NO WHERE on lds.org does the Q15 say "I know the church is true". So when/why did members start saying it?

[NOWmormon]

I did a search on lds.org for "I know the church is true" I can't find anything from Q15, even after searching into each category. In fact, I get only two hits in the "General Conference" category, and neither one was a "testimony" of the Q15. If the leaders don't say it, why do members say it?

[Give It Time]

Good point.

It must be cultural. I don't doubt the leaders believe. The church has been too kind to them. I think it might be worth a peek at their testimonies.

[Rob4Hope]

I would narrow the search criteria to "true church". They may be saying it a different way....

[oliver_denom]

I found a few quotes. The phrase has been around for awhile, but it seems to have picked up in the 60's. In particular, the October 1968 conference had that phrase mentioned more than the previous two decades combined. My guess is that the phrase picked up steam and was promoted by the right wing cohort of Lee, Smith, McConkie, and Peterson. These quotes don't come specifically from those folks, but it's consistent with the ideology.

It's a very fundamentalist claim, that not only are the church's claims literally fact, but they are exclusively true. This is echo in the D&C which claims the church to be the "only true and living church on the face of the whole earth". However, I think there's a distinct difference between the way that people like McKay or Hugh Brown understood this phrase and the way that the right wingers understood it. For McKay, "true" was more akin to the idea that God is generally leading the church in the correct direction, not that it was always exactly where God wanted it to be. In other words, true didn't mean that the church wouldn't drift from time to time. For people like McConkie, "true" meant that the church's authority in the priesthood was absolute. If you look at what was happening at the end of the 60's and beginning of the 70's, the church was terrified of the growing radical youth movement and drug culture. They were freaking out over new Mormon scholarship and reacted by instituting correlation and centralizing power. For them, emphasizing "the church is true" was equivalent to a loyalty oath. Obedience became the key word. If the church is true, then you have to be obedient to it. There was no middle ground.

So I could easily see this as the starting point of emphasis for this now common testimony phrase.

This statement which has just been read in your hearing was made for the Church. Rumors have been afloat that plural marriages have taken place, and some are said to have commenced to doubt the truth of the declaration made by our President at Washington. Now it has been laid before you, and the Church, by its vote in solemn assembly, has ratified this resolution, and the Saints know just where the Church stands on this question. If any come to you with such rumors, you know that the Church is true to that which it accepted thirteen years and six months ago, and which it has again ratified here in this Conference.

God has chosen pastors after his own heart, and he has planted in the hearts of those pastors an individual testimony that God lives. Is it not true all over the missions? Ask these mission presidents, if the young men and women who come to them, many times without this testimony, do not in a few months time stand up and say, "I know the Church is true." That is the thing the world needs today--men and women who know whereof they speak, and who are able to back up what they say by the prophecies and teachings of the prophets of God.

I feel just as sure as I feel that I live that this Gospel will thrive. It doesn't worry me what men think about whether we are going to succeed or not. I know that there are people in the Church that shouldn't be in the Church. I have met a lot of people that to me seem to be just like the foam that the waves beat up upon the shore and that then melts away. There is also a stratum that is in some parts and factions of the Church that is like the dregs of poison. But the vast body of the Church is true and is clear and is pure, and this work will go on to ultimate success and will remain. It is, and always will be, the power of God unto salvation.

And I testify to you that I know that this Church is true, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are one and the same, inseparable and indivisible. As I beauty and its glory, and in my work I am happy that I am one who is undertaking to promote its glorious truths.

I stood and talked on the restoration of the Book of Mormon for twenty minutes or so, the most inspired, easiest talk I ever gave. It was promoted by the Holy Ghost; I know it was. I bore my testimony humbly and fervently to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, their book, and that the Church is true, and that Jesus lives. I told them of the vision of Joseph Smith, of the bringing forth of the book, about the Witnesses, the need for the Book of Mormon.

I bear testimony to you, brethren, that I know this Church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of our Heaven sent to restore the Gospel truths on this earth.

Before baptism a person must believe that this Church is true; that it is in fact the Lord's earthly kingdom; that the priesthood and keys are here; that those who now officer it are legal administrators sent of God to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

People by the thousands can be heard all over the earth to testify that the message of the missionaries of the Church is true.

The discussion plan is not designed to convince intellectually, but rather, the discussions are instruments through which the Holy Ghost can work to awaken a spiritual awareness and bring a personal testimony into the hearts of the listeners that Joseph Smith is a Prophet and the Church is true.

My testimony is strong. I know the story of this great Church is true.

I would like to conclude tonight by saying that I know this Church is true, that the priesthood we hold is truly the priesthood of our Heavenly Father, and that if we continue in this partnership in the manner in which we should, our Heavenly Father will help us and bless us in everything we endeavor to do.

