Comments on: “Crap, I’m apologizing for my Mormonism again. Sorry.”

By: William Morris

William Morris — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:19:15 +0000

In Soviet Russia the AP papers mark out you.

By: Th.

Th. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:57:06 +0000

If your testimony was an AP paper I would take my pen and mark out all the “I believe”s and “I think”s and “I know”s etc. And then I would yell (comically), “I don’t CARE what you believe! I just want to know what IS!”

By: William Morris

William Morris — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:27:43 +0000

I agree. I don’t bear my testimony often, but when I do it’s often in simple declarative statements and expressions of personal, subjective experience.

By: S.P. Bailey

S.P. Bailey — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:03:36 +0000

The construction “I testify that …” also avoids the “I know/I believe” quagmire. And it sounds cool.

By: Jonathan Langford

Jonathan Langford — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:38:16 +0000

Chiming in late as usual…

A good conversation. I particularly like RecessionCone’s comment (#19). “Ultimately we must choose to nurture our faith in the face of our doubts.” Well said!

I think there’s value in avoiding the phrases “I know” or “I believe” in favor of more direct expressions of experience when that’s possible. E.g.: “I have experienced answers to prayers. I have felt the Holy Ghost giving me comfort. My life is richer for having the gospel in it. I have felt the witness of the Spirit.” Ultimately, phrasing it that way leaves it up to the reader/listener to decide whether to agree with my interpretation, or politely believe that I must simply be fooling myself.

By: Th.

Th. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:39:31 +0000

I got the crazy.

By: William Morris

William Morris — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:40:20 +0000

Yep. But the rates are crazy high.

By: Th.

Th. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:08:56 +0000

I can see I need to hire a PR firm. Know anyone good?

By: Wm Morris

Wm Morris — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:45:44 +0000

Well, since hate comes from fear, we’d have to fear you to hate you, Theric. And I just don’t see that happening.

By: Theric Jepson

Theric Jepson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:44:43 +0000

Crap, I’m apologizing for my bad typing again. Sorry.

I just noticed I committed the worst of all possible sins. The “crazy doctrines” quote was missing a word. If it didn’t make sense before, please reread.

Sheez. I hate myself.

(Feel free to hate me also, but send it to me personally; don’t post it here.)