This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . . Testimony

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This is a review of the slides we used while
discussing . . . Testimony Conviction 1
Nephi 1
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The Doctrine of Testimony

• What is Testimony. . .

A testimony of the gospel is the sure
knowledge, received by revelation from the Holy
Ghost, of the divinity of the great latter-day
work. . .
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Three great truths must be included in every
valid testimony 1. That Jesus Christ is the Son
of God and the Savior of the world (D. C.
4613) 2. That Joseph Smith is the Prophet of
God through whom the gospel was restored in this
dispensation and 3. That The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and
living church upon the face of the whole earth.
(D. C. 130.)
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Embraced within these great revealed
assurances are a host of others, as that the Book
of Mormon is true, that holy messengers restored
keys and priesthood to men in this day, and that
the present leadership of the Church has the
right and power to direct the Lord's work on
earth. To bear one's testimony is to make a
solemn declaration, affirmation or attestation
that personal revelation has been received
certifying to the truth of those realities which
comprise a testimony (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon
Doctrine, p. 786).
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The Doctrine of Testimony

• Purpose of Testimony. . .

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• The Church has before it many close places
  through which it will have to pass before the
  work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the
  difficulties that are coming, it will be
  necessary for you to have a knowledge of the
  truth of this work for yourselves. The
  difficulties will be of such a character that the
  man or woman who does not possess this personal
  knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not
  got the testimony, live right and call upon the
  Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do
  not you will not stand. . . . The time will
  come when no man nor woman will be able to endure
  on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided
  by the light within himself (Life of Heber C.
  Kimball, p. 450).

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• From this we can see that the whole human
  family . . . had this knowledge disseminated
  among them. . .so that God became an object of
  their faith.
• And the evidences which these men had of the
  existence of a God, was the testimony of their
  fathers in the first instance.
• . . . we have seen that it was human testimony,
  and human testimony only, that excited this
  inquiry. . .in their minds. It was the credence
  they gave to the testimony of their fathers, this
  testimony having aroused their minds to inquire
  after the knowledge of God (Joseph Smith,
  Lectures 233-34, 56).

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Principles of Receiving Strengthening Testimony

• 1) Testimony of Prophets (1 N. 14 107)
• 2) Read(hear), Ponder, Prayer (1 N. 15,11
  216 111)
• 3) Confirmation of Spirit (1 N. 16,8,12
  216-17)
• 4) Declare Testify (1 N. 116,18-19 1017)
• 5) Gratitude for Mercy (1 N. 114 1122)

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The End. . .