Testimony

By Lara Goold

Materials needed: Scriptures, pieces of candy (or other small treat), glove.

Parental Preparation: A page of quotes from the Ensign have been included for you to study in preparation for teaching
this lesson.

Purpose: To teach family members the importance of having their own testimonies of the gospel and ways that they
can develop their own.

Scriptures: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in
the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent,
having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Moroni 10:4

Opening song and prayer: “Search, Ponder, and Pray”, Children’s Songbook, page 109

Attention Activity: Begin with a family discussion. Talk about family business or ask the children about their weeks.
Listen to a few comments and then say, “Just a minute, I’ve got this really good candy that I want to eat.”
Eat a piece of candy and tell them how good it is—really play it up. Then ask them to continue about
their week. Stop them again and do the candy thing over. Say, “This candy is so good, I just need to eat
another piece.” Then ask them who believes that the candy tastes good. Invite someone to come up and
have a piece of candy with you. Ask the child if the candy was good. Then, ask if your family believes
both of you that the candy is good. Then, give everybody a piece of candy and ask them to eat it. After
they eat, ask them if they think it was a good piece of candy. Then ask which they like better—having
you tell them that the candy was good or tasting it for themselves.

Relate: Tie the candy experience into having a testimony. We can listen to our parents, primary teachers,
and other leaders tell us that the church is true, but just like with the candy, it is so much sweeter when we
gain our own testimonies.

Lesson:
What is a testimony? “A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a
testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that
He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of
God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the
Savior's true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. With this
foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel.” From lds.org

How can we gain a testimony? Write the underlined words down on a chalkboard (or piece of paper).
1. First you must WANT one
2. We must ASK our Heavenly Father to help us gain a testimony.
3. We must want a testimony enough that we are willing to WORK to gain one.
4. We will ENJOY our testimony as we study and increase in our knowledge of the truth.
5. We must CARE for our testimony by keeping the commandments of our Heavenly Father.

Read “Tomato Seeds” with accompanying visuals about gaining and taking care of a testimony.
For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.
 Why do I need a testimony? (Boy and armor): Using the boy, armor, and accompanying sheet,
teach your family about the protection from sin that having a testimony offers.

What should our testimony consist of? Use the testimony glove activity to teach your family about the
five essential parts of a testimony and how that can help them as they bear their testimonies.

Why should we bear our testimonies? We should bear our testimonies when the Holy Ghost prompts us
to. Our testimonies are strengthened when we bear them. We should remember the five essential parts of
a testimony (from the glove activity) and keep our testimonies short and simple. You do not need to wait
for fast and testimony meetings to share your testimony. You can write it out in your journal, share it
privately with your parents, or to your whole family in family home evening.

Activities:
Testimony Wheel: Use it to review what you’ve learned about testimonies and maybe keep it in your
Sunday bag as a quiet activity during church.

Enrichment/Challenge:

Family testimony meeting: As the spirit guides, bear your testimony to your children. Encourage, but do
not force, them to do likewise. In our family, we have found that it takes the pressure off them if you ask
them to share something meaningful that has happened to them or something significant that they have
learned at church. For our children, who are a little on the shy side, it gives them a starting place and we
have been amazed at the profound thoughts they have shared with us—thoughts I’m not sure we would
have heard had we just insisted that they bear their testimony.

Additional scriptures: D & C 62:3, Ether 4:11,

Faith Journals: Provide notebooks and pens and encourage the children to use it as a place to record
times when they’ve felt the spirit in their lives. This can be a great way for them to record instances that
have strengthened their testimonies and give them a private place to record their testimonies.

Plant seeds: Like Adam in the story, “Tomato Seeds,” plant seeds and be willing to follow through with
nourishing them and helping them to grow, while reminding them of how it relates to nourishing our
testimonies.

Closing song and prayer: “I Know My Father Lives”, Children’s Songbook, page 5

Refreshments: see below for a fun treat recipe.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Testimony Cookies

2/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups (12-oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking
soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Add chocolate chips.

Shape into 1-inch balls and place 2-inches apart on greased baking sheets Bake at 350° for 8-10
minutes or until lightly browned. Cool before removing from baking sheet. Enjoy!

