Testimonies are just words

“I know this gospel is true.”

What a weirdly simple sentence.

But behind that sentence is a whole wave of emotions and truths.

So sometimes I try to be more specific.

“I know that Jesus Christ lives and atoned for my sins.”

“I know that I have loving Parents in Heaven.”

“I know that families can be together forever.”

This is what it comes out as.

It’s really hard to put the enormity of what I feel into words.

The sentences sound much too simple when I say them.

Because even these statements carry deeper feelings and experiences to support them.

It’s the weird part about sharing testimonies, right?

Most of the time, the person speaking the actual words of the testimony is the only one who truly understands the uniquely complex and powerful intricacies of what they are trying to convey.

Because, really, how can you describe the Spirit?

We try.

I try.

But at the end of the day, I echo Ammon’s sentiments.

I can’t say (or write) the smallest part of what I feel.

Which is why we can’t transfer our testimonies to others, right?

I can’t describe everything I know and feel, and so I can’t pass that perfectly on to another person.

We try. We get as close as we can. We describe and share. We keep it simple.

But only the Spirit can really teach what the Spirit does.

So I keep trying to get close with my words. I try to at least describe a small part of what I feel.

But I fully rely on the Spirit to fill in the rest.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black