Martyrs

When Alma and Amulek watched the cruel deaths of the righteous in Ammonihah, Amulek thought they should do something to stop it.  Alma responded, “The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them” (Alma 14:11).  There have been many different martyrs in ancient and modern times who have laid down their lives because of their faith in the Savior.  Alma’s response to Amulek shows that one of the reasons that God allows this to happen is so that their death might be a “witness” against evildoers.  I don’t understand exactly why that is necessary, but from the scriptures we see that there is a great power of testimony in someone laying down their life for the gospel’s sake. 

The death of a martyr stands as both a witness against the wicked as well as a testament to the truthfulness of those things the martyr will not deny.  In John Taylor’s announcement of the death of Joseph and Hyrum, he said that they died “to seal the testimony of this book [the Doctrine and Covenants] and the Book of Mormon.”  They lived their lives testifying of the book, but when they willingly went to the grave for that testimony that they would not deny, the power of witness became sealed forever: “The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force” (D&C 135:1, 5).  Many others have likewise sealed their testimonies with their own blood.  This was especially prevalent in the decades following the resurrection and ascension of the Savior.  John saw this period in vision and described it this way: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held” (Revelation 6:9).  Their testimony was so powerful that these martyrdoms were the single descriptive event representing the whole thousand-year period in John’s vision.  One of these was Stephen who was killed as he bore testimony of “the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56).  In the Book of Mormon, Abinadi likewise allowed himself to be killed so that his testimony would be permanent, both for the Savior and against King Noah: “Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day” (Mosiah 17:10).  For some divine reason, the death of a witness for God brings power to their testimony that comes in no other way.  Ultimately all martyrs stand as symbols and witnesses for Christ who freely gave up His life as the greatest of all martyrs.   

                 Of course, it’s unlikely that many of us will have to give up our lives in such a dramatic way as a testimony for the gospel.  But we are commanded to be willing to so sacrifice.  The Savior said during His mortal ministry: “For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; or whosoever will save his life, shall be willing to lay it down for my sake; and if he is not willing to lay it down for my sake, he shall lose it.  But whosoever shall be willing to lose his life for my sake, and the gospel, the same shall save it” (JST Mark 8:37-38).  Then in our dispensation He said something similar but in even stronger terms: “Let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake; for whoso layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again.  And whoso is not willing to lay down his life for my sake is not my disciple” (D&C 103:27-28).  If we are to be true disciples of the Savior we must be willing to lay down our lives for Him.  We may never be called upon to do so in one great act, but we have opportunities each day to lay down time for Him as we seek to live as He would live.  Every day we can “take up [our] cross, and follow [Him],” whether that means giving up mortal life or just our mortal sins and weaknesses (Mark 8:34).