As Christians we talk a lot about testimonies. We ‘bear’ our testimonies to others, we ‘build’ our testimonies, and we ‘share’ our testimonies in meetings. But what does that really mean?

I worked in the legal field any years ago in a support role for the county court and as a legal secretary to attorneys. A testimony in that setting meant a person came in and swore to tell the truth in answer to questions posed to them. The witness (isn’t that an interesting label?) was understood to be under oath to be honest in their responses. Unless it could be proven otherwise, their answers were accepted as truthful.

When Christians testify, we are also being witnesses in a way both similar and different from the person testifying in court. We are sharing what we know to be true and are sharing that information both with words and with the spirit. We are often communicating on a much deeper level, a spirit to spirit level.

Here is where the difference goes even further. The Spirit will accompany that message or testimony insofar as we know what we are saying is true. It will not accompany a message we deliver when we ourselves do not have that belief or knowledge in the core of our spirit.

People often ‘testify’ of things they believe, but that is not the same as knowing those things to be true. Growing in our faith as Christians means that we are (hopefully) traveling from a place of understanding/believing to a place of knowing through scripture study, faith, prayer and personal revelation.

A fellow Christian recently shared in his testimony that there were many things he did not know were true. However, what he had put to the test so far had proven to be good in his life and his desire to learn and believe had eventually progressed to experiences and personal revelation. Now he knew those particular things to be of God and to be true. He stated that the things he did not yet know to be true he desired to believe, and was willing to test them in his life. Through patience, prayer, study and faith he trusted that one day he would know additional truths.

His testimony was one of the most powerful I’ve heard recently. It was a short course in how to grow a testimony that eventually blossoms and bears fruit. It reminded me of a scripture in which the ancient prophet Alma teaches followers how to plant the seed that results in faith and testimony. I leave you with his words:

“Now we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it our by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

“Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

“But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

“And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

“Therefore, if a seed growth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

“And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

“And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.” (Alma 32:28-34)

Wishing you peace in Christ,

Audrey