Garret's Talk

Garret gave an awesome talk today in sacrament meeting.

 Hi my name is Garret Christensen, and I was asked to give a talk on Standing as a Witness of Christ. To better understand what Standing as a Witness of Christ means we must first know what a witness is. In Gospel Topics it states, “A witness is a statement or other evidence that something is true. It can also refer to someone who gives a statement based on personal knowledge. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, witness often refers to someone who bears witness, or testimony, of something he or she has experienced and knows to be true.” Witnesses are used a lot in the church. An example of this is, there are three and eight witness of the Book of Mormon. Another example is, witnesses are used for ordinances such as baptisms.  

In Mosiah 18:9 it reads, “To stand as witness of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places.” In a talk given by Margaret D. Nadauld in April 2000, she explained what this verse means stating, “First of all, in standing as a witness at all times, we promise to love the Lord, to honor Him all the time—daytime and nighttime, summer and winter, good times and bad times.” She went on to say, “Standing as a witness in all things means all things—big things, little things, in all conversations, in jokes, in games played and books read and music listened to, in causes supported, in service rendered, in clothes worn, in friends made.” She also said, “Finally, we say that we will stand as a witness in all places. That means not only in public places but in private places, in secret, in dark or in light places; in church, school, home, or cars; in mountain places or beach places on the street or in the park.” A great story of standing as a witness of Christ is told by President Thomas S. Monson when he was at boot camp his commanding officer told everyone to go to church. He called out for the Catholics to meet in one camp, the Jews in another, and the Protestants in a third camp. 

President Monson stated, “ Instantly there flashed through my mind the thought, ‘Monson, you are not a Catholic; you are not a Jew; you are not a Protestant. You are a Mormon, so you just stand here!’ I can assure you that I felt completely alone. Courageous and determined, yes—but alone”
 [My commanding officer] looked in my direction and asked, “And just what do you guys call yourselves?” Until that very moment I had not realized that anyone was standing beside me or behind me on the drill ground. Almost in unison, each of us replied, “Mormons!” It is difficult to describe the joy that filled my heart as I turned around and saw a handful of other sailors. The chief petty officer scratched his head in an expression of puzzlement but finally said, “Well, you guys go find somewhere to meet. And don’t come back until three o’clock. Forward, march!” We can learn from President Monson to be courageous and determined in standing as a witness of Christ. 

 I really like how we have been able to study church history this year as part of Come Follow Me.  Joseph Smith is an awesome example of standing as a witness of Christ. One of my favorite scriptures is in Joseph Smith history 1:25 where Joseph Smith gives a powerful witness.  He states, “For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.” We can learn from Joseph Smith to be steadfast and always stand by your witness of Christ and never deny your testimony.

In conclusion, I hope that we can all be like President Monson and Joseph Smith and stand as a witness of Christ in all times, and in all things, and in all places. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.