This week’s BYU-Idaho devotional speaker was Dr. Robert Tueller. His talk, titled "Testimony Building: Steady and Strong," discussed how faith is a key component in building a testimony.
Tueller said one of the most important techniques for building a testimony is having patience. This is something he says he sees a lot as a Music Department faculty member at BYU-Idaho.
“I teach this concept as a musician frequently. When learning a new piece of music, many students become impatient with the process. They want to quickly get to the end reward where they can enjoy performing a piece in its entirety, up to tempo, just as the professional performer they may admire,” he said in his devotional. “However, a new piece of music may contain technical challenges that require time and repetition, and the end reward could be months of hard work away. But that doesn’t have to diminish incremental success as they master a difficult passage or refine a new technique.”
In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, Tueller echoed that statement by talking about how repetition is the key to mastery.
“I think it's important for everyone to understand that it's okay to feel that you're doing the same things over and over again regularly and that actually is a building experience itself,” Tueller said.
This wasn’t the only way Tueller encouraged listeners to build their testimonies. In his address, he also talked about the importance of surrounding yourself with those who encourage the building of a strong testimony, and this can go beyond just “goodly parents.”
“There are many in our circle of family and friends who can provide enthusiastic support: Siblings, grandparents or other extended family, friends, roommates, teachers or church leaders. Surround yourself with those who enthusiastically support the importance of an unwavering testimony,” Tueller said.