**************************************************************************

FLOUR: is like the scriptures, providing a strong foundation for our testimonies
BAKING SODA: is like bearing our testimonies. When we bear our testimony to others, it helps
our testimony to rise.
SALT: is like service to others. Sometimes our small acts of service don’t seem like much, but if
they’re missing, their absence is greatly noticed.
SUGAR: is like our families, providing “sweet” love in our lives fo that our testimonies can grow.
EGGS: are like faith. Believing in something we can’t see, like believing that there will be a
yellow yolk inside each egg, is an important part of our testimonies.
BUTTER/SHORTENING: is like prayer, it makes everything smoother in our lives.
VANILLA: is like church attendance. Worshipping with our friends allows us opportunities to
share our talents and experiences, thus adding extra “flavor” to our testimonies.
CHOCOLATE CHIPS: are like the blessings we receive from living the gospel.

As you mix the ingredients together, explain to the children that by having and using all of the ingredients in
our lives (scriptures, bearing testimonies, service, family, love, faith, prayer, and church attendance), we can
enjoy the many blessings of the gospel. As you pass out the cookies, talk about how much sweeter these
cookies are when you share them instead of keeping them to yourself.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Tomato Seeds
When Adam got to the car that Sunday after Primary he had a big smile on his face.

“Look Mom and Dad. Look what I got in Primary today! I have my own seeds. [SHOW PACKET
OF SEEDS] My teacher told me that we could plant them and watch them grow. After you plant them
you have to take really good care of them and then, after a long time, we can have tomatoes.”

“Why did Sister Tippets want you to grow tomatoes?” Dad asked.

“ Sister Tippets told us it’s like planting a testimony seed. She said if we watched our vegetables grow
and learned how to take care of them, it would also teach us about growing our testimonies. She also
says that when our vegetables are ripe, we need to bring some to share with the class,” Adam eagerly
answered.

He continued, “Can you help me to plant and take care of my seeds?”

Pretty soon, the whole family was pitching in to help Adam.

Dad helped prepare the soil. [SHOW SHOVEL PICTURE]

Emma showed Adam how to drop the seeds into the ground and cover them with just enough dirt to
grow. [SHOW HAND DROPPING IN SEEDS]

Spencer taught Adam how to water them [SHOW WATERING PICTURE] and Ellie promised to show
Adam how to tell the tiny plants from the weeds. [SHOW WEEDING WITH HOE PICTURE]

Even though it was hard work, everyone helped Adam like they had promised and all summer long
Adam watched his tomato plant grow. First they were little yellow blossoms, then tiny green tomatoes
that grew and finally turned red. One day he picked a whole basket of juicy, red tomatoes.[SHOW
ADAM WITH BASKET OF TOMATOES] Then Mom helped Adam put them into bottles so they
would last all winter long. [SHOW BOTTLES OF TOMATOES]

Adam took his tomatoes to class. He told his teacher and his class how he learned to grow tomatoes
and how his family had helped him.

Adam had learned that to grow tomatoes you had to prepare the soil, plant the seed, weed, and water
them. And still, that wasn’t enough. If the tomatoes were to last very long, they had to be carefully
bottled. Most of all he learned that testimonies, like tomatoes, needed to be carefully cared for if they
were to grow. And the best way to grow a testimony was just like he grew tomatoes—with the help of
his family and friends.
For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.
Tomato Seeds—cut out and use where indicated in the story

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Tomato Seeds—cut out and use where indicated in the story

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Why do I need a testimony?
“When you have a testimony, you know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. In the scriptures, we are told
that one of the blessings of the gospel is protection from sin—like wearing armor to protect your body.”

“Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye
may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.” Doctrine and Covenants
27:15

“Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come
forth out of obscurity and arise from the dust.” 2 Nephi 1:23

*A testimony of the gospel means that we talk to Heavenly Father in prayer. We get to know Heavenly Father
and learn that he listens to us and speaks to us. Knowing that Heavenly Father loves us helps us feel close to
him. (Put on leg armor)

*A testimony of the gospel means that we obey the principles of the Word of Wisdom, and that will help protect
our physical body. (Put on leg armor)

*A testimony of the gospel means that we know our family will always love us, and that protects us from
feeling alone. (Put on chest plate)

