RS lesson December 2008

"Testimony" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks Ensign May 2008 

taught by Alison Jaehne

I have had a wonderful Christmas preparing for this lesson. All month I have been reading and thinking about testimonies. It added to the spirit of Christmas for me! I have felt closer to the Lord and to the Spirit as I have only read church magazines and the scriptures this month. I have thought about what I know, and how I know it. I have experienced my personal testimony-building events all over again as I reread my journal and relived the memories of my 'special experiences'.

In the same conference issue as our lesson, Elder Ronald Rasband gave a talk called 'Special Experiences'. He said, "Our personal journey through life provides us with many special experiences that become building blocks of faith and testimony. As experiences accumulate in our lives, they add strength and support to each other. Just as the building blocks of our homes support the rest of the structure, so too do our personal life experiences become building blocks for our testimonies..."

A pivotal personal experience for me was when I was at Rick's college, ahem, 21 years ago, I had a bishop who said from the pulpit in Sacrament Meeting, "I know there is a Garden and a Grove. Those are the two most important testimonies." Wow! What does that mean? I have thought about it a lot over the years. The Grove is the Sacred Grove, where Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith. For a long time, I thought that the Garden he referred to was the Garden Tomb, where Jesus was resurrected and saved us all from physical death. A testimony that Jesus has risen is certainly important and a testimony of the First Vision sort of covers that. I really think that he meant the most important testimony was of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus paid for our sins and saved those will repent and have faith in him.

In this January Ensign 2009 each of the apostles witness of the prophet Joseph Smith. Elder Quentin L. Cook testifies, "The foundation for every important decision and choice you will make is your testimony of Jesus Christ, (I know there is a Garden) and the restoration of His gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith." (I know there is a Grove)

Sister Gillespie's Sacrament Talk was wonderful! The symbol of the olive tree and the olive press and what the Savior did for us in the Garden of Gethsemane is the greatest miracle in our lives! I made extra pictures of an olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane for anyone who would like one, to remind us of what happened there and to feel close to it.

In the same May 2008 Ensign issue as our lesson, Elder Steuer quotes President Spencer W. Kimball, "The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them...Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one's life."

Doctrines covered in the lesson:

Definition of testimony and what it is not- a travelogue, health log or an expression of love for family members or preaching to others. If we stick to saying what we know, then as we share our special experiences, we will be bearing pure testimony.

The differences between three different kinds of knowledge- I know the church is true vs. I know it is cold outside vs. I know I love my wife and how we know them: scientific measures, personal subjective ways (which although not scientific, are very important) and through the Holy Ghost.

A scripture mentioned in the lesson and three times in the April 2008 conference must be important for us to study: 1 Cor 2:14 "the natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolish unto him: neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned" What is the "natural man"? The "natural" man is linked in the footnotes of Mosiah 3:19 as a worldly man, not spiritually reborn. Of course we are born our pure; our natures are divine! The world tries to get us to forget that!

Those who have a testimony of the restored gospel also have a duty to share it. Those who have the gift to know have an obvious duty to bear their witness so that those who have the gift to believe on their words might also have eternal life. D&C 46: 13-14

We should bear our testimonies often. We should strengthen our children by encouraging them to define themselves by their growing testimonies, not just by their recognitions in scholarships, sports, or other school activities. We can help them to recognize their own special experiences that can become building blocks of testimony.

How can we know that we are following the right church? By their fruits ye shall know them. The May 2008 Ensign has a talk which tells of the disaster relief the saints have given so willingly and efficiently.

Each of us two different channels to God. We have a channel of governance through our prophet and other leaders. This channel has to do with doctrine, ordinances, and commandments, results in obedience. We also have a channel of personal testimony which is direct to God. This channel results in knowledge. Knowledge encourages obedience and obedience enhances knowledge.

Why would someone not desire to know or refuse to acknowledge that they do know or have felt the Spirit? Once a person knows, then they feel obligated to obey. Obedience requires sacrifice. Sometimes a person is afraid to sacrifice. They don't know the joy and the freedom they will feel through obedience and sacrifice and the wonderful happiness of helping God in His work.

When geese fly in a v formation, because of the loss of wind resistance, they are 75% more productive in flight. When a goose falls out the formation, it instantly feels the drag and the incredible effort it takes to fly alone. When a goose is shot, two other geese follow it down to the ground and stay with it until it dies, then they catch another v formation to catch up to their flock. The goose in the front of the v flies works the hardest against the wind and when it tires, it falls back into the v and another goose takes over. The other geese honk to cheer the leaders on. Like the geese flying together, getting together and sharing our testimonies help each of us along.

My Testimony:

I, myself know that there is a Garden and a Grove. I wish I had the time and the room to explain all the details of the special experiences of how I came to know. I have been to the Sacred Grove and I have been to the Garden of Gethsemane. These are building blocks of my testimony. I know that a person doesn't have to go there to gain a testimony, so why is it so important to me and such a part of my testimony that I have been there? This month, I realized that I gained my testimony, not in those places, but thinking about the significance of what happened in those places. Having been there made the events seem so very real and tangible to me.

I had the same 'real' experience when I put myself with the Nephites in Bountiful when the Savior visited them. In my mind, I stood in line to feel the prints in His hands and to worship Him. That experience is very real and very special to me. It is as if I was there.

My testimony has largely come through songs. When I thoughtfully sing, 'Oh How Lovely Was the Morning' 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives' 'I Stand All Amazed' or 'I Believe In Christ' the Holy Ghost witnesses to me that it is true! I know it is! And I am so grateful! I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.