Here are three articles from Church magazines that show the church acknowledging that Moronoi’s promise is not perfect and that many with real intent don’t get answers to their sincere heart prayers. These articles show that many do not receive the promised spiritual experience or manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Maybe it’s just that the individuals in these stories are better at not following their confirmation bias, or associating their induced elevated emotion or burning in their bosom as being from God. In these articles, the church sets the expectation that even with no answer, we should simply choose to believe in the truthfulness of the church claims. We should find ways to make these beliefs work for us, even when the promised paths to spiritual confirmation does not work – we should believe, not despite the lack of evidence, but despite the evidence to the contrary.
The church shares these stories and explains that we shouldn’t worry about the lack of response in these cases. We should choose to believe anyway. This is symptomatic of cult-like brain-washing techniques. These articles are aimed at young impressionable minds and they are told not to question why Moroni’s Promise didn’t work for them, but to just believe anyway. Despite the lack of evidence, they are still expected to believe or at least pretend to believe until they can convince themselves that they believed all along.
This is not new practice from the church, it is even codified in the scriptures. Members are encouraged that some are given the “gift” to believe or know, and others are given the gift to believe that others know, and both can be faithful and earn eternal life.
13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
Docrine and Covenants 46:13-14
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/46?lang=eng&id=p13-p14#p13
Members are expected to believe in the church despite all the evidence to the contrary. We are not to use critical thinking, open minds, evidence or even to research our doubts. The message is clear, close your eyes, choose to believe, and stay in line. This is worse than blind faith, it is faith despite seeing the issues with our eyes open. They ask not for blind faith, but blind stupidity. The single end goal is that members stay in the church and respect the authority of the church leadership.
Waiting for My Testimony
The answer to my prayers wasn’t a sudden flash of inspiration. It just took time.
“This time, I’m really going to do it,” I told myself. “This time, I’m going to make it all the way through the Book of Mormon.”
In the past I had read a chapter here, a chapter there, but now I wanted to say I’d read it from cover to cover. “I’ll put Moroni’s promise to the test,” I told myself, eager to get started. “I’ll finally learn whether the Church is true.”
For the next 90 days, I diligently devoured the book’s contents. Exultant with joy as I closed with Moroni’s farewell and amen, I scrambled to my knees.
Brimming with anticipation, I posed my question: Was the Book of Mormon true? As I waited for a response, a cricket chirped. The air conditioner switched on. My watch intrusively ticked off the seconds as they passed. There was no burning bosom sensation, no chorus of angels, no flash of knowing. Nothing.
I was somewhat perplexed. “Do I just need to read the book again?” I thought to myself. “I guess it couldn’t hurt.”
Three months later, again finishing with Moroni’s testimony, I leapt to the floor, doubly sure I’d done my part, doubly sure an answer would come. But my hopes were disappointed when, as before, my inquiry was met with silence. Unsure of what else to do, I got off my knees and started over. Again. But even after a third reading, there came no reply. I was confused. Where was the answer I’d been promised?
Not to be defeated, I picked up my scriptures, now with a fraying front cover, full of red highlighted verses and with random pages beginning to slip from the binding. “Okay,” I said to myself, “once more.”
When at last I finished the book for the fourth time in a 12-month period, I didn’t immediately drop to my knees. I sat for some time, reflecting on the year. Truly, it had been a remarkable period of growth and change. I smiled, noting to myself that it was common these days for me to feel happy.
I thought about friendships I had formed with wonderful peers who strengthened my faith. I thought about how my family relationships had taken a dramatic turn for the better. I hadn’t fought with my siblings in months, and my parents and I seemed to communicate with amazing ease. What’s more, schoolwork seemed less stressful, odd jobs had been available to provide extra income, and even my physical fitness had improved.
But the most significant change had been in my spirit. I now looked forward to attending church, gladly paid tithes, fasted and prayed with much greater faith, and could list many times when the Spirit had prompted me to avoid danger, express kindness, or voice truth.
