VisionOfLehi

Well... I'm an oddity Don't get your hopes too high, lol.

Toe Jam of Ogre gets the same job done. Do you want me to get you some?

I don't like and don't use the term "hot." It seems to be objectifying their body. I certainly do look for a gorgeous/beautiful/cute girl. HOW cute they are often depends on how they treat me and other people. I've seen some attractive girls that ceased to be attractive when I got sight of their attitude. When I (and probably other guys) say that there needs to be some physical attraction, I don't think I have this stereotypical and very precise idea of what she should look like in my mind. I guess you could say I have very broad tastes, and that there's a lot of girls I find attractive where many of my friends just don't see it. Also, that stereotypical Barbie, or gals with over-done hair and tons of make-up? Those are turn offs for me. I'm sure I'm not the only guy who thinks so.

Generally, the younger children I've seen give testimonies were either too young to do it alone (but they still wanted to do it) or it was mostly a "I love my family, and I know my family loves me." I don't think it's just a matter of being able to go up without a parent feeding lines... But a matter of the child being instructed as to what a testimony is, and what bearing it means, etc. Parents have duties! While it's cute for a kid to go up, and great for them to have the experience of being in front of the congregation... They should be taught the manner in which it do it. There's a great potential in a child's testimony...

I don't wear make up!

Is there a commandment anywhere in the Scriptures that says we are to bear our testimony? I was certain there was, but I'm not sure where to find it... Either way, I feel continually compelled to do so. I love to do it, but I also feel as if it's my responsibility and duty to do so. It's very different...

Oh yes. Often times as a peace or a clarity of the mind. I get so worried and anxious as I'm going up but the fruits of the Spirit win out once I'm up there. There's also been several times that I just get overcome... Usually I end the testimony soon after that so I'm not in full tears on the stand, lol. Though not always. And once I'm done, I know I've brought the Spirit more fully into myself, because of the way I feel, and how I am able to listen easier to others' testimonies and gain from them. It's awesome!

Elph, I was just going to mention the Deist thing! I know the Declaration won't change... But people don't make a fuss over that, do they?

Yeah, the lawsuit thing is ridiculous, too. And doing it so as "not too offend." That's a load. "Doing it to avoid lawsuits because people are trigger happy," is more like it. Also, Elph, the Pledge doesn't include reference to the Christian God. It merely states "One nation, under God." It doesn't say which God, or how to interpret that. It's the English word for God of whatever. It's simply a reference to deity, not Christianity.

This stuff is just... out of control. The Declaration of Independence What're the going to do in the end? Change the wording of the Declaration of Independence? Have these people of different faiths and countries not learned on what the country was founded? Have we as a nation forgotten? God is part of it, whether they deny it or not. *shrug* This is the pattern. The world denies, and destruction cometh. The end draws closer and closer, and we see it in the small things.

Ah, how great is God to think so far in advance to establish the feeding cycle of crickets and gulls so as to provide a faith-building story for Saints in the pioneer and latter days. He's got so many corners covered it's absolutely amazing!

I intend this to be a thread about bearing proper testimonies. What they are, and what they aren't. (This is inspired by the "New Program" thread.) I bear my testimony regularly... At most fast and testimony meetings. (Probably 13 of the last 18 months I've been a member.) I don't say this to brag... merely highlight my "experience." I think about my testimony regularly throughout the month. I think about it, so when the time comes to bear it, I have some idea of what I'm going to say. The Spirit definitely leads me as I'm giving it. I emphasize or forget things as the Spirit directs. I try, anyway, to keep it "simple." I bear witness of what I know to be true, and often the latest events that occurred that brought the Spirit upon me to testify of these things to be true. (I don't go into great detail, and often am not specific. A one or two sentence lead up is all that I tend to need, not a 5 minute story, ) Not always do I cover all 4 parts of a testimony: Christ lives, the Book of Mormon is God's word, Joseph Smith was the prophet of the Restoration, and [Thomas S. Monson] is God's current prophet on Earth. Generally they lead one into another. "By this I know this is true." And it flows in any way. This is how I do it, based on how the Spirit has taught me, and what I have read of counsel concerning proper testimony. Now, I have had some "negative" experiences in testimony meetings. There have been a couple times where I say something, which is true, absolutely, and the next person goes up to correct me(they don't say my name, but what they say is clearly "clarifying" what I said, often saying "It's not [this]" where [this] is what I said). They obviously misunderstood my words, but I felt such a withdrawal that they went up and did that as well. This has happened 2 or 3 times and it upset me so much I wanted to just leave. And, almost every month we'd get someone to go up and tell long stories that... led to a very short and brief testimony... Taking up (almost uselessly) time that OTHERS could use to bear THEIR testimony. Sometimes they just get off on tangents as if their in a normal conversation... That's not how it should be done. Now, aside from those who essentially say I'm wrong, the other times don't bother me so much. I love to listen to testimonies, even the ones with extras. It's my favorite Sunday of the month. Please share your experiences, and advice. And though some experiences are negative, let's still keep this positive! There may be some newer members who will just get some good "Dos and Don'ts," or even not-so-new members! I want this to be for learning, not complaining!

