My testimony grows when I
share it with my friends and hear
the testimonies of others


 

What is a testimony?

It is the personal knowledge given to each of us who seek it that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real, that They love us, that the prophets speak in Their name, that the scriptures really are the word of God, that the priesthood is the power and authority of God, given to worthy men to help us, that the Church is true, and that Joseph Smith restored it in our day.

Tell the children that there are many ways we can learn things.  Invite 5 children to sit in chairs, facing the rest of the children.

Child 1 - Ask the first child, “How many children are in the class on the first row?” (or another question related to something he can see).

Child 2 - Stand behind the second child and blow a whistle or ring a bell without letting her see. Ask her what she heard and why she thinks that’s what it is.

Child 3 - Blindfold the third child and ask him to touch a piece of sandpaper or soap. Ask what he felt.

Child 4 - Have the fourth close her eyes tightly and smell a lemon or other recognizable smell. Ask her to identify it.

Child 5 - Have the fifth child close his eyes and taste a chocolate chip or salty popcorn. Ask what it was.

Explain that our senses are important tools for gathering information about the world. There are other important ways we can know things.

Ask if any of the children believe that their families love them. How do we know this? (by the things they do, by the feelings we have). Ask if any of the children have a good feeling about reading the Book of Mormon by themselves or with their families. Those good feelings are the beginning of a witness that the Book of Mormon is true.

Another way we can know something is through the power of the Holy Ghost. Read Moroni 10:5 with the children. When the Holy Ghost testifies to us, we can know the truth even more surely than when we rely on our senses.

SING: “The Holy Ghost” (CS, p. 105)

What are some of the important things that the Holy Ghost will witness to us as we pray, keep the commandments, and continue to grow in the gospel?
 

Have the children post the following word strips: Heavenly Father lives. Jesus Christ is the Savior. Joseph Smith is a prophet. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. There is a living prophet today [name him].

Explain that just as the five helpers used their senses to help me out earlier, you too can use your spiritual senses and work on developing your own personal testimony.  As you take opportunities to share it with others, it will grow stronger.

Summary: Bear your own testimony briefly that these things are true and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love the children and will help them to gain testimonies of their own.
 

Optional Idea from the September 1999 Friend:
 

In a bag or box, assemble a picture of Jesus Christ, a picture of Joseph Smith, a Book of Mormon, and a picture of the living prophet. Tell the children that we are going to talk about our testimonies. Have a child take a picture or object out of the bag. As each thing is taken, ask questions and/or sing songs about it, then help the children understand what they already know or feel about it. E.g.,
 

• Sing “I Know My Father Lives” (p. 5) [We have a Father in Heaven; He lives today; we are His children; He hears our prayers.]

• Jesus Christ—ask, “What did He do for us?” “What did He teach us?” [He died for us and atoned for our sins if we repent; He taught us to love one another as He loves us.]

• Joseph Smith—ask, “What happened when the Prophet Joseph prayed in the Sacred Grove?” “What did he do with the gold plates when he got them four years later?” [He saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ; he translated the Book of Mormon.]

• Book of Mormon—sing “Book of Mormon Stories” (CS, pp. 118–119) and ask, “What is it about, and whom do all the prophets in it testify of?” [It has true stories of real people; Jesus Christ, our Savior.]

• Living prophet—ask, “Who is our prophet today?” and sing “Follow the Prophet” (CS, pp. 110–111) [Name the prophet and talk about how he guides us today.]
 

Help the children understand the feelings they have in their hearts when the Holy Ghost testifies (see Gal. 5:22–23; D&C 6:22–23). When the Holy Ghost is with us, we have a spirit of love and peace in our hearts. Often we want to share our feelings, or testimonies, with others.