Mormon and Moroni warned us not to deny the Christ. Moroni refused to deny Jesus, even though that refusal placed his life in danger. We can also avoid denying Christ by receiving his power and gifts, forgiving others, and honoring His representatives.
“I Am Mormon”
Mormon tells us three things when he introduces himself in 3 Nephi 5: 1. The origin and significance of his name 2. His calling and purpose 3. His multigenerational perspective
Knowing “Of Myself”
Both Alma and Nephi testified that they had received knowledge directly from God which they could not have gained on their own. These testimonies encouraged their listeners to open their hearts and receive the knowledge that only God can give.
Being an Amulek
It's relatively easy to discount a testimony from a stranger. When a friend or neighbor shares their personal experience, it can be more impactful. Like Amulek, we can help our friends open their hearts to God by sharing our experiences with the gospel.
Jesus Quoting Abinadi
Jesus quoted Abinadi twice, once just before He was born, and once just after His death. Nephi, whose great-great-great-grandfather Alma had heard Abinadi speak those words, may have recognized this as an endorsement of Abinadi's testimony.
Obtaining Hope
Jacob says that we obtain hope by searching the prophets and by receiving personal revelation. Hearing from many witnesses strengthens our faith and our hope and helps us align our lives with the will of God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Testimony of Jesus = Spirit of Prophecy
An angel told John that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The only way we can be sure that Jesus is our Savior is by direct, personal revelation from God. Therefore, the people who have that testimony are the people who receive revelation.
Another Gospel
The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that God himself came to earth, suffered and died for us, and rose again three days later. Each of us needs to develop our own conviction of those truths, independent of anyone else.
Not Ashamed
Shame is a feeling of self-consciousness because you have done something wrong. Unfortunately, we can sometimes feel ashamed when we have done nothing wrong. Paul models the behavior of a disciple by saying, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ."
How They Might Entangle Him
During the last week of His life, Jesus responded wisely to His antagonistic interrogators. He challenged their rigid categories, provided simple solutions to apparently complicated problems, and testified of simple truths with sincerity.