The Testimony Glove
Sister Kristen M Oaks, the wife of the Apostle Dallin Oaks, wrote a book with JoAnn F. Phillips to help Primary children learn and remember the five basic truths of a testimony “The Testimony Glove”. She explains that "A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost that something is true." The glove itself represents the Holy Ghost.
From her book: "The Holy Ghost teaches us truth...As they bear their own testimonies, the Holy Ghost will witness the truth of what they say in their hearts and in their minds."
(Sister Oaks also includes ideas of songs that reinforce each truth, which are included in parenthesis after each one.)
*The First Truth: Heavenly Father
Heavenly Father lives. He knows each one of us and loves us. He hears our prayers and answers them. He made a great plan of happiness for us.
(I Am a Child if God, CSB 2-3, I Lived in Heaven, CSB 4, I Know My Father Lives,
CSB 5, My Heavenly Father Lives Me, CSB 228)
*The Second Truth: Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of our Heavenly Father. He created the earth, taught us how to live, and gave His life that we might live with Him and Heavenly Father again. Because of His sacrifice, we can be forgiven of our sins when we repent. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. (He Sent His Son, CSB 34-35, Tell Me The Stories of Jesus, CSB 57, To Think About Jesus, CSB 71, I Feel My Savior's Love, CSB 74-75, This is My Beloved Son, CSB 76, If the Savior Stood Beside Me, Oct 1993 Friend, I Know That My Savior Loves Me, available at music.lds.org )
*The Third Truth: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus. They gave him instructions and he obeyed them. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet who was called to restore the gospel and translate the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.
(An Angel Came to Joseph Smith, CSB 86, The Golden Plates, CSB 86, the Sacred Grove, CSB 87, On a Golden Springtime, CSB 88.) (This would also be a great time to review Praise to the Man, Hymn 27)
*The Fourth Truth: The True Church and The Temple
The temple is the house of The Lord. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Savior's true church on the earth today. The Savior's teachings will lead us to the temple and back to Heavenly Father. Sacred covenants in the temple make it possible for families to be sealed together forever. (The Church of Jesus Christ, CSB 77, I Love to See the Temple, CSB 95, I Want to Be a Missionary Now, CSB 168, Families Can Be Together Forever, CSB 188)
*The Fifth Truth: The Prophet
We are led by a living prophet who gets revelation from God. I feel his love for us when I hear him speak. I will try to follow the prophet. (Follow The Prophet, CSB 110-111, Latter-day Prophets, CSB 134, Stand For the Right, CSB 159)
Sister Oaks quotes Elder Russell M Nelson: "Personal testimony is the foundation of our faith."
Also she quotes Sister Rosemary Wixom, General Primary President: "The world will teach our children if we do not."
She says to parents and teachers: "It is never too early for parents and teachers to help children gain a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Gospel...The adversary is waging war on our vulnerable and precious children. We must prepare them to win that war by helping them gain personal testimonies of Jesus Christ and His Gospel....Their testimonies will strengthen them, protect them, and prepare them to return to live with their Heavenly Father...
To go along with these gloves I recommend this song from the Friend (March 1994) that touches each of the points of the Testimony Glove: "My Testimony is Growing". I wrote the final verse to include the final point. It is very easy to learn.
http://www.lds.org/friend/
My Testimony Is Growing
WORDS AND MUSIC BY KATHRYN B. DECKER
1. I believe that Heav’nly Father knows me, and He cares,
For when I ask for help, He gives me answers to my prayers.
I believe He loves me, too, because He sent His Son
To die for me so I can live when life on earth is done.
Chorus: My testimony is growing, as gospel seeds are sown.
My testimony is growing, a witness of my own
2. I believe that Joseph Smith was chosen by the Lord
to be the one through whom He could reveal His sacred word.
I believe our prophet knows God’s will for us today,
and we must listen carefully to what he has to say.
Chorus: My testimony is growing, as gospel seeds are sown.
My testimony is growing, a witness of my own
3. I believe God has a plan of happiness for me.
And central to that plan is an eternal family.
I believe that in God's holy temples we can be
United, sealed together, a forever family
Chorus: My testimony is growing, as gospel seeds are sown.
My testimony is growing, a witness of my own
I encourage you to bear your testimony often to your children. Have your children bear their testimonies as part of their talks in Primary. They could share their testimony at their baptism. I remind you that the handbook tells us not to have testimony meetings in Primary. (11.8.3) A recent letter from the First Presidency also discourages young children from going up in ward fast and testimony meetings, especially when they cannot do it on their own. Encourage your children to share testimonies with their families in Family Home Evenings and on other occasions in their homes. They can use their testimony gloves to remind them what the 5 truths are that they are seeking to gain a testimony of.
