Comments on: In His Own Words: James E. Talmage, 1893

By: Mormon Scholars Testify » Blog Archive » James E. Talmage

Mormon Scholars Testify » Blog Archive » James E. Talmage — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:53:01 +0000

[...] (James E. Talmage, “How I Gained My Testimony of the Truth,” Young Woman’s Journal [March 1893], 258-259. Brought to my attention by Ardis E. Parshall, and reproduced here, with her kind permission, from keepapitchinin.org: http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2010/10/21/in-his-own-words-james-e-talmage-1893/.) [...]

By: michelle

michelle — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:31:07 +0000

I really liked this, Ardis.

I love not only how he captures his testimony of the work, but you get a sense of his deep love and appreciation for God.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:10:58 +0000

The best statements are ones that provide room for thought. You could even take your idea, Talmage’s testimony, and Alma 32 as a group to work out an extended plan for a talk or lesson or essay.

By: Clark

Clark — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:30:37 +0000

Jesus the Christ is far superior to The Articles of Faith, in my opinion.

Talmage’s comparison of testimony to a greenhouse plant is extremely thought provoking. At what point should young starts be “hardened off” to endure the real world? And how does one do that? And does the current church curriculum encourage that? I have no answers, and I don’t want to threadjack the post, but to me it’s good food for thought…

By: Becca

Becca — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:17:15 +0000

I particularly appreciate the last two paragraphs. Maybe I am a cynic, but I am immediately suspicious of anyone who claims to have never doubted or questioned. In my experience, individuals who present their testimony or faith in absolute terms are not to be trusted. Enjoyed JTC on my mission; reading this response from Talmage might inspire me to revisit it again.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:58:39 +0000

An editor solicited responses from Talmage and others to the question “How did you gain your testimony?” I liked Talmage’s because his experience somewhat parallels mine — but he says it so much more eloquently than I can. The more I read by him, the more I get to know the man behind the words, the more I appreciate his extraordinary gifts.

By: David Y.

David Y. — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:14:52 +0000

This was wonderful. I love Talmage’s use of imagery, especially that reference that his testimony as not being a “greenhouse plant nourished through artificial culture, and alive only because protected from the blasts that wither and the frosts that destroy.” Good stuff.

So, what was the occasion of this written testimony by the 30-something Talmage?

By: Matt W.

Matt W. — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:55:05 +0000

I know some say “Jesus the Christ” is becoming out of date, but if for no other reason than it points to this extraordinary man, I love that that book is our “5th Standard Work”

By: Bruce Crow

Bruce Crow — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:44:26 +0000

Very nice. His experience in gaining a testimony matches mine. Thanks.