How to say “I know” without saying “I know”
11:09 PM
Perhaps the most repeated beginning to a sentence in the
Church is “I know that…” Those who hear this testimony should understand that
the testimony bearer is not claiming to have empirically proven the Church true
but rather has had a spiritual witness confirming the veracity and utility of
the gospel in his life. For so many, this gospel as taught through scriptures,
prophets, apostles, and revelation from God himself has brought peace and joy
and love and conviction that lead a person to say, “I know this Church is
true.” This simple testimony on the lips of so many people across the world
should certainly count in the cosmic balance of witnesses as to the verity of
this gospel and this Church.
There are others, however, that hear the phrase “I know” and
feel frustration, dismay, or even disaffection. Some feel saddened that they
have not arrived at such a conviction. Some angrily argue that no one can
really know what so many claim to know. Still others feel frustration that,
despite their best efforts, they have not been given the kind of proof so many
seem to have that the Church is true. To any who feel any of these emotions,
and even to those who “know”, consider Alma’s teachings to the Zoramites which
provide possible answers, peace, and enlightenment.
To a group of
Zoramites who had no or little faith because they felt themselves inadequate and God inaccessible, Alma preached a wonderful and wonderfully popular
sermon on what he calls the “experiment” of faith. A person may figure out if a
particular teaching is true by figuratively planting that teaching in his or
her heart. If that teaching is true it will, like a seed planted in the earth, sprout,
grow, blossom, and bear fruit which will strengthen and solidify faith,
facilitate knowledge, and provide an individual the fruit of “everlasting life”
(Alma 32:41). While the fruit of the tree is the ultimate goal of the whole
experiment, the first question is whether or not that seed is good, whether or
not it’s even worth planting.
To answer this question, Alma explained that a seed, if planted, allowed to grow, and not “cast out” by a person’s unbelief, will do four things if it is “a true seed, or a good seed.” He said, “it will begin to swell within your breasts . . . it beginneth to enlarge [your] soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten [your] understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to [you]” (Alma 32:28). Each one of these four gauges can be used a litmus test, of sorts, to gauge the true-ness or the goodness of a particular teaching, especially if asked to oneself in optimism and honesty.
- Swell - Many describe their spiritual response to gospel truth as a burning or, as Alma called it, a swelling within the chest, almost as if the spiritual heart has to expand to incorporate the truth and house the confirmation of the Spirit. This should not be confused with emotional responses; spiritual responses to not necessarily elicit outward signs of emotion. However, a person may appropriately ask themselves: “When I listen to and then act on this teaching, do I feel a change within my spiritual center?”
- Enlarge - Often, spiritual responses to gospel truths engender within the soul an enlarged desire and ability to do good and be good. Many feel this in the wake of General Conference, in-depth scripture study, testimony meetings, or a host of other experiences. In these moments the Spirit of God confirms truth and then whispers applications specific to the individual and, as Moroni wrote, “every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (7:16). Thus a person may ask, “Do I feel more inclined to do and be good because of this teaching?"
- Enlighten - In addition to confirming truth and inviting application, the Spirit can bring light to an individual’s understanding. This may come as a sudden comprehension of a particular gospel truth, the spark of a connection between truth and one’s own life, or the deeper understanding of one’s own relationship with God and the specific changes that relationship mandates. Someone might speak of having a lightbulb or an “Aha!” moment which might indicate the presence of the spirit and the indication of goodness and truth. Often a person can ask the simple question, “Does this doctrine help me make sense of the world I live in and make sense of my life?”
- Delicious - Sometimes a person may know something is good simply because it “tastes good.” It may not be a sudden enlightenment, nor necessarily a behaviorally or spiritually motivating feeling. Sometimes all it takes to know something is good is a simple taste, a simple moment where the Spirit can touch a heart and confirm that the doctrine being learned, listened to, or acted upon is good and from God. Remember, the whole point of planting a seed is to get the fruit. Thus, a person can ask, “Is this teaching good? Does it make me feel good? Am I happier because or would I be happier if this was true?”
Conveniently, the first letter in each of these words Alma
provides spell the word “S.E.E.D.” Much more importantly, these four indicators
(and there are many others; see for example Paul’s discourse in Galatians 5 on
the fruits of the Spirit) illustrate that the truthfulness of the gospel can be
experienced in many different ways.
Certainly a person may state his or her testimony by saying,
“I know…” However, a person might just as well state their testimony in terms
of things he or she believes, feels, trusts, enjoys, understands or
experiences. Broadening the language of testimony might disabuse many of the
notion that a mental understanding is the end goal of gospel study and living.
Rather, we seek to study and live the gospel so that we might experience more
peace and happiness now and power and joy in the eternities. Thus we can say,
with conviction, “I feel joy when I pray to God with my family,” or “I trust
prophets and apostles to help me better follow Christ,” or “I understand how
important and necessary the Atonement of Jesus Christ is in my life,” or maybe
just, “I find this gospel to be good.”
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