In his own words, this change is all because of his knowledge now that God lives, that the Church is true, and that there is a living prophet on the earth today. He didn't say so, but it is my feeling that this change is noticeable because of the peace of mind this young man now has that he didn't have before.

I heard David O. McKay say that the highest ideal ever taught in any religion is service to our fellowman. This I believe with all my heart, and I know I should be thankful that Scott was baptized before he was killed, and I truly am."

Then he continued: "Brethren, I know the Church is true. I know that this Church is divinely directed, that Joseph Smith had revelations, and that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church today. I pray that while we are over here we might strive to build our characters, to build our testimonies, that we might all do a little bit of suffering so that we might all know the joy that comes from just plain living, and that as long as our hearts are beating, and we're walking and talking, we don't have a thing to complain about, not at all."

This church is true; it has value and is meaningful to those seeking exaltation and eternal life. If this church is worth anything, it is worth everything! There is no exaltation and eternal glory without it.

[wtfluff]

Try searching for: "true and living".

There's a hit or two, no?


EDIT: Anyone know when the phrase "I know" came to be so popular in the church?

[AllieOop]

I did a search on lds.org for "I know the church is true" I can't find anything from Q15, even after searching into each category. In fact, I get only two hits in the "General Conference" category, and neither one was a "testimony" of the Q15. If the leaders don't say it, why do members say it?

Even as an active member, I always thought "I know the church is true" was a strange thing to state. You hear small children repeating this and of course, they have no idea what that are saying.

What does it even mean to say "the church is true"? How can an organization been true?

There are certain teachings that I still believe are true. And, there are fallible leaders who make mistakes (past and present). Teachings have even changed or evolved over the years and will most likely continue to change.

It's just an odd thing to state, IMO.

[Mad Jax]

I would never say it. It's a clumsy statement. Perhaps "the doctrines of the church are true" would have been a more palatable way to say it... I just never cared for that tertiary definition of the word 'true.'

[NOWmormon]

I found a few quotes. The phrase has been around for awhile, ]

Wow, great post.

[NOWmormon]

I did a search on lds.org for "I know the church is true" I can't find anything from Q15, even after searching into each category. In fact, I get only two hits in the "General Conference" category, and neither one was a "testimony" of the Q15. If the leaders don't say it, why do members say it?

Even as an active member, I always thought "I know the church is true" was a strange thing to state. You hear small children repeating this and of course, they have no idea what that are saying.

What does it even mean to say "the church is true"? How can an organization been true?

There are certain teachings that I still believe are true. And, there are fallible leaders who make mistakes (past and present). Teachings have even changed or evolved over the years and will most likely continue to change.

It's just an odd thing to state, IMO.

Agree, and I do think phrase has morphed into a church cultural statement.
I remember investigators at Testimony Meeting saying "it sounds like you are trying to convince everybody, including your own."

[oliver_denom]

Agree, and I do think phrase has morphed into a church cultural statement.
I remember investigators at Testimony Meeting saying "it sounds like you are trying to convince everybody, including your own."

When Romney ran for President I was tasked with driving a reporter from the Washington Post to a testimony meeting. This was her very first question as we left. She said it sounded weird how everyone was saying the same thing, like they were trying to convince themselves. She compared it to an AA meeting where everyone gets up and states that they're an alcoholic. I explained that it's sort of a rote thing that people memorize as kids and repeat kind of like an informal liturgy.

[Not Buying It]

[quote=NOWmormon post_id=15262 time=<a href="tel:1494513081">1494513081</a> user_id=3108]
Agree, and I do think phrase has morphed into a church cultural statement.
I remember investigators at Testimony Meeting saying "it sounds like you are trying to convince everybody, including your own."

When Romney ran for President I was tasked with driving a reporter from the Washington Post to a testimony meeting. This was her very first question as we left. She said it sounded weird how everyone was saying the same thing, like they were trying to convince themselves. She compared it to an AA meeting where everyone gets up and states that they're an alcoholic. I explained that it's sort of a rote thing that people memorize as kids and repeat kind of like an informal liturgy.
[/quote]

Well that's exactly what it is, isn't it? The purpose of testimony meeting is to build testimonies in some pretty ridiculous beliefs. Everybody sounds like they are trying to convince themselves because that is exactly what testimony meeting is designed to do - convince yourself some pretty ridiculous things are true.

I saw a meme recently: "Truth does not demand belief. Scientists do no join hands every Sunday singing "yes, gravity is real! I will have faith! I will be strong! I believe in my heart what does up, up, up must come down. Amen!" If they did that, we would think they are pretty insecure about it". - Dan Barker

[Mad Jax]

I once had the institute director say that he encountered a non-member who told him he didn't want to hear a testimony, that was all Mormons seemed to want to do and he wanted to hear an actual argument for the church. So the ID recommended the following:

"When that happens, just bear your testimony."

