Thank you...You're Awesome! ...No, You're Awesome! No, no...You're Awesome...

In the LDS Church we have a meeting called Fast and Testimony Meeting. It is generally the first Sunday of each month. It is a meeting where we are invited to share our feelings about the Savior and the blessings of the gospel. Too often it turns in to a “Thank-ta-mony” meeting instead of a Testimony meeting. People will get up and say how grateful they are for this or that—almost as if they were simply saying a prayer to the congregation. “I'm thankful for all the nice people. I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for my wonderful parents and for all they do for me....” And eventually they will get to the part where they say they are thankful for the Savior and their testimony of Him. They forget that they have not shared much about what their testimony really IS concerning their Savior.

We get into such a habit of giving Thank-ta-monies that some are offended or left out if they are not mentioned. I have a friend whose husband was very offended that she did not say how much she loved him from the pulpit. SHE actually shared her Testimony! She spoke only of the Savior and her feelings about Him. Why do we feel we need to go through the list of thank-you-you're-wonderful's to people who are easily approached and thanked one on one? Yes, her husband is (supposedly) a blessing but that is not what constitutes a testimony. Yes, it is great to share what we are grateful for, but perhaps those things may be better expressed directly to the people involved. You may think I'm bitter because I am rarely—if ever—in one of those lists of wonderful people that people are thankful for in front of the whole congregation. Would it be great to have my name mentioned? Sure! But, that does not constitute a Testimony.

I've been thinking about this little concept of publicly proclaimed “your wonderfulnesses” lately. Although my life is full and busy and I try to focus on helping people and making memories with my loved ones, I can see why it is important to focus our testimony meetings upon the Savior rather than the list of things for which we are grateful. Other people may not have those blessings that you're so eager to tell everyone that you do have; other people do not have people who appreciate them as you are appreciated; other people who are listening often feel out of place, like they've missed the boat of wonderfulnesses.

But! A testimony does not depend upon the size of your house or the number of children you have or how handsome and kind and loving your husband may be or even the weather! A Testimony is an equalizer. It is focused on the same being and HIS greatness. Anyone can have a testimony regardless of any other circumstances in their life. We can all know that He hears our prayers. We can all know that He is our Savior who taught, through example, how to live a better life. We can all know that He both lived and died for you—you personally. We can all know of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the list goes on...but it is centered on Christ. That is a testimony.

I have a hard time with Facebook. When I go on, it brings feelings to me that say that I'm not enough to one person or another because they rarely mention the things I do for or with them...but they are always commenting about how awesome others are...pitiful, aren't I.  Sad to say, but that is why I avoid Facebook. Anyway, today I have been feeling like our Testimony Meetings can often be like Facebook. I can see why we are counseled to focus on the Savior and share our Testimonies rather than our Thank-ta-monies.

By the way...if you have got this far in reading this post, please do not take this as a hint that I want more compliments and thank you's. I am just sharing an observation and as long as I don't begin to compare my faults with others' perfectness on Facebook, I'm good...