*A testimony of the gospel means that we want to help others. Service to others protects us from being selfish.
(Put on arm armor)

*A testimony of the gospel means that we take the Sacrament and promise to obey the commandments. By
obeying the commandments, we receive many blessings that protect us on our path to Heavenly Father. (Put on
arm armor)

*A testimony of the gospel means that we study the scriptures and listen to the prophet. By having knowledge
of the true gospel principles, we are protected from wrong information, and we can make wise decisions in our
lives. (Put on helmet)

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Why do I need a testimony? Print, cut, and attach top to bottom with a metal brad. Affix sticky backed Velcro to indicated places (or just use tape) to
attach armor during the lesson.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Why do I need a testimony? Print, cut, and attach top to bottom with a metal brad. Affix sticky backed Velcro to indicated places (or just use tape) to
attach armor during the lesson.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Why do I need a testimony? Print and cut. If desired affix sticky backed Velcro to backs of each piece of armor or just use tape.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Why do I need a testimony? Print and cut. If desired affix sticky backed Velcro to backs of each piece of armor or just use tape.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

What should our testimony consist of? Print and cut out the small pictures and affix them to a glove (or if you don’t have
gloves, then have the kids trace their hands and cut around them). You may want to think of making enough testimony gloves for
every member of the family.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Testimony Wheel: Cut out around edges and in the “windows”. Affix front to back with metal brad.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Testimony Wheel: Cut out around edges. Affix front to back with metal brad.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.

Parental Preparation: Below are a couple of quotes from the Ensign about the importance of teaching your children
about testimonies. You may find these helpful in preparing spiritually for teaching this lesson.

Quote from Elder Bednar: “We also can become more diligent and concerned at home by bearing testimony
to those whom we love about the things we know to be true by the witness of the Holy Ghost. The bearing of
testimony need not be lengthy or eloquent. And we do not need to wait until the first Sunday of the month to
declare our witness of things that are true. Within the walls of our own homes, we can and should bear pure
testimony of the divinity and reality of the Father and the Son, of the great plan of happiness, and of the
Restoration… Feeling the power, the edification, and the constancy of testimony from a spouse, a parent, or a
child is a rich blessing. Such testimony fortifies faith and provides direction. Such testimony generates light in a
world that grows increasingly dark. Such testimony is the source of an eternal perspective and of enduring
peace. We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we bear testimony—and consistently live it.”

“As parents, we should help children understand that bearing a testimony is a spiritual experience and
that it is not a means of attracting personal attention. We should teach them that bearing their
testimony is sharing their love and experiences, that it is a means of learning of and expressing
gratitude for the Savior, that it can make them feel good as they express their feelings about their
blessings. To mimic others prevents the child from understanding what a true testimony is and may
lead him to think he has a testimony as soon as he can use the vocabulary of a testimony .”
Emerson R. West (December 1993, Ensign)

Q. What should I teach my children about bearing their testimonies?

Susan Zmolek, “Questions and Answers,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 14–15

Children cannot learn these true principles just by listening to the varied expressions of adults in testimony
meeting. Parents need to use family home evening and private conversations to teach children about
testimonies. An easy way to begin is to ask—perhaps at bedtime—what a testimony is. Parents have a
responsibility to help their children enlarge their understanding, year by year, until they know what is
appropriately included in a testimony.

A six-year-old can learn simple concepts—for example, that it is not appropriate for him to bear his testimony
every fast meeting. A child can understand that the phrase “I love my Mommy”—however pleasing the
thought—is not a testimony of the gospel. A child can also learn to say what is in his heart, rather than use
routine expressions which lose meaning through repetition. If taught since childhood, a youth can understand
the difference between a faith-promoting experience and what “really went on” at camp.

When should a child bear his testimony? Many children mistakenly believe that fast meeting is their only
opportunity to bear testimony. By example, parents can show them many other private opportunities. If parents
frequently bear testimony to particular gospel principles in the course of family conversation, children likely
will also express their feelings in conversations about the gospel. If dad relates at the dinner table how he bore
his testimony of living prophets to a coworker, his children will be encouraged to share what they know with
their nonmember friends. Parents can also provide regular opportunities to bear testimony in family home
evening.

For more ready-to-print FHE lessons visit http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com.