Our 18-monthly update (Testimony)

Since a large number of our quorum members are unable to attend our weekly quorum meetings due to their callings (primary, YM, etc.) we're going to try and keep this space updated with the quorum announcements and lesson summaries. It may end up being updated once every 18 months, as it has been so far, or maybe a little more frequently. We'll see.

We started off EQ this week discussing whether real men can go to a Jonas Bros. concert and maintain their man-standing. Mike S. may or may not have some longboard sticks that the Jonas Brothers ate longboards off of. Keep your eye on ebay for those to show up soon.

This week our lesson was on Testimony. We started off looking at the fall of the Nephites contained in 3 Nephi 5 - 3 Nephi 8. They went from "And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets . . ." (3 Nephi 5:1) to the conditions of extreme wickedness just before the visit from the Savior as described in 3 Nephi 7:8, 14-17, all in the period of 10 years or less (see Bro. Roman for exact details). We discussed some of the causes of this ranging from pride, selfishness, and a desire for power, to also apathy and finally as very astutely noted by Bro. Jeppson (at least for the purposes of today's lesson) possible lack of a true spiritual conversion, which segued very nicely into our discussion on testimony.

We discussed the basics of what a testimony is and its purpose in our life, as an anchor for our faith, a purpose for action, and to be shared with others. We discussed the recent instruction we have received from our Stake Presidency regarding the importance of testimony, the importance of Priesthood brethren leading out in bearing testimony both in our meetings, but also in our homes. We also touched on giving our children opportunity's to bear their testimonies outside of Sacrament Meeting. Mike mentioned that Pres. Wilcox' family has recently began adding testimony in to the FHE list of assignments on a weekly basis along with prayer, lesson, treats, etc.

The following two quotes were discussed briefly:
Simply stated, testimony—real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost—changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. To have a real and abiding testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be “spiritually … born of God,” to “[receive] his image in your countenances,” and to experience a “mighty change in your hearts” (Alma 5:14). - Ballard Nov. 2004

“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. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and step into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two " - Elder Packer.

Well, that's it for this week. Feel free to add your $.02 if you didn't get a chance to in class (either because you weren't there, or you were jumping up and down raising your hand, but were never called on because we were too busy figuring out the exact rate of corruption that occurred over the 10 year period as an inverse quotient to testimony efficiency).