"I Know" vs. "I Believe"

 

I still remember the first time I bore my testimony in an LDS sacrament meeting. I must’ve been 6 or 7 years old. In the same way that I wanted to be the first out of my triplet brother and sister to sit in the back row of the Tidal Wave at Lagoon, I was determined to be the first to courageously take the long walk to the pulpit and share what I knew to be true.

What should’ve been daunting for a child to do came pretty easily to me. After all, I’d pretty much memorized what I was supposed to say. Up to the pulpit I went. I grabbed the microphone and positioned it within a centimeter of my mouth and proclaimed, “I want to bear my testimony. I know this church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. I love my mom and dad. Name of Jesus Christ, amen.” I remember how good it felt when some of my older brothers patted me on the back with a “good job, Nathan”. Most importantly, I felt the love and approval from my mother.

Over the years, I have watched thousands of children get up and do the same thing. It’s become a rite of passage in a way. You have to admit, it’s an adorable thing. Sure, sometimes it gets old when you want to hear grown-ups share their thoughts and then 10 kids rush the stage to essentially say the same thing, one after the other. I appreciate the comic relief, however. There’s always that one kid who burps or giggles or trembles when they get to the mic. It’s so cute! But, if I’m being honest, there was always a part of me that was uncomfortable with children being taught to say “I know” when, in most cases, they didn’t know their multiplication table. I hate the word “brainwashing”, but I sometimes wondered what some parents would do and say to their own kids if they wouldn’t get up and say “I know”. Luckily, my mother never forced or pushed for me to get up there. It was just something that you were supposed to do because other kids were doing it.

I’ve watched some of these children grow into teenagers, young adults, and parents with children of their own. It’s been a most interesting study of the many different ways one’s testimony can evolve over the years. Part of the reason that I am still a member of the church as a gay man is that I have felt many wonderful, meaningful feelings during testimony meetings. At their worst, these meetings can be tedious, boring or full of ridiculous amounts of emotion. Some choose to play testimony bingo as a way to get through all of the canned things people say. There’s also the “I’ll go up if you go first” game that gets a little tired. But, at their best, these meetings have been sacred, powerful and strengthening to me.

There is, however, one thing about these meetings that hasn’t seemed to change from when I was a kid: The pressure to say the words “I know” is as apparent for adults as it is for children.

Now, I’m not saying that church leadership demands this of its members. But there is an unspoken pressure where many say “I know” instead of “I believe”. Who am I to question what somebody knows? It’s not my place. But as one who has intently listened to the testimonies of thousands, I have questions when someone says “I know without a shadow of a doubt”. I’d like to know how they came to this knowledge. What did they see and hear to be able to say “I know”? Most would answer that it’s about what they have felt, not what their senses have experienced. I can relate to that.

• When I taught the discussions in the mission field, I felt something special.
• When I began attending the temple, I felt something special.
• When I went to Palmyra and walked through the Smith family log cabin and frame house and then went into the Sacred Grove and prayed, I felt something special.
• When I went to Kirtland and stood in the upper floor of the temple and contemplated some of the revelations that were given to Joseph Smith and others, I felt something special.
• When I went to the School of Prophets and the Newel K. Whitney store and considered some of the events that took place there, I felt something special.
• When I went to Nauvoo and did a session in that temple and then went to Carthage to see where the martyrdom occurred, I felt something special.
• When I went to Independence, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Haun’s Mill, Far West and the Liberty Jail and took all of that history in, I felt something special.

Where did these feelings come from? Well, in the church, we would identify that as the Spirit. Some would suggest that after a lifetime of being taught about these experiences that occurred in these various locations, that of course it would be a meaningful experience to visit any one of them. Perhaps I was wired and programmed to feel such emotions after putting so much hope and study into what occurred in each “landmark”. Others would dismiss these feelings as a Santa Claus effect. Remember the magic of being a child and having so much hope and even assurance that Santa was real? You couldn’t doubt! After all, “if you don’t believe, you don’t receive.” Finally, there are some who would dismiss these experiences as strange, biological ticks that the body sends through the nervous system when certain emotions are felt, like watching a touching movie or reading a moving novel.

I don’t feel the need to become defensive when these kinds of things are suggested. But, at the same time, I will say without apology that these feelings are the very reason I have not up and left the church. These experiences mean a great deal to me. I’ll never forget them. But even now, with most things in the church, I can only offer “I believe”. Sometimes, I’m made to feel that “I believe” isn’t good enough. It’s only when you can proclaim boldly “I know” that you truly have a testimony. Or, at least, that’s how it feels sometimes.

