My Testimony Book
My house is like a black hole some times. I have lost thing and never seen them again. I have a book that I was reading, and one day it got picked up and I have never seen it again. It was interesting and I still want to read it. Some of these things that I can not find are from my LDS Mission to Ireland. Well the other day I was looking for old photos and I found something I had been looking for, for a long time. My Testimony Book.
Wikipedia explains that a Testimony is "a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter." It also points out that a Testimony for LDS people is a statement of what they belief, and in most cases the reason why they know it is true.
A Testimony book, is a notebook, in which you (many me) would get others to write a little message and let me know what and why the belief what they do. Most of these are from missionary to missionary, but anyone can write in it.
When I first got to Ireland, I noticed other missionaries passing around notebooks, and wondered what they were doing. This is when I found out about Testimony books and thought that this was a tradition that I want to keep in the mission. I do not know when it started in the mission and I do not know if it is something done in other missions around the world. I never asked. I wonder if
this tradition is still going on in Ireland today?
For me my Testimony Book was also somewhat a memory book for me. It is hard bond, so I knew it would last for a long time. So I listed all the areas I served in (11), companions that I served with (16), and how many people I helped join the church. I also put in there some pictures of some people that I was close to. The are also missionary cards, cards that have the missionaries home address and the mission address, and usually has a picture of a temple, and on the other side the 13 Articles of Faith. And the most import part, the Testimonies.
As I opened the book, the inside of the book has stickers from Kinder Eggs. The next page was my Companions page, some of them I have reconnected, some have disappeared and some just do not want to talk to me. The next page was people I help bring into the church. And then a page of Missionary Cards. Then the testimonies.
It was fun to go back and read what people had written 23to 25 years ago. I could honestly say that I laughed and cried and some of the things that were said. One person what me to give them the address to my cousin, who I had a picture of. Some testimonies were long, some were short. But all of them mean the world to me. I am glad I have found this book again, and will keep it in a safe place.
Wikipedia explains that a Testimony is "a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter." It also points out that a Testimony for LDS people is a statement of what they belief, and in most cases the reason why they know it is true.
A Testimony book, is a notebook, in which you (many me) would get others to write a little message and let me know what and why the belief what they do. Most of these are from missionary to missionary, but anyone can write in it.
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| My Testimony Book. The gold left on top is a picture of Mesa, Arizona Temple. |
this tradition is still going on in Ireland today?
For me my Testimony Book was also somewhat a memory book for me. It is hard bond, so I knew it would last for a long time. So I listed all the areas I served in (11), companions that I served with (16), and how many people I helped join the church. I also put in there some pictures of some people that I was close to. The are also missionary cards, cards that have the missionaries home address and the mission address, and usually has a picture of a temple, and on the other side the 13 Articles of Faith. And the most import part, the Testimonies.
As I opened the book, the inside of the book has stickers from Kinder Eggs. The next page was my Companions page, some of them I have reconnected, some have disappeared and some just do not want to talk to me. The next page was people I help bring into the church. And then a page of Missionary Cards. Then the testimonies.
It was fun to go back and read what people had written 23to 25 years ago. I could honestly say that I laughed and cried and some of the things that were said. One person what me to give them the address to my cousin, who I had a picture of. Some testimonies were long, some were short. But all of them mean the world to me. I am glad I have found this book again, and will keep it in a safe place.
Sounds like you found it at the perfect time......just the boost your tender heart needed!
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