Bearing a Testimony
Bearing a testimony refers to sharing one's testimony, which consists of beliefs and convictions regarding the truth of the Gospel. A synonimous term which is often used in the Mormon Church is "bearing witness". As this term suggests, bearing testimony consists of standing as a witness for the truth.
Bearing testimony is not always an easy to do as it often touches on a persons very personal thoughts and feeling, which are often tender. To that extent, it can, at times, require openings oneself up emotionally or laying bare ones emotions.
The Importance of Bearing a Testimony
The Gospel is shared by and large, by the bearing of testimonies. It most frequently by our bearing our testimonies that people come to be touched by the spirit. How are people to learn of the Gospel is we do not share it.
Boyd K. Packer stated "a testimony is to be found in the bearing of it". This is a confirmation of the simple truth given by Paul in 1 Cor. 12:3 "that no man can asay that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."
When we bear testimony of Christ the Holy Ghost can touch others, yes. However when we bear testimony of Christ, the Holy Ghost can also touch us and confirm that what we say is true.
The Thankamony
Bearing testimony, however, does not consist merely in thoughts and feelings, but rather in sharing with others the knowledge we have of the truth. To say that one is happy, or that one is thankful, or that one loves another, is not bearing testimony. M. Russell Ballard stated:
My experience throughout the Church leads me to worry that too many of our members’ testimonies linger on “I am thankful” and “I love,” and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, “I know.” As a result, our meetings sometimes lack the testimony-rich, spiritual underpinnings that stir the soul and have meaningful, positive impact on the lives of all those who hear them.
As this suggests, one sign that one is bearing testimony consists of the use of the word "I know", "I believe", "I testify", or some equivalent phrase.
Sometimes there is a tendency for people to associate the sharing of any personal thought or feeling they have with bearing testimony. This has given rise to terms such as "travelmony", "talkamony", "thankamony", and others. Such non-testimonies are particularly conspicuous in Fast and Testimony meeting.
