Why Mormon Testimonies?

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We have recently launched a new website, a wiki, that everybody can edit, called Mormon Testimonies.org. Amy already wrote about it, but I would like to stress a little more the importance of giving our testimonies.

Yesterday, my stake president, in his remarks at the ward conference asked, “What if James had not written his powerful testimony in the Bible? Or what if Joseph Smith had not read it?”. I think that we often underestimate the power of written testimonies and their role in the Retoration of the Gospel.

To spread his work the Lord uses a system of witnesses rather than personal observation. Joseph Smith and his translation of the Book of Mormon stand as the first witness to this generation of the truth of the Restored Gospel and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church). But Joseph Smith’s testimony was not to stand alone, in keeping with the law revealed to Moses and also taught by Jesus “at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses” (Deut. 17;6; Matt. 18:16), the Lord revealed to Joseph that others would be called to testify, “in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain” (D&C 5:11).

The Three Witnesses (Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris) were a tremendous blessing to the Prophet. The prophet was released of a great pressure after the Lord has caused the plates to be shown to them.

However, we all know that those testimonies are not enough to move the work to the extreme ends of the earth.

Perhaps the power of a witness can be comprehended more easily in light of the Lord’s promise of a third kind of witness to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and of the Church: a personal witness of his Spirit to those who accept the truth of the Book of Mormon and of the Church. The Lord has said, “And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit” (D&C 5:16). There is no refutation of a testimony borne and accompanied by the Holy Spirit.

This type of pure testimony, accompanied by the Spirit of God, will save those who accept it.

As one receive a witness, one become able to influence others. Think of the power of a website were thousands of testimonies of members of the Church from all over the world are recorded together for the benefit of the members themselves, but especially for those who don’t know yet where to find the truth.

Let us join together and give our testimonies to the world. Let us tell our friends about this Website so that thousands of members will join to give their testimony. Later they will be able to ask their non-members friend to read their and other members’ testimonies and perhaps change the lives of thousands of people around the world.

I hope that this site will become a reference for members, missionaries, and honest truth seekers.