I really appreciated your testimony/talk

[Babs]

The sister in the choir is just very skilled at giving vain compliments.

Kind of like that wife in the bedroom?

[Eddie]

I don't go out of my way to compliment people on talks or testimonies unless they truly said something that got me thinking or feeling something.

Perhaps the one exception is when one of the youth gets up and does a good job. I want them to know it was appreciated and in a way encourage them to do it again some time when they feel the urge.

[MarkGrace]

Kind of like that wife in the bedroom?

Ouch!

[LA Ute]

Prior to bearing my testimony I always say a little prayer that I might speak with the Spirit, that what I say might help someone, and that God will get any glory coming from my effort. (If I am feeling especially moved I also ask that I will be able to avoid choking up so that my behavior doesn't become a distraction to what I am saying.) If someone happens to compliment me afterwards, that helps me keep things in perspective. I actually feel a little embarrassed when I do get a compliment.

[wuapinmon]

I quit bearing my testimony when I moved from New Orleans because my ward is solid old people and I didn´t want everyone to tell me ¨"I enjoyed your testimony" the way they do after I give a talk.

Also, I can´t say, "I know," only that "I believe," and my bishop disagrees with me on this point, that it´s the same thing, and I don´t feel that way, so I don´t do it.

[myboynoah]

I quit bearing my testimony when I moved from New Orleans because my ward is solid old people and I didn´t want everyone to tell me ¨"I enjoyed your testimony" the way they do after I give a talk.

Also, I can´t say, "I know," only that "I believe," and my bishop disagrees with me on this point, that it´s the same thing, and I don´t feel that way, so I don´t do it.

I enjoyed your post.

[BlueHair]

Also, I can´t say, "I know," only that "I believe," and my bishop disagrees with me on this point, that it´s the same thing, and I don´t feel that way, so I don´t do it.

If it's the same thing, he shouldn't mind if you say, "I believe".

[faith]

Interesting. Now that you are no longer a worshipping mormon, do you feel as though the option of relating to others through shared religious experiences is gone? Do you find that absent this mystical shariing, you find yourself more impatient with them (has this hurt your relationships with members that you still regularly interact with?) Do you miss the emotional sharing?

Since I am no longer a worshipping Mormon and don’t attend any sort of religious service, I definitely am lacking opportunities to relate to others through shared religious experiences.When I lived in New Haven, I was part of a women's book group, and I probably had more intimate spiritual sharing with that group of women then I ever have at church. I have also considered starting a book group with some of my female friends in LA, with the hope of building emotional and spiritual connections with them. I do miss the emotional sharing, enough so that I am even considering trying out a Quaker service.

Family members, particularly my mother, still bear their testimonies to me on a pretty regular basis. It doesn’t bug me a bit; I consider it part of the culture I was raised in, and which I will never be able to completely divorce from my identity, and it makes me feel connected to them. Probably one reason I enjoy reading the CUF foyer so much is that it gives me an opportunity to hear about people’s religious thoughts and experiences, and even though I don’t post lots, I still feel like I am part of a community.

[faith]

I quit bearing my testimony when I moved from New Orleans because my ward is solid old people and I didn´t want everyone to tell me ¨"I enjoyed your testimony" the way they do after I give a talk.

Also, I can´t say, "I know," only that "I believe," and my bishop disagrees with me on this point, that it´s the same thing, and I don´t feel that way, so I don´t do it.

wuap -

It is your testimony, not his. Does it really matter that he disagrees with you?

Also, why don't you want people to tell you "I enjoyed your testimony"?

[wuapinmon]

Also, why don't you want people to tell you "I enjoyed your testimony"?

I´m a vain and prideful jerk.

[Surfah]

So, would you do the same for someone you didn't know well?

Absolutely. I can think of two instances recently. One was the deacon aged boy who was recently baptized along with his older sister when his less active parents were reactivated. In fact I didn't get a chance to do it right after sacrament meeting so I sought him out after church. He routinely comes up to me every Sunday or church activity say hi since. The other was also a recent convert.