Sabbath Devotional :: Witness of Christ

Our kitten, Chirp, went exploring and got her paw stuck in the shock springs under our car. It wasn’t easy to get her out. After her rescue, little Chirp was shaking with pain and fear. She didn’t tell me how she was feeling, even though I asked, but I think it was scary for her. My daughter comforted her and fed her — we had to bottle feed this litter — and then set her down. Chirp’s brother, Mittens, came over and cuddled with Chirp until she stopped shaking. They fell asleep together, but as soon as Chirp was calm, Mittens asked to go back outside. Chirp calmly slept for a long time.

Our baptismal covenants require us to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. At times, one of the best ways to mourn with someone is to simply sit with them until they stop shaking, like our kitten Mittens did.

Chirp had three other siblings and her mother, but only Mittens came to her in her distress. (That mama cat wasn’t the best mother. That’s why we were bottle feeding.) I wonder how often I have missed opportunities to keep my covenant to comfort others because I was distracted or oblivious like all the cats except for Mittens.

As we read on in Mosiah, we find that in addition to “mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort,” we have covenanted to “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in” (Mosiah 18:9).

Although absolutely essential, it is not enough to mourn and comfort. We are to be witnesses of God. The baptismal covenant as found in the book of Mosiah was outlined by Alma. Alma had seen Abinadi killed after bearing witness of Christ in the courts of King Noah. Because Alma pleaded with the king for Abinadi’s life, his own life was in danger. He ran from the wicked king and his priests. Even in these circumstances, Alma knew he needed to act as a witness. He “went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi — Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven” (Mosiah 18:1-2).

Even in the worst of circumstances, Alma could not be restrained from sharing his witness.

The word witness is both a verb and a noun. We become a witness when we witness of Christ.

How do we witness of Christ?

Peter said, “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). Nephi said, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ” (2 Nephi 25:26). There are times for formal preaching and prophesying, but more often there are times to talk casually and rejoice openly for the role Christ plays in our lives. Whatever the situation, our witness needs to be coupled with meekness and fear, as Peter taught.

One of the sisters from my mission lives in New Zealand. A few years ago, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. As they progressed through his treatments and suffering, and then his death, my friend talked openly online about the ways they could see God’s hand in their lives. She is authentic and sincere and rejoices in eternity without talking down to her many friends and family members who do not share her beliefs. Her witness was and is a strength to me. She is a wonderful example of bearing witness of Christ. She is always ready to explain her hope and her peace.

How do we become witnesses of Christ?

Jesus taught his disciples the way that they could be identified as witnesses: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

This commandment appears so simple, but in our very real, messy lives and relationships, we know it is anything but simple. I return to my friend in New Zealand. When we were on our missions, she seemed to encircle everyone around her with her love. She was a couple years older than the rest of the missionaries and many elders and sisters referred to her as Mama E. Her love was authentic and unencumbered by ego.

Perhaps that big love she embodies is the reason she can talk so openly of Christ without hesitation, always gathering people instead of “preaching” in a way that pushes people away.

In different circumstances, we will be able to mourn, comfort, rejoice, talk, preach, testify, and love. If we are ready and willing, we will be witnesses of Christ at all times and in all things, and in all places that we may be in.