All told, there was little in my life that wasn’t drastically better now than it had been just 12 months earlier. “That’s so cool!” I said out loud, slipping to my knees.
Bowing my head, I couldn’t even ask the question. “I get it,” I said to the Lord. “I get it. The truth of this book isn’t always manifest in burning bosoms and visions of angels; it’s manifest in the lives of the people who read it and put it to use. I don’t need to ask anymore if this book is true. I experience its truth every day I live its teachings.”
This wasn’t the answer I had anticipated when I first set out to put Moroni’s promise to the test. It was far better. The Lord could have given me a single flash of confirming peace. Instead, He had given me a whole year of it.
Waiting for My Testimony, by Caroline LeDuc – New Era, February 2010
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2010/02/waiting-for-my-testimony
https://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/new-era-february-2010/2010-02-00-new-era-eng.pdf#page=34
This describes a year-long journey of reading the Book of Mormon four times in search of a divine confirmation of its truth. Initially, after the first reading, the author expected a dramatic spiritual experience, such as a burning bosom or an angelic vision, as a sign from God. Despite diligently reading and praying, these expected manifestations never occurred, leading to confusion. The author then repeats the attempts to elicit a clear answer, another three times!
However, the author gradually shifts their perspective, interpreting positive changes in their life—such as improved relationships, increased happiness, and spiritual growth—as indirect confirmations of the book’s truth. This interpretation highlights the role of confirmation bias, where the author interprets any positive outcome as evidence supporting their belief in the Book of Mormon. Instead of considering the possibility that these improvements more likely stem from various factors unrelated to the book’s truth, the author sees them as a direct result of their faith and religious practices. This narrative illustrates how deeply held beliefs can shape one’s interpretation of experiences, reinforcing preexisting convictions even in the absence of the originally sought-after signs.
An Unexpected Answer
I was hoping for an overwhelming spiritual confirmation, but it did not come.
I’ve noticed a lot of times when I’ve picked up a Church magazine or listened to the testimonies of others, people often share experiences when they’ve been overcome by the Spirit after asking Heavenly Father a particular question, specifically if the Book of Mormon is true. Spiritual experiences are amazing; I love reading about them.
However, I think many people get the wrong impression that if they don’t receive an overpowering response to their question that somehow their testimony must not be strong enough. In my experience, the Spirit more often comes in a quiet, soft way rather than a metaphorical lightning bolt of truth.
Last summer the youth in our ward were challenged to read the entire Book of Mormon. Eventually the summer came to an end, and I finished the Book of Mormon. As I kneeled to pray and asked if the book was true, I remember thinking that this was it-I would finally have the experience that everyone seems to talk about where they are overcome by the Spirit.
The truth is, when I prayed, I didn’t feel that way. At first I was a little upset. Why hadn’t I received such a witness? Was I not worthy? But I soon realized that though many people might feel the Spirit confirming truth to them very strongly when they pray about the Book of Mormon, there are many others who don’t have that same experience. Just because you may not receive an extremely strong confirmation does not mean the Book of Mormon isn’t true or that your testimony is not as strong as someone else’s. It simply means that the Spirit can speak to people in different ways and at different times.
For me, this experience taught me that we don’t always receive answers in the way we expect. I thought I would feel an overpowering spiritual impression after I prayed about the Book of Mormon-but I didn’t. Honestly, I believe I already knew it was true.
Though I may not have felt the Spirit very strongly at that time, I knew I had felt it while reading about Alma’s conversion and about Ammon and his brothers bringing thousands of Lamanites to the gospel, and about Christ teaching the Nephites after His Resurrection. I realized that feeling the Spirit while reading different parts of the Book of Mormon also confirmed to me that the entire book was true.
I believe this same message is applicable to any part of the gospel. The things we know can help us accept the things we may not fully understand. I know that this gospel is true, and I know that we can all gain testimonies if we work at it.