Listen with a new set of ears in your testimony meetings this Sunday. Keep track of how many members state “I know” versus “I believe”. As you listen to those who claim “I know”, do you have some of the same questions I have? Have they seen and heard things I haven’t? Are they taking the experiences they’ve had like the ones I listed above and elevating them up to a surety of knowledge? If so, it’s not my place to judge or criticize. I guess I just feel inferior sometimes because I’d begin many sentences in my testimony with “I believe” instead of “I know”. For some, this inability to say “I know” leads to feelings of inferiority.

Even our Articles of Faith begin with the words “We believe”. Not a single one of them starts with “We know”.

I’m not here to challenge anyone’s testimony. After all, mine means a great deal to me. If someone tore my testimony apart, it would affect me in a deep, personal way. I guess I just wish others would see my testimony as worthy and powerful even if I begin most sentences with “I feel confident that…” or “I have every reason to believe that..”. I think we show faith when we say those beautiful words: “I believe”. Can faith lead to a knowledge of things? Sure. But I do not have a perfect knowledge of most of the things I believe. It doesn’t mean that the things I believe aren’t important.

One of the strongest testimonies I’ve ever read about the Savior and His atonement came from Elder Bruce R. McConkie in April of 1985, just days before his passing:

“I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way.”

I remember loving this address entitled “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane” so much as a teenager. I still read it and marvel at the words he expressed. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve often thought “Unless he already walked and talked with Jesus, how could Elder McConkie know to that degree? Certainly, something as intimate as seeing the Savior in person and feeling his nail marks would be the surest way to know, so how was McConkie so sure unless he's seen and interacted with the Savior?”

In my mind, I can reason that Elder McConkie was a special witness, had a special calling and that He probably lived a life that was much more conducive to having a close relationship with the Savior. I’ve listened to the testimonies of prophets and apostles throughout my life and have been moved by many of them when they use the words “I know”. I also consider scriptural accounts where people saw and interacted with heavenly messengers but still didn’t seem to “know” in their hearts what they had seen and heard. I’m willing to consider all of that. It’s only when lay members of the church speak with such conviction and assurance that I have a hard time accepting why they are at “I know” status when I’m only at “I believe” status.

In closing, I’ll say that I have a testimony. I believe there is a God in Heaven who loves us and wants us to return to Him. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that through Him, I can return to Heavenly Father, even as a gay man. I have read the Book of Mormon many times and have felt closer to the Lord by its teachings. I’m not sure I can say that I know that it’s the word of God, but I can say that I have a love of the book. I am aware of some of the problematic things that people say about Joseph Smith. Some of these things are unfounded while others seem to be a matter of record. Through it all, I want to believe that he was truly a chosen prophet and that the Lord used him to restore His own church to the earth. I cannot say "I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet" as I did when I was 6 years old. But I can say "as I've studied his life and his teachings, I believe he was a man of God".

I think that Heavenly Father would be pleased by what I just shared in the previous paragraph, and yet, for some members of the church, my testimony isn’t enough until I can say “I know”. To them, I’d offer that I can’t fully accept their testimonies if every sentence begins with “I know”, especially when some of the statements that follow the words “I know” are extremely hurtful. I guess, at the end of the day, we should all just try harder to create spaces where people are welcome and comfortable sharing what they believe or what they know. I would just like to see less pressure to subscribe to “I know” statements and more support and encouragement anytime someone has to the courage to say “I believe.”

The Weight-ing Game

In the grand scheme of things, how much does one’s appearance matter? Not much. After all, “the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7). I believe this with all my heart.

That said, how much does my own appearance matter to me at this stage of my life? It matters a great deal. Allow me to explain.

My 20^th high school reunion was held just a couple of weeks ago. The former extrovert in me wanted to go. After all, I was one of the most popular kids in my class. I don’t say that to brag. But I made a concerted effort to get to know everyone back in the day. I had a passion for getting involved, making meaningful friendships, etc. Being reunited with my fellow Royals should’ve been the source of joy, nostalgia and sentimentality.

Instead, as the reunion approached, I felt anxiety, sadness, some depression and overall, I felt withdrawn. Was it because I was voted “Most Likely to Have Ten Kids” back then and there I was, a single, gay 38 year old man who only recently decided it was okay to give dating a try? Meh…maybe that was a small part of it. I didn't want to have to provide an explanation or make it okay for everyone. But I could've managed that just fine. Were there other sources of nervousness and trepidation that a lot of my other classmates felt? Of course there were. I think we all wonder if we’ve met the expectations our peers had/have of us. But that was fairly easy to put aside.

