Have you ever closely analyzed the Rameumptom speech? It’s basically a self-congratulatory talk.

I’ve covered this extensively in a prior post. Take a look at Don't Turn Testimony Meeting Into a Rameumptom Speech. In essence, they spend time congratulating themselves for their good fortune in having the truth, the gospel, their favored position in the church, society, or whatever.

Self-congratulations sounds a lot like self-righteousness. If we are self-righteous we have fallen victim to Satan’s flattery. “[S]elf-righteousness is just a counterfeit for real righteousness.”

These self-congratulations can take other forms too. Often, we congratulate ourselves on some sort of wonderful experience we’ve had. This can be a spiritual and inspiring experience or a secular one. Sometimes, it is both.

For example, you often hear people extolling some wonderful trip to a far-off temple, a church site like Nauvoo, or meeting some wonderful General Authority in some exclusive or favored way.

Again, motives are known only to the Lord, but I fear that too many want accolades or the jealousy of people that don’t happen to be as favored as them.

If you are tempted to start a comment with any of the following phrases, you might want to reconsider:

We’ve been told to keep personal, sacred, spiritual experiences to ourselves. They are for us, not others. Some are appropriate to share. Sometimes people are impressed to share them by the spirit. And sometimes, people are just trying to impress others and look privileged.

Unfortunately, much of these self-congratulations take place during testimony meetings. If you are going to bear your testimony then confine it to that – your testimony.

Don’t allow your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to turn into any of the following:

•    A thanktimony
•    A gratimony
•    A travelmony
•    Or, the most recent abomination, a protestimony

No, I’m not going to provide any examples. I’m certain you have the idea and I don’t want anyone to feel like I am pointing a finger.

There are a lot of other examples, but I hope what I’ve covered will suffice.

Spiritual Vaunting and the Perils of the Rameumptom Syndrome

• An Introduction to the Introduction
• Introduction: Spiritual Vaunting - Defined and Setting the Stage
• Part 1: A Tendency to Display Ourselves - Look at Me!
• Part 2: Excessive Talking About Ourselves!
• Part 3: Everything is About Me!
• Part 4: Self Congratulations for Everything!
• Part 5: What’s In It for Me?!
• Part 6: Gimme the Credit!
• Part 7: Solutions - This Needs to Stop!

“As teachers, we may speak with the tongues of angels; we may entertain, delight, amuse, astound. But if we have failed in keeping our focus on Jesus Christ, we have missed the mark and our teaching is only a shadow of what it ought to be. Always keep the focus on our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Teaching in the Savior’s Way with Elder Uchtdorf”. Address given June 12, 2022. Accessed June 12, 2022 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts?lang=eng&video=19634698842979671470&mode=watch