The Still Small Voice
“We should recognize that the Lord will speak to us through the Spirit in his own time and in his own way. … In most cases, ‘his own way’ is not the thunderous interruption or the blinding light, but what the scriptures call ‘the still small voice’ (1 Kgs. 19:12; 1 Ne. 17:45; D&C 85:6). Some have misunderstood this principle. As a result, some have looked exclusively for the great manifestations that are recorded in the scriptures and have failed to recognize the still, small voice that is given to them. This is like making up our minds that we will learn only from a teacher who shouts and that we will refuse to listen to even the wisest teaching when it comes in a whisper.
“We need to know that the Lord rarely speaks loudly. His messages almost always come in a whisper.” – Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 7.
An Unexpected Answer, By Amy Carpenter, New Era, February 2011
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2011/02/an-unexpected-answer
https://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/new-era-february-2011/2011-02-00-new-era-eng.pdf#page=38
Here the author reflects on their experience of seeking a spiritual confirmation of the Book of Mormon’s truth, expecting an overwhelming response from the Holy Spirit. Despite their diligent efforts and prayer, the anticipated overpowering spiritual confirmation did not materialize. Initially upset and questioning their worthiness, the author later rationalized the absence of a dramatic spiritual experience by acknowledging that the Spirit can communicate in subtle and varied ways.
From a critical perspective, this narrative again exemplifies confirmation bias. The author, despite not receiving the spiritual witness they expected, still interprets their experiences in a way that reaffirms their pre-existing belief in the Book of Mormon. They recall feeling the Spirit during specific passages of the book and use these instances as indirect confirmation of its overall truthfulness. This selective recall and interpretation of experiences that support their belief, while disregarding the lack of the sought-after confirmation, illustrates how confirmation bias reinforces existing beliefs.
The conclusion that the truth of the Book of Mormon can be confirmed through indirect experiences, such as emotional reactions to certain stories, highlights a cognitive dissonance resolution. By redefining what constitutes a spiritual confirmation, the author maintains their belief system without addressing the discrepancy between their expectations and actual experiences. This approach allows the author to sustain their faith by finding evidence that aligns with their beliefs, even when the direct confirmation they sought was absent.
Gaining and Keeping a Testimony
A testimony generally comes slowly, over time, as you work to help it grow.
Maybe you were baptized when you were eight years old and you’ve been going to church your whole life. Maybe you were just recently introduced to the Church. Perhaps you have a strong testimony of the Restoration of the gospel, or maybe you’re not sure if you even know the Book of Mormon is true. In any case, everyone needs to constantly nourish and help his or her testimony to grow. So what are you supposed to do? Here are some things to consider.
Revelation Usually Comes a Little at a Time
Sometimes we think we don’t have a testimony or that it can grow only if we have a great spiritual miracle. More often, though, we receive revelation and spiritual knowledge only a little bit at a time. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles compares revelation to the ways we experience light:
“A light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message from God quickly, completely, and all at once. Many of us have experienced this pattern of revelation as we have been given answers to sincere prayers or been provided with needed direction or protection, according to God’s will and timing. … However, this pattern of revelation tends to be more rare than common.
“The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30). Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. … This pattern of revelation tends to be more common than rare” (“The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign, May 2011, 88).
The Spirit Is the Key
In order to strengthen testimony, it is important to be able to have the Holy Ghost with you and to listen to His promptings. It is hard, however, to hear the Spirit’s whisperings when you are distracted by other things. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught:
“The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit” (“To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 8).
A Testimony Comes through Good Choices
Elder Scott has explained that “a testimony is not emotion. It is the very essence of character woven from threads born of countless correct decisions. These choices are made with trusting faith in things that are believed and, at least initially, are not seen. A strong testimony gives peace, comfort, and assurance. It generates the conviction that as the teachings of the Savior are consistently obeyed, life will be beautiful, the future will be secure, and there will be capacity to overcome the challenges that cross our path. A testimony grows from understanding truth distilled from prayer and the pondering of scriptural doctrine. It is nurtured by living those truths with faith anchored in the secure confidence that the promised results will be obtained” (“The Transforming Power of Faith and Character,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 45-46).
