Sunday School
What is a Witness? What role do they play in God’s work?
“The law of witnesses has always been a part of the Lord’s work on earth. This law states that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Cor. 13:1; see also Deut. 17:6; Deut. 19:15; Matt. 18:15–16; John 8:12–29). This witness confirms that certain events took place and that God-given doctrine and principles are true.
“The first duty of a witness is to testify. A person who can testify to the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is speaking of things he or she knows to be true….
“Orson Pratt said: ‘A person can not be a witness to that which he merely believes. God requires mankind, or certain individuals among mankind, to be witnesses for him—witnesses of his existence—so that they can bear testimony to others’ (in Journal of Discourses, 16:209–10).” (Loren C Dunn, “Witnesses”, October 1995 General Conference)
1 Corinthians 2:12-13
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
The eight witnesses may have had more of a physical witness of the BOM and the 3 may have had more of a spiritual witness.
Someone suggested that we don’t have more physical evidence of the things of God, because spiritual witnesses are more effective and physical witnesses are not very effective.
“Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible….
“For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said “were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.” (3 Ne. 9:20; italics added.)” (President Ezra Taft Benson. “A Mighty Change of Heart”, Ensign October 1989)
Sacrament Service
First Speaker
A sister that recently returned from a mission to Brazil spoke to us. She came home early due to Covid-19.
She talked about the chapter in the Preach My Gospel manual “How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?”. There are nine Attributes in there (Faith, Hope, Charity and Love, Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence, Obedience).
John 15:12-13
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Mosiah 28:3
3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.
Moroni 7:45
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Next Speaker
“We achieve that abundant life not by focusing on our own needs or on our own achievements but by becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ—by following in His ways and engaging in His work. We find the abundant life by forgetting ourselves and engaging in the great cause of Christ.
“And what is the cause of Christ? It is to believe in Him, love as He loved, and do as He did.” (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Believe, Love, Do”, October 2018 General Conference)
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