Why Should I Share My Testimony of Jesus Christ?

My Come Follow Studies for this week again took me to the book of Psalms and a lesson titled “I Will Declare What He Hath Done for My Soul” (Psalms 49-51; 61-66; 69-72; 77-78; 85-86). The following information introduced the lesson. 

The writers of the Psalms shared deeply personal feelings in their poetry. They wrote about feeling discouraged, afraid, and remorseful. At times, they even felt abandoned by God, and some psalms carry a tone of frustration or desperation. If you’ve ever felt that way, reading the Psalms can help you know that you aren’t the only one. But you’ll also find psalms that can encourage you when you’re having such feelings, because the psalmists also praised the Lord for His goodness, marveled at His power, and rejoiced in His mercy. They knew that we are burdened by evil and sin but that the Lord is “good, and ready to forgive” (Psalm 86:5). They understood that having faith in the Lord doesn’t mean that you’ll never struggle with anxiety, sin, or fear. It means that you know who to turn to when you do.

The scripture block for this week teaches several principles, including: (1) Redemption comes only through Jesus Christ (Psalms 49; 62:5-12). (2) Because of the Savior’s mercy, I can be forgiven (Psalms 51; 85-86). (3) My testimony of Jesus Christ can help others come unto Him (Psalms 51:13-15; 66:5-20; 71:15-24). (4) The Lord will help me in my time of need (Psalms 63; 69; 77-78).

This essay will discuss how sharing my testimony of Jesus Christ cam help other people to believe in Him. Here are a few verses where testimony of Jesus Christ is declared.

·       Psalm 66:5: “come and see the works of God.”

·       Psalm 66:16: “Come and hear, … and I will declare what [the Lord] hath done for my soul.”

·       Psalm 71:24: “talk of [His] righteousness all the day long.”

At a BYU-Hawaii devotional address given on September 21, 2010, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about a testimony (“Testimony: Sharing in Word and Deed,” New Era, March 2019). 

A testimony is a knowledge or spiritual witness of truth given to us by the Holy Ghost. Receipt of this knowledge will change the things we say and the things we do. A testimony is composed of key elements of truth of which the Holy Ghost will bear witness.

“The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves us; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that we are led by a living prophet today; and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference (2004), 178).

I have always believed in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I do not remember a time when I doubted. I know that They are real because the Holy Ghost has confirmed to me on multiple occasions that They are near. This confirmation has grounded me on numerous occasions when I felt alone. If you desire to have a testimony of God or His Son, I encourage you to study about Them and then ask God to confirm Their reality to you.