The Value of Temple Protests

[_Phouchg]

The true purpose of F&T meeting!

I thought the true purpose of F&T meetings was to scare off investigators...

fook

[_TAK]

Then how do you account for Muslims, Hindus and Catholics having testimonies? Certainly they do not call them that, but their experiences are very similar.

I rather imagine most Muslims, Hindus and Catholics have beliefs that stem from cultural / home influences ..But EVs/fundies - those that step forward at the end of a service to “be saved” are ostensibly bearing testimonies.

[_JoetheClerk]

The value is that it lets LDS, Inc and the members in the area know that not all are in agreement with what LDS do or publicly stand for.

It wasn't long after protests directly affected BYU sports scheduling that Blacks were suddenly given 'all blessings'. Public protests are fine but will really have little effect until the money coming in takes a hit.

[_Gadianton]

I think we can bracket whether or not one is truly getting a "testimony" in the Mormon sense of the word and just say that by preaching in front of the temple, these EV's are strengthening their own convictions.

Anyway, it would be easy to show how naïve Gaz is, I mean, if a Mormon testimony were the only way someone could go about being commited to something, then you'd have a tough time explaining how people remained dedicated to the Second International, or even how Ed Decker has remained a born-again christian and Mormon critic.

[_Mercury]

I think we can bracket whether or not one is truly getting a "testimony" in the Mormon sense of the word and just say that by preaching in front of the temple, these EV's are strengthening their own convictions.

Anyway, it would be easy to show how naïve Gaz is, I mean, if a Mormon testimony were the only way someone could go about being commited to something, then you'd have a tough time explaining how people remained dedicated to the Second International, or even how Ed Decker has remained a born-again christian and Mormon critic.

A testimony is not what it claims to be. A testimony simply is in the telling, its not something someone actually posesses. I guess if you say someone has a willingness to get up in front of other Mormons and rattle off a trite recording of everyone else, then someone could have a "testimony".

Rattling off a Mormon list of the standard hokey pap in front of an investigator or nonmember was always different from the standard F&T "testimony".

If there is one thing I learned on my mission it was that there was nothing more silly and observably desparate than a Mormon missionaries testimony.

[_John Larsen]

C'mon Dude, your smarter than that. No one gains a testimony that way, and if they do its a false one that will whither and blow away at the first sign of trouble.

A testimony is based on revelation or nothing.

Then how do you account for Muslims, Hindus and Catholics having testimonies? Certainly they do not call them that, but their experiences are very similar.

The more your religion reflects the main culture, the less this is required. It seems that the more cultish your religion is, such as Evangelicalism, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormonism, etc. the more it is required to confront the world in order to solidify your faith.

[_Amaterasu]

The more your religion reflects the main culture, the less this is required. It seems that the more cultish your religion is, such as Evangelicalism, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormonism, etc. the more it is required to confront the world in order to solidify your faith.

I agree completely with this. It seems to put some in an odd spot to have to convince others of the truth of which they speak, so, if they can convince others somehow or another this appears to bolster their own convictions. Most Christian sects in America don't seem to proselytize and those that do so seem to be the ones that have the more outlandish beliefs from the mainstream. Not that they're really any more wacky than most religious beliefs, yet, they're put into an odd spot of having to convince others of how non-wacky those beliefs are. I feel sort of bad for them....

[_richardMdBorn]

Then how do you account for Muslims, Hindus and Catholics having testimonies? Certainly they do not call them that, but their experiences are very similar.

I rather imagine most Muslims, Hindus and Catholics have beliefs that stem from cultural / home influences ..But EVs/fundies - those that step forward at the end of a service to “be saved” are ostensibly bearing testimonies.

Note that Calvinists generally do not believe in altar calls since they think it is psychological manipulation and not necessarily the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

[_Gazelam]

Many people who bear their testimony are doing so on what is called "borrowed light"

It is one thing to say that you know the church is true because of your parents, or because of friendships. Its another thing entirely to bear a testimony because the Holy Ghost has borne witness to you by the power of the Spirit.

A testimony based on what your parents told you, or based on a convincing arguement is really no testimony at all. Its like carrying a seed in your hand and telling others that youve been told that theres a tree inside. This kind of testimony is easily dropped when someone slaps your hand in a rough manner, or when someone offers what seems to be a fancier seed.

What Elder Packer stated is true in that in the telling of that type of testimony someone can be led to actually get on their knees at some point and test Moronis promise. Its the "I've said it so many times, its time to put its truthfulness to the test" kind of thing. Its actually ok to live on borrowed light for a time, but eventually you have to stand on your own.

A real testimony comes about when Moronis promise comes to fruition and God himself bears witness. that's a testimony that can't be taken from you. Not even by gunpoint.