No lie.

[Mormorrisey]

The one thing I'm most proud of in my 40-odd year journey in mormonism, is that this phrase has never escaped my lips. Even in my most TBM years, I thought it rather stupid to say a church was "true." What the heck does that even mean? I don't think even my kids have said this - it just sounds stupid. One of my first arguments with a stake leader was on this point in a temple recommend interview, when he asked my testimony of the church. I then explained I had a testimony of the GOSPEL, and proceeded to tell him about it. It wasn't enough, though. "What about THE CHURCH?" he kept repeating. I said, very tongue in cheek, "well, it has brick walls, windows and doors." He was not amused. I'm still shocked how I made it this far in the church.

That's not to say that there's no merit in this post. I've heard it HUNDREDS of times, and I think it's cultural conditioning to make it so in the minds of its members. I don't even think members realize how ridiculous it sounds in the ears of non-mormons, but it's more empty rhetoric that doesn't mean anything.

[azflyer]

When learning to speak Spanish for my mission, this was a phrase that we were taught to say. "Yo se que la iglesia es verdadera." I know that the church is true. That was just a phrase that we were taught to say. It was just as simple and common as, "Donde esta el bano?"

Also, this is a phrase that little children are taught repeatedly in primary and that they are encouraged to say in Testimony meeting.

Now I think the question your really asking is, why do so many mormons ask this question when the Q15 don't really make that statement. I don't really have an answer for that. But it is something that is very deeply baked into our culture and social norms. "I know this church is true". It's just something we say.

As others have pointed out, it is actually a pretty silly phrase.

[wtfluff]

I said, very tongue in cheek, "well, it has brick walls, windows and doors."

When learning to speak Spanish for my mission, this was a phrase that we were taught to say. "Yo se que la iglesia es verdadera." I know that the church is true. That was just a phrase that we were taught to say. It was just as simple and common as, "Donde esta el bano?"

Both of these quotes reminded me of a "greenie" missionary I knew during my two years of indentured servitude. During a zone conference, he got a couple of Spanish words mixed up while bearing a heartfelt testimony, and said: "I know the chapel is true", which he repeated several times.

Afterwards, he was wondering why those of us in his district were giggling during his testimony and we explained to him what had happened.

In all reality, there's not much difference between knowing that the chapel is true, and knowing that the church is true...

[alas]

The one thing I'm most proud of in my 40-odd year journey in mormonism, is that this phrase has never escaped my lips. Even in my most TBM years, I thought it rather stupid to say a church was "true." What the heck does that even mean? I don't think even my kids have said this - it just sounds stupid. One of my first arguments with a stake leader was on this point in a temple recommend interview, when he asked my testimony of the church. I then explained I had a testimony of the GOSPEL, and proceeded to tell him about it. It wasn't enough, though. "What about THE CHURCH?" he kept repeating. I said, very tongue in cheek, "well, it has brick walls, windows and doors." He was not amused. I'm still shocked how I made it this far in the church.

That's not to say that there's no merit in this post. I've heard it HUNDREDS of times, and I think it's cultural conditioning to make it so in the minds of its members. I don't even think members realize how ridiculous it sounds in the ears of non-mormons, but it's more empty rhetoric that doesn't mean anything.

I am with you on this. Those words never crossed my lips. I thought it was a ridiculous statement. A church is either a meeting house, or it is the body of people who make up the church. Well a building cannot be true, and while people could be true to a doctrine they believe, that is not the meaning when that statement is used. They do not mean that our members are loyal. So, meaningless stupidity. #1, is that people are talking about belief, not knowledge, and #2, they mean gospel is true, but they want the testimony to include the idea that our church's organization, leadership, priesthood, doctrine, are all better than anyone else.

But also, I never could bring myself to believe that the church was factually correct, had correct doctrine, or correct priesthood, or any other thing people mean when they say they know the church is true. I was a doubter as early as I can remember, and I wasn't going to lie and say something I didn't feel, in spite (or maybe because of) promises that by saying it I would come to believe it. The more I was told that I should say those words in order to come to believe those words, the more I dug in my rebellious little heals. I wasn't going to lie to others and I was NOT going to start lying to myself.

[RubinHighlander]

So if you want to get more specific, let's take a look at what the prophet and seer says about the truth claims of the church:

https://archive.org/stream/MonsonRefusa ... y_djvu.txt

http://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/sol ... of-mormon/

Here's the Fair response:
https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Morm ... _doctrines

So, the example they give is still pretty weak in my mind because it's still just Monson telling others they can find out it's true and he still makes no direct statement that he knows it's true.