tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657886628632338305.post7740271946316139637..comments2023-06-25T08:38:35.477-07:00Comments on John's LDS Stuff: I "Know" The Church Is TrueJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08906843737815952211noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657886628632338305.post-44719591305697488242015-01-30T12:04:21.872-08:002015-01-30T12:04:21.872-08:00I agree with you. I don't normally respond to ...I agree with you. I don't normally respond to blogs but I want to in this case. I have always felt cultural pressure to say "I know" when speaking of gospel truths. It was probably all in my mind, but somehow I irrationally thought that if I didn't use those magic words somehow my testimony was faulty and my candidacy for exhaltation was affected. I now know more than ever that faith is the substance of things hoped for. And even if I don't "see" or experience the association with heavenly beings until the next life or whatever experience leads you to know "without a shadow of a doubt," my experiences (searching, reading, meditating, listening AND DOING) have helped me to strongly feel/believe that the gospel is true. Thanks for the thought provoking blog. <br />Matt HarwardHarward Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15294744536949981933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657886628632338305.post-77166132525014937052015-01-21T14:36:45.473-08:002015-01-21T14:36:45.473-08:00I think this is short-sighted and true at the same...I think this is short-sighted and true at the same time. (Is that even possible?) Here's why I say that, John - <br /><br />Knowledge comes from what? Reading? Meditating? Listening? Nope. It comes from experience. If you claim people can't 'know' things in their testimony, then you have to also claim they can't know things like water freezes at 32 degrees, the sun sets each night, et al. We KNOW these things because we observe them in our lives. We EXPERIENCE them for ourselves. Aside from the people in every ward that have "Orson Pratt" moments, it's unfair to claim people can't 'know' things they share in their testimony.<br /><br />Take me, for example. I can tell you that I KNOW the gospel is true. How can I say that? Because every time I live the gospel, I am happy. Zero exceptions. I KNOW that attending the temple makes us better people. How do I know? Because since I started going weekly, my disposition has changed (and even my kids notice the difference) On weeks when I miss, my patience is thinner and my mood is darker. No exception to that one either. If you experience something over and over, you absolutely can KNOW. <br /><br />Experience it one time and maybe there is some interpretation on our part (hence the likelihood for nutcase commentaries), but experience something over and over and you absolutely can KNOW, just as sure you know water will freeze at 32 degrees and the sun will rise in the morning.<br /><br />Maybe you should ask yourself the question "Do I KNOW this is true?" If the answer is anything but 'yes', maybe your next question should be "Why not?"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03679480964819939112noreply@blogger.com