Testimony Meeting

For those of you reader(s) who don't go to our church, the first Sunday of each month is set aside at our church for Fast and Testimony meeting. This means that those that are able, fast for 2 meals (no food or drink) and we donate that money that we would have used for food to the church for fast offering that goes to those who have a hard time affording food at all. On these Sundays, we also have a testimony meeting, which means that there are not people assigned to speak and anyone in the congregation can get up and bear (or bury as a most kids tend to say) their testimonies. As you can imagine, this is usually a very powerful meeting with lots of tears, especially on the part of those that are bearing their testimonies.

Last Sunday when it was time for testimonies, Garth (my husband) got up and walked out and I felt so great, thinking that he was about to bear his testimony, then he came back with a tithing slip in hand. I decided maybe I should get up if for no other reason than to set an example for my husband and son. I went up and bore my testimony that I am so grateful for the Gospel in my life and especially for the knowledge that families can be together forever. I am extremely grateful for this knowledge and I wanted to share.

I went to go sit down and another woman from our church got up and was tearfully bearing her testimony. When I sat beside Garth Lee he wanted to talk to me and I thought we were about to have a strong spiritual exchange, it went something like this:

"Mommy, why didn't you cry?"

"I guess I just didn't feel like crying."

"Mommy, you didn't do it right, you are supposed to cry!"

He wouldn't talk to me for the rest of the meeting, and he wanted Garth to walk him to primary. I guess it would be too embarrassing to be seen cavorting with one that doesn't know how to even bear testimony. Next time, even if I have to bring an onion, there will be tears by golly.