I first heard this concept from a boyfriend I had in college. It was completely unfamiliar, and I was incredulous. He was struggling with his faith and telling me why he kept bearing his testimony, even though he didn’t have one.
I’m not dumb. I was quick to call him out for being a liar and breaking a commandment.
A testimony is found in the bearing of it?!
What kind of garbage is that??
So I looked this up. No wonder I haven’t heard of it; it was before I was born, and I didn’t serve a mission so nobody would have instructed me in this.
In 1982, Boyd K. Packer said:
“A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it. Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that ‘leap of faith,’ as the philosophers call it.”
So let’s dig into this.
What is a testimony?
Following Jesus’s ministry, the apostles served as “special witnesses of Christ.” This means they experienced Jesus Christ first hand. They had a knowledge of Him, so they were able to give authoritative testimony of his Divinity and teachings.
They didn’t send people out preaching who hoped maybe Jesus was the Savior. They were authorized to preach because they knew!
In the LDS church we see the following scripture that sums up the two levels of testimony—the first level being knowledge, and the second level being belief:
“To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world; And to others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.” (D&C 46:13-14)
Notice there is no third level where you say what you wish was true. Or you bear witness hoping it’s a fact or in order to find out whether it’s a fact.
Nope.
Sorry, Elder Packer, that is not Biblical. I call your bluff. You’re just trying to get people to bear a non-existent testimony to help the church out.
But it gets better.
Cuz guess who his audience was when he said this?
Missionaries.
Those exact people whom the church depends on to bear a testimony.
And this quote was literally in response to a missionary saying “I have no testimony—what should I say as a missionary?”
You should bear one.
Of course.🙄
What else would a missionary do??
(Oh I dunno, like maybe stay home if you don’t believe the thing they want you to preach??)
All I Possess 