How Important Are Example and Testimony in Sharing the Gospel?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Mosiah 29-Alma 4 in a lesson titled “They Were Steadfast and Immovable.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Some might see King Mosiah’s proposal to replace kings with elected judges as merely wise political reform. But to the Nephites, especially those who lived under wicked King Noah, this change had spiritual significance too. They had seen how an unrighteous king had influenced his people, and they were “exceedingly anxious” to be free from such influence. This change would allow them to be responsible for their own righteousness and “answer for [their] own sins” (Mosiah 29:38).

Of course, the end of the reign of kings did not mean the end of problems in Nephite society. Cunning people like Nehor and Amlici promoted false ideas, nonbelievers persecuted the Saints, and many members of the Church became prideful and fell away. Yet “the humble followers of God” remained “steadfast and immovable” despite what happened around them (Alma 4:15; 1:25).

The principle that I feel prompted to discuss tonight is found in Alma 4:6-20: “My example and testimony can change hearts.” Alma was the High Priest of the Church and the Chief Judge for the Nephite people. When he saw false prophets and false teachers preaching to the people – and the people believing their words, he was concerned. Members of the Church began to fall away, and nonbelievers began to persecute the believers.

Some people may say that Alma could have solved these problems better as Chief Judge. However, Alma felt that there was a better way. He appointed Nephihah, a righteous man, to be the Chief Judge, and Alma began to travel throughout the land to preach the word of God unto the people.

And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.

The people of our time are similar to the people of Alma’s time. We have false prophets and false teachers going about teaching false doctrines. We have nonbelievers (non-Christians and non-Jews) going about persecuting the believers (all who believe in God). There are great contentions in our land as well as pride and craftiness. There are people seeking power to do evil. Our day is not much different than the days of Alma. In fact, they are quickly becoming like the days of Noah before the Great Flood came and destroyed them all.

Noah preached to the people for approximately 120 years and converted only his family. Alma gave up the judgment seat and used his time and energy to teach the people. Some of the people were converted and changed their lives. Others did not.

The signs of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ are increasing, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is doing its part to create a people worthy to receive Him. One way that the Church of Jesus Christ is doing this is the missionary program. In 2024, there are approximately 72,000 missionaries serving in the mission field. The Church of Jesus Christ recently announced that on July 1, 2024, the Church will add 36 new missions, making a total of 450 missions – the highest number of missions in history. The Church of Jesus Christ Will Create 36 New Missions in 2024

The Church of Jesus Christ gave several reasons for creating new missions. The first reason given was to “accommodate rising numbers of missionaries.” Other reasons are contained in this paragraph.

Church leaders will create these new missions from existing missions. This adjustment will allow mission leaders to have more interaction with missionaries and more missionaries to be assigned to wards and branches.

The Lord is hastening His work in preparing the world for His Second Coming. The missionaries are volunteering their time and money to serve missions. In addition, there are more than 17 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ sharing the gospel through their personal examples and through sharing their testimonies of the divinity of Christ. Some bear testimony in person to their family and friends, while others do so through blogs and pod casts that reach hundreds or thousands of people.

I will share my own testimony born to me by the Holy Ghost. I know for myself that Heavenly Father lives, that Jesus Christ is His Son and atoned for the sins of all people who will repent, that the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ – is God’s word to the people of today, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s church on earth today, and that President Russell M. Nelson is the Lord’s prophet on the earth today to tell us what the Lord would have us know and to bless people all over the world.