Get Out and Do Something
Sometimes in order for your testimony to grow, you have to go and do something. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency has taught: “Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own” (“Waiting on the Road to Damascus,” Ensign, May 2011, 76).
Don’t Give Up
Just because you feel like you’re in a spiritual slump or that your testimony is weak, or even if you feel your testimony is strong, that doesn’t mean you should stop trying to strengthen your testimony. Keep pressing forward. Elder Bednar offers these words of encouragement:
“I have talked with many individuals who question the strength of their personal testimony and underestimate their spiritual capacity because they do not receive frequent, miraculous, or strong impressions. … If you have had similar thoughts or doubts, please know that you are quite normal. Just keep pressing forward obediently and with faith in the Savior. As you do so, you ‘cannot go amiss’ D&C 80:3” (“The Spirit of Revelation,”Ensign, May 2011, 89).
You Need Your Own Testimony
“We can rely on the faith and testimony of others only so long. Eventually we must have our own strong and deeply placed foundation, or we will be unable to withstand the storms of life, which will come.” President Thomas S. Monson, “How Firm a Foundation,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 62.
A Large Fire Comes from Small Kindling
You may have heard a testimony compared to a burning fire before, but think about how a fire is built.
If you try to light a big log, it probably won’t catch fire. You have to have some sort of kindling, like smaller sticks or leaves, to get the fire going. Likewise, small experiences can kindle the fire of your testimony.
Sometimes people may put lighter fluid on a log, which makes the flames become bright, but once the lighter fluid is burned, the fire dies back down because it was the lighter fluid and not the log burning. Your testimony may sometimes be flamed by a strong spiritual experience, but that may not be enough to maintain a constantly burning testimony.
Even if you have a nice fire burning, it will eventually die if you don’t continue to put wood on it. In like manner, you must continue to feed the fire of your testimony so that it doesn’t smolder out.
The Holy Ghost Is the Testifier of Truth
Remember! Because you have been baptized and confirmed, you have the gift of the Holy Ghost. As long as you are living worthily, He will testify to you of the truth.
One General Authority’s Experience
Sometimes you may think you are all alone in struggling with your testimony. The truth is that everyone must go through the same process, even General Authorities. Here is one experience from Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy.
“As a young elder, I had been in the mission field about one year, and while reading scriptures and words of the latter-day Apostles about revelation and the Holy Ghost, I had a stunning awakening. I did not have a testimony of my own, specifically of the Father and the Son. I went on my mission living on the borrowed light of my wonderful parents. Never doubting their words, I had not thought about seeking my own spiritual witness. On a February night in San Antonio, Texas, in 1962, I knew that I had to know for myself. In our small apartment I found a place where I could quietly pray out loud, pleading, ‘Heavenly Father, are You there? I must know for myself!’
“Sometime later that night I came to know for myself for the first time in my life that God and Jesus are real. I did not hear an audible voice nor see a heavenly being. I knew in the same way you too may have come to know—which is ‘by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost’ (D&C 121:26) and the spirit of revelation (see D&C 8:1–3) speaking peace to my mind (see D&C 6:23) and assurances to my heart (see Alma 58:11).
“From that experience I witnessed the results of Alma’s counsel to ‘awake and arouse [my] faculties … to [conduct] an experiment upon [His] words’ (Alma 32:27). These words or seeds have grown into trees, indeed giant trees of testimony. The process continues with more experiments upon the word, resulting in additional trees of testimony, now a veritable forest based on revelation through and by the Holy Ghost” (“The Holy Ghost and Revelation,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 77).
You Must Follow Essential Elements
Moroni teaches that you must “ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ” and that you must do it with “a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ,” and only then will God “manifest the truth of it unto you” (Moroni 10:4).
