A Living Testimony
In the most recent general conference, Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella spoke about being a witness for the Savior. He reminded us of this teaching from President Nelson: “Taking the Savior’s name upon us includes declaring and witnessing to others—through our actions and our words—that Jesus is the Christ.” Elder Parrella elaborated, “As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have the blessing and privilege to stand as witnesses of the Lord and His name everywhere we are. As we strive to live our lives in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ, our conduct will be a living testimony of our Redeemer and His name. Moreover, we witness of Christ in word by sharing with others what we believe, feel, or know of Jesus Christ.” I love this idea that our conduct can be a “living testimony” of the Savior and His gospel. To share the gospel encompasses more than talking about the gospel with people; more importantly it is to show others what a disciple of Christ lives like and the influence He has on our lives. Elder Parrella told of an experience attending the open house of a new temple where a member named Virgil Atkinson had brought seven friends of other faiths to be there with him. He recounted, “Toward the end of the visit, in a temple sealing room, Brother Atkinson was emotional as he expressed his love for his friends who had come to the temple that day. Almost immediately after he had done so, a woman in the group stood up and said, ‘We all love Virgil. He has never imposed his faith on us. But he is not shy about it either. He just lives what he believes.’” That is a powerful compliment and how I think we should all strive to be: people should see that we live what we believe. And we hope that this will help point them to God. Jesus put it this way: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
I
have recently been listening to David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens, a profound novel that I wish I had read and discovered long
ago. I have been particularly moved by the example of Agnes, the faithful
friend of David who always brought him light and guidance and love. He had spent
several years as a teenager in her home as he went to school, and her goodness had
a powerful impact on him. David described her in these words, “I was never
unmindful of Agnes, and she never left that sanctuary in my thoughts—if I may
call it so—where I had placed her from the first.” She proved a faithful friend
to him throughout many difficulties, and whenever he was in her presence he
felt light and comfort. He described it at one point this way: “Conversing with
her, and hearing her sing, was such a delightful reminder to me of my happy
life in the grave old house she had made so beautiful… I felt then, more than
ever, that she was my better Angel; and if I thought of her sweet face and
placid smile, as though they had shone on me from some removed being, like an
Angel, I hope I thought no harm.” She is one of the most Christ-like characters
I know of in literature, and it wasn’t because of her direct testimony of Jesus
Christ but because of the goodness that emanated from her and always lifted
David, even when he did wrong. That is how we should strive to be: so good that
others around us feel light and love and are drawn closer to the Savior. We
want to be, as the song
says, “A window to His love” so that “some day shining through my face, you'll
see His loving countenance, 'cause I will have become like He is.” I hope that
we can indeed strive to make our lives a “living testimony” of Jesus Christ so
that others will want to know Him because they know us.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments: