When F&T goes wrong

[SamBee]

One of the things that first drew me to LDS was the F&T meetings. I had previously checked out the Quakers who as you may know make spontaneous talk or testimony a primary part of their service, "waiting on the Lord." Members sit quietly until someone is moved to get up and say a few words about anything that crosses their mind. I've usually found these spontaneous meetings more interesting and beneficial than planned sermons.

I've tried to attend Quaker meetings but for some reason it almost never happens. I even stay in a Quaker B&B when I visit a particular city and every time I've tried to go they've canceled!

I am told though that they suffer from similar problems to F&T. The same people get up, little time for others etc. And that some of them are bores. I'm sure some of it is inspiring, but I'm also sure that some use it to peddle some fashionable cause or other. Some people like the sound of their own voices.

[nibbler]

It just becomes boring! One can express the same sentiments in different words anyway.

We get so hung up on the Lord's Prayer but some of us produce the same testimony practically word on word.

If everyone will forgive some of the judgement I'm about to pass...

I feel like a large percentage of the cultural experience is peacocking loyalty to the church. There's a near obsession with the "strength" of one's testimony, bearing one's testimony is way to show the group where one stands.

Church doctrines are also correlated to the nth degree. I get the impression that testimonies are often the same because subconsciously we're afraid of saying something that is perceived to be wrong. We stay within the limits because we'd be embarrassed if we said something wrong.

I'll get a second bird involved... we also parrot. We might not have much to say but we may feel the need to bear our testimony so we get up and say things we've heard others say.

Incidentally, the word for word thing you mention is why prayers over food have lost all meaning to me. Some time ago a pre-Adamite crawled out of his cave, clubbed a brontosaurus, stood over its carcass and grunted "strengthen and nourish." Other pre-Adamites that witnessed the feat thought it sounded fancy so they started repeating it over and over. The rest is history.

[Minyan Man]

There was a F&T meeting within my 1st year after being baptized. The speaker was a Principle of a local public school.
Their son was in High School & had recently committed suicide. He (the father) was trying to "publicly" make sense of
what their family was going through. It was so sad to watch him trying to find the words & the faith to go on & couldn't.

What was most impressive was the way our Bishop gently approach this man & helped him to to seat. I'm sure there
were words spoken between them. The job of being Bishop is difficult especially in times like this. I could never be a
Bishop.

F&T are supposed to be uplifting, faith promoting & encouraging. At the same time there are people who are really
struggling with life. Along the way, they should also be understanding & compassionate. Even though this meeting wasn't
very comfortable to sit through, I will always remembers the compassion of our Bishop some 50 yrs ago.

(I didn't mean this to be a "downer".)

[Roy]

(I didn't mean this to be a "downer".)

Not at all. This is a wonderful example of lifting up those that are most in need.

[Minyan Man]

Another F&T Sunday again. I'm sorry to say, I cringe every 1st Sunday. This Sunday started before the meeting with
a friend who wanted to talk politics. I won't go into details. My blood pressure went up I'm sure. It is not a good way
to start a Sunday or any other day in the week.

On the assumptions that others go to F&T meetings:
- How do you get through it?
- Do you ever go to the podium & bear your testimony?
- Why do you do it?
- Please give me something to make this a more fulfilling experience.
(I'm thinking about reading during this time period.)

[Old-Timer]

1) I see F&T meeting as open mike day, so I go knowing there will be uplifting and frustrating moments. In my ward, the uplifting are more numerous than the frustrating - and I know the people in my ward are trying their best and are good people. That helps a lot.

2) Yes - and I focus on the core elements of the Gospel Jesus taught, like love, faith, grace, serving others, patience, gratitude, etc. I don’t do so to “counter” anyone else - or only after a difficult testimony. I do it about once every 3-4 months whenever I feel the urge.

3) I do it because I am part of the community and love the other people in that community. I also do it to share my perspectives, especially in ways that I believe are healthy.

4) Yesterday, my testimony was that our Heavenly Parents love all their children, individually, in this very moment, as they actually are - not just for who they will become - and that one of the challenges of mortality is to love ourselves and others that same way, even as we are trying to improve.

[Roy]

4) Yesterday, my testimony was that our Heavenly Parents love all their children, individually, in this very moment, as they actually are - not just for who they will become - and that one of the challenges of mortality is to love ourselves and others that same way, even as we are trying to improve.

Let all God's people say Amen!!!

[Minyan Man]

Amen.

Old-Timer, Please move into my ward.