Ultimately, I didn’t go to my 20^th high school reunion for one reason: Because of the way that I look.

Upon reflection, I’ve come to realize that I’ve said “No” to many things in my life because of my weight gain. In many ways, I’m still the same, confident Student Body Officer from high school who could strike up a conversation with anyone for any reason. But these days, when it comes to my approach on social things, I step back, I resist, I hide, I avoid, I make excuses, I say no.

I’ve never smoked, done drugs or been drunk. But I KNOW what it is to have an addiction, to “use”. As a teenager turning into an adult, I started turning to food to deal with some pretty intense sadness I was facing at the time. It altered the way I felt immediately. Instant gratification. Problem solved. Over a period of time, this has taken a toll on my body. I may not be morbidly obese, but still, I feel some level of shame. I acknowledge that this is one area of my life in which I’ve lost complete control. I gave up. I let life just happen. I didn’t take the reins. This is the source of some of my deepest pain and regret.

I promise I don’t have delusions of grandeur, but I fear that I let people down when they see me. I didn’t become who they wanted me to be. I didn’t meet their expectations. I'm not the shining light they once knew and admired. At the end of the day, I can put these feelings aside, but it still affects my ability to form new relationships even now. I’ve had guys want to meet or go on a date, and I’ve said no because I'm not more confident about my appearance. The biggest source of my pain in this area is inward. How I feel about myself.

As a gay Mormon dude who has recently decided to start dating men, this is a scary thing. I’m sure there are guys who could find me attractive just as I am, in my current state. After all, I can be physically attracted to men with a variety of builds and physiques. All in all, I think I’m a decent looking guy with a great smile, a deep capacity to love and understand and a fun personality and sense of humor. But, I realize and accept that there are other men who simply won’t give me a chance, based on the extra pounds I’m carrying. I don’t worry too much about that because those kinds of guys either need a partner with similar interests and priorities (no judgment), or they’re focused on things that don’t matter as much to me.

When it comes to dating and eventually finding a great guy to build a life with, I’m not so much paralyzed by whether my appearance is good enough for other guys. My debilitation in this area is more about not being comfortable in my own skin.

Being able to put my best self forward, projecting a positive self-image, not hiding anymore, being able to take off my shirt confidently, these things matter to me. Some people can exude such confidence at any weight. For me, I’ll admit, before I can become someone’s special someone, I need to love myself more and feel better about myself physically. Otherwise, I won’t be able to fully give myself to someone else. It’s not a shallow thing. This isn’t about caving in to the demands of society. This is all internal. I love who I am as a person, but this one area continues to haunt me and block me from achieving and having what I want most in life.

I’ve decided to do something about it. Today is the start of a 100-day countdown to Thanksgiving. I weighed myself this morning and I will weigh in again on November 26^th, Thanksgiving Day. My start weight as of this morning is 225 lbs. In 100 days, I’d like to weigh 185 lbs. This is a loss of 40 lbs in 100 days. I think it’s a realistic goal. I’ll provide before and after pics at that time.

By the way, this isn't my top weight. I used to weigh 235, so I'm approaching that number. My larger goal is to get down to 155 lbs, but I’ll focus on that goal after the first 40 lbs goes away. The summary would be "I used to weigh 235, now I weigh 155." That's an 80-pound difference, so this current goal of 225 to 185 is a halfway goal of sorts.

I should be careful and state this: To all of my plus-size friends, I love you just the way you are. This is not a call to action to change who you are or to send a message that you’re not good enough. I’m not asking anyone else to change their appearance or subscribe to my approach. I'm also not suggesting that anyone who is overweight should have the same self-image issues I have.

This is all about my journey. Putting it out there for all of you to read will serve as a huge source of motivation for me. I’ve made goals before and haven’t accomplished them. But I've never been this open and honest before. This next-level approach is about being open, vulnerable and accountable. I’m asking for your support. 

It’s not just about the weight loss. It’s about addressing some long-standing self-image issues and facing the demons that led to my weight gain. I’m asking you to be a part of my journey as I strive to become the best “me” I can become.

Don’t worry. I’m all about improving myself spiritually, emotionally and mentally as well. Those areas will not be neglected. But I strongly feel that as I take control of my physical well-being, these other areas will improve drastically.