Typically, on the first Sunday of the month, sacrament meeting is a fast and testimony meeting. (The actual date may vary due to general conference and stake conference.) Anyone in attendance, as guided by the Holy Ghost, is invited to share a brief testimony.
No one is obligated to bear their testimony. In fact, you may find this meeting more meaningful as you sincerely listen to others’ testimonies and feel the presence of the Spirit bearing witness of the truths others share.
What is a “testimony”?
A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves us; that Jesus Christ lives, that he is the Son of God, and that he carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that we are led by a living prophet today; and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true church on the earth. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel.1
How do you share your testimony?
To bear testimony means to declare gospel truths as inspired by the Holy Ghost.2
In this meeting and in conversations you have with family members and friends, you may feel prompted to share your testimony. In such instances, remember that you do not need to share a long, impressive discourse. Your testimony will be most powerful when it is expressed as a brief, heartfelt conviction about the Savior, his teachings, and the Restoration. Pray for guidance, and the Spirit will help you know how to express the feelings in your heart. You will find great joy as you help others share in the hope and assurance the Lord has given you.3
If you choose to share your testimony, as prompted by the Holy Ghost, you may find these pointers helpful:
- Testimonies should be brief so that many people can participate.4 Generally, 2–3 minutes should be sufficient.
- This meeting should end promptly at noon. This means the last testimony shared should end no later than 11.55am to allow time for the closing hymn and prayer.
- Reverence is an essential part of our church meetings. It is also vital to feeling the Holy Ghost — and to helping others feel the Spirit. For this reason, Latter-day Saints do not applaud or make other loud sounds during our Sunday services. However, it is appropriate to respond with a vocal “amen” when a speaker ends his/her talk or testimony.
- Focus on the Savior Jesus Christ, his Atonement, and the truths of his gospel as restored through modern prophets. You should share stories and personal experiences only when they have directly helped you gain a testimony of gospel principles.
An apostle’s counsel
In the April 2023 general conference, President M. Russell Ballard (1928–2023), then acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught:
Often in our testimony meetings on fast Sundays, we hear the phrases “I am thankful” and “I love” more than we hear the phrases “I know” and “I believe.”
I invite you to bear your testimony of Jesus Christ more often. Bear testimony of what you know and believe and what you feel, not just of what you are thankful for. Testify of your own experiences of coming to know and love the Savior, of living His teachings, and of His redemptive and enabling power in your life. As you bear testimony of what you know, believe, and feel, the Holy Ghost will confirm the truth to those who earnestly listen to your testimony. They will do so because they have watched you become a peaceful follower of Jesus Christ. They will see what it means to be His disciple. They will also feel something they may not have felt before. A pure testimony comes from a changed heart and can be carried by the power of the Holy Ghost into the hearts of others who are open to receive it.
Those who feel something as a result of your testimony may then ask the Lord in prayer to confirm the truth of your testimony. Then they can know for themselves.5