The pain your friends suffered, the sorrow you're going through... I'm essentially tearing up at the knowledge that He, our Savior, suffered the pains of that as well. He knows us so well... He's right there with us, and with our loved ones, in ALL of our sufferings. Yes, He will Judge us, and He will know exactly our hearts. He is so amazing, so wonderful. I love Him so much, I'm so thankful that He's done what He's gone through, for me. For all of us. Blessed be, MC.

If people don't realize their conditioning, they won't fight against it. If they don't care, they won't either. C'est la vie.

Why I'm sure it's a great video (no time to watch right now) I'm not too pleased that someone taped a Church meeting.

He may be putting words in your mouth, but he's saying that scriptures don't disprove the Godhead, and that you can "get" the Godhead from the Scriptures. Some Trinitarians assert that it's fallacious and totally made up, but there is strong scriptural support (just as the Trinitarians show, too)

I bear my testimony nearly every fast and testimony meeting... And it's different every time, and there's different things that are "new" to me and I can now testify of. But I don't just wait for the Spirit to prompt me to get up. I prayerfully think about my testimony many times throughout the month from one fast Sunday to the to next. I can have the whole thing essentially "written" in my head rather quickly, and I go over it, adding and removing where it feels write. I'm prepared. I know the Spirit will prompt me to get up there, because I prepared myself for Him to do it. (Sometimes I really don't want to and I'll spend 2 or 3 testimonies being nervous before I finally get up.) Once I'm up there... My testimony that's almost "rehearsed" in my head never comes out like that. I change, add, or completely forget parts as led by the Spirit. It's quite awesome, for me, really. What I need to say that day gets said, nothing more, nothing less. ANYWAY... Point is... If you're thinking about this stuff often, then being called up "by surprise" isn't a big deal, you're already prepared with what you'd say. Anxiety and stuff... Yeah, I don't know how to get around that. I get really anxious myself, but I love giving my testimony and speaking. It's backwards, lol.

*whistles*

Are we seeking to find the Lord? Are we obeying his commandments and statutes? Are our hearts in the right place?

Sociologically speaking, there's a lot going against men (and women, too.) They're "conditioned" to look for certain things. (And women are "conditioned" to try and make themselves look like that, too.)

Yes, the nature of the Godhead really is important. Knowing it, and being able to teach it to the multitudes is important. Understanding God... becoming closer to him, that's part of our purpose.

Islander: Sometimes belief systems and faith-promoting ideas do not involve deity. Sometimes people just have faith in humanity. :) And I think all of us should remember that the truth stands out. That those who seek it earnestly will inevitably find it. (As we Christians say: On the Lord's time.)

It's what I do. I could choose to not do it. Might be a little weird and disgusting for me at first, but people say the same thing about: wine/caviar/cigars/black coffee/black licorice/etc.

You've got a seemingly sound standpoint there, but it still doesn't make sense to me. (It's not that I don't get it... It's just that to me, it doesn't make sense.) Edit: I looked through that link, and a lot of it just seems to be interpretation. While I can see that there may be a scriptural evidence for that concept, it seems to be a bigger stretch than what I know. I don't mean any offense to your beliefs, and I really appreciate your info. I've been trying to understand this concept for awhile, but nothing ever seems to suffice. (And I can look at it "non-Mormonly." I was agnostic for the majority of my life, and I tend to look at things from that viewpoint, first.)

Where is it then said that the Holy Spirit is God? And why would God pray to himself? (Abba, abba!) And where is it made clear that they're referring to there being only one god in existence, and not just that we're to worship one god? And how does this reconcile with older Judaic texts and scriptures that seem to refer to many gods, but God as the head?