this.
11/2/2009 6:36 AM

#5: scw

Parents need to realize that their precious children are not so cute and darling when they get up there month after month, often with parent's promptings, and say the same drek about loving their mommy. Maybe FHE should be used to instruct their kids.
11/2/2009 9:26 AM

#6: Téa

We had the Bishop reading the statement from the First Presidency on testimonies before they turned the time over to the congregation in our former ward. We might not have cut out the travelogues & thankimonies completely but I don't recall any kneeling parental parroting at the pulpit after that instruction given anew every month.

Eric, do you think it might have been handled better "anonymously" from a Bishop's announcement, rather than an private meeting?

Rusty, I presume you've the view from the stand, too. Is "live and let bear" ever to be superceded?
11/2/2009 10:20 AM

#7: Eric Nielson

scw:

I think many will agree and disagree with you. (I kinda agree).

Tea:

Yes I do. In addition I think one should consider the risk/reward before attempting to handle it at all. What do you gain? Some efficiency in a testimony meeting? What do you lose? Maybe an active family. Unless there is pretty major abuse, I would say don't handle it at all.
11/2/2009 12:33 PM

#8: Michael Umphrey

There are issues to balance, judgments to be made.

I think the best you might be able to do is to appoint a local authority to seek those balances and make those judgments, and then do your best to make his decisions work. Don't forget to breathe.
11/2/2009 11:00 PM

#9: Jack

And they say we are a cult!

I've always believed a testimony should be a spontaneous expression of what is in one's heart. Unless that is the case, it is not worth much. Not only should it not be limited or controlled, it should not be demanded
11/3/2009 7:27 AM

#10: Eric Nielson

Michael:

Balance is the key, as is breathing.

Jack:

Amen brother.
11/3/2009 9:29 AM

#11: Paradox

I agree one hundred and ten percent that no one should ever censor a testimony.

Having said that, I think it's important to recognize that a lot of what we hear sometimes in testimony meetings isn't testimony, and that's what we're constantly asked to censor--the thank-amonies, the travelogues, and stories that don't readily present the gospel. Just because we think it sounds nice in our heads doesn't make it relevant or testimony. And really, that doesn't have to mean that you end up with carbon copy testimonies. Far from it. It means that the Spirit can actually do his work because the hearts of the people are turned to what HE wants to say, which is the greatest gift that members of a ward can give each other.

One thing I'd also like to add is I've noticed that my effectiveness in presenting the Church to others is pretty much synonymous with the kinds of testimony I'm bearing in testimony meeting. Whatever I do at the pulpit is what I've done when I present the gospel to friends and family when they ask me questions. When I told long, irrelevant stories about myself, that's what I inevitably did when I tried to talk about the Church at school and at home. When I figured out that effective testimony honors and glorifies Christ, His Plan, and His Church, my responsibility to be a member missionary became simpler and much more effective. Ultimately, bearing testimony--real testimony--makes life better and easier for all involved.
11/8/2009 3:41 AM

#12: Sean

Today, at fast and testimony meeting I heard a great testimony by a nine year old. It was heartfelt and original. I also heard a parent-coached testimony. People need to control their kids and remember that a testimony should focus on Christ and or their belief in the truth of this work. Travel stories and thank you's should wait until after the meeting.
11/8/2009 5:43 PM

#13: Tigersue

My only comment here, is if it was a private meeting how does anyone know about it? It is obvious for what you said the bishop was trying to do this in private council, without others knowing what the discussion was about. What does this tell you? I know what it tells me.
11/12/2009 10:05 AM

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