First Speaker
A sister that recently returned from the Missouri Saint Louis Mission spoke to us.
Mosiah 4:11-12
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
Mosiah 4:3
3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.
Next Speaker
Do you swear that the testimony that you are about to give is true to the best of your knowledge? That is a question they ask in court. Could we answer this question in the affirmative with regard to our words and deeds? Do they testify of truth?
My thoughts
{
Do the works of my hands (my deeds) carry the mark of the beast or the marks of the Savior. Does my forehead (my thoughts) carry the mark and name of the beast or the marks and name of the Savior?
Revelation 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:4
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
12 Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
Revelation 13:16
16 And [the beast] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Revelation 14:9
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 22:4
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
}
“Members are encouraged to come to fast and testimony meeting fasting if they are able to fast.”
...
“Testimonies should be brief so that many people can participate.”
(General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Section 29 - Meetings in the Church)
“This thing which we call testimony is difficult to define, but its fruits are plainly evident. It is the Holy Spirit testifying through us.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “Testimony”, April 1998 General Conference)
“Those who have a testimony of the restored gospel also have a duty to share it. The Book of Mormon teaches that we should ‘stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in’ (Mosiah 18:9).” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Testimony”, April 2008 General Conference)
Doctrine and Covenants 42:61
61 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.
Alma 5
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.
“Another way to seek a testimony seems astonishing when compared with the methods of obtaining other knowledge. We gain or strengthen a testimony by bearing it. Someone even suggested that some testimonies are better gained on the feet bearing them than on the knees praying for them.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Testimony”, April 2008 General Conference)
“A testimony of the gospel is not a travelogue, a health log, or an expression of love for family members. It is not a sermon. President Kimball taught that the moment we begin preaching to others, our testimony is ended.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Testimony”, April 2008 General Conference)
“Don’t you sit there in your fast meeting and cheat yourself and say, ‘I guess I won’t bear my testimony today. I guess that wouldn’t be fair to these other members because I have had so many opportunities.’ You bear your testimony. And one minute is long enough to bear it.” (“President Kimball Speaks Out on Testimony,” New Era, Aug. 1981, 4–7;)
Sunday School
Hate runs rampant when a group is dehumanized.
Ether 12:27
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