Gaining and Keeping a Testimony, By Mindy Raye Friedman, New Era, February 2012
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2012/02/gaining-and-keeping-a-testimony
The article “Gaining and Keeping a Testimony” discusses the process of nurturing a testimony within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), emphasizing the gradual nature of spiritual revelation and the importance of continued faith and effort. However, a critical examination reveals several elements of confirmation bias and areas where critical thinking could lead to more informed and autonomous life choices.
Confirmation Bias
- Expectation Setting:
The article sets the expectation that revelation often comes slowly and incrementally rather than through dramatic, instantaneous experiences. This framework can predispose individuals to interpret subtle or ambiguous experiences as spiritual confirmations. For instance, Elder Bednar’s comparison of revelation to the gradual increase of light implies that any small positive feeling or thought could be seen as divine confirmation, thus reinforcing pre-existing beliefs. - Selective Interpretation:
The narrative encourages readers to recognize spiritual experiences in everyday events and feelings. By focusing on incremental changes and subtle feelings as evidence of divine influence, individuals may selectively notice and remember experiences that support their faith while disregarding those that do not. This selective interpretation can reinforce existing beliefs without providing objective evidence. - Rationalization of Silence:
When prayers for confirmation go unanswered, the article rationalizes the lack of response as a common experience, implying that continued faith and effort will eventually lead to understanding. This approach can discourage individuals from questioning or seeking alternative explanations for their experiences, thus maintaining their commitment to the belief system despite a lack of direct evidence.
Critical Thinking and Life Choices
- Encouraging Inquiry:
Encouraging critical thinking means promoting an environment where questioning and exploring different viewpoints are valued. Rather than advising individuals to interpret all experiences through a specific spiritual lens, it would be beneficial to encourage open-minded inquiry and the consideration of diverse perspectives. This approach allows individuals to make more informed decisions based on a broader range of information and experiences. - Evidence-Based Decision Making:
The article’s emphasis on subjective experiences as evidence of truth can be contrasted with an evidence-based approach to decision-making. Encouraging individuals to seek out objective evidence and critically evaluate their beliefs can lead to a more balanced understanding of their faith and its teachings. This might involve studying historical, scientific, and theological perspectives to gain a comprehensive view of religious claims. - Acknowledging Uncertainty:
Embracing uncertainty and ambiguity can be a healthy part of spiritual and personal growth. Instead of viewing unanswered prayers or the absence of strong spiritual experiences as deficiencies, acknowledging these as natural parts of the human experience can foster resilience and a more nuanced faith. It allows individuals to remain open to new information and experiences without feeling pressured to conform to specific expectations.
These articles provide a comforting framework for individuals seeking to nurture their faith within the LDS Church but staying in the church at all costs. However, its approach perpetuates confirmation bias by encouraging selective interpretation and rationalization of experiences. By promoting critical thinking, open inquiry, and evidence-based decision-making, the church could teach individuals to make wise life choices and develop a more resilient and informed faith. This balanced approach not only respects personal spiritual journeys but also empowers individuals to navigate their beliefs with confidence and integrity.
What was your own experience with Moroni’s Promise? Did you receive an answer? Do you think it was elevated emotion or confirmation bias? Or did you not receive an answer and have to rationalize that God works in mysterious ways or that you already knew it was true anyway? Please consider sharing your own Mormon deconversion along with all the other faith deconstruction stories at wasmormon.org.
More reading:
- Moroni’s Promise – A Lesson in Confirmation Bias and Elevated Emotions
- Confirmation Bias
- Elevation and Other Elevated Emotions
- https://thirdhour.org/forums/topic/42186-the-holy-ghost-reveals-the-truth-of-all-things/
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2010/02/waiting-for-my-testimony?lang=eng
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2011/02/an-unexpected-answer?lang=eng
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2012/02/gaining-and-keeping-a-testimony
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/46?lang=eng&id=p13-p14#p13