Alma 4

"The wickedness of the church was a great stumbling block to those who did not belong to the church" (10).

There are a many people who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are amazing people. They live righteously. They study the scriptures they have. They serve others. They exemplify Christ. We are blessed to have these people on Earth. However, as members of the Church we should be just as great if not greater, for we have been blessed with the Truth. If we do not live as followers of Christ, we who are members of his church that has been restored to the Earth, than how can we expect others to come and partake of the covenants and blessings we have been given that make us eternally happy?


President George Albert Smith said:

Within the last year, I have had the privilege of meeting and conversing on the gospel with some men who live in this community [Salt Lake City], not members of our Church. One man had resided here for twenty years, a man whose life is above reproach, a good citizen, a splendid business man, one who has kindly feelings towards our people. He told me that he had lived here twenty years, and he had come to the conclusion that we were just as good as our neighbors who are members of other churches; he could not see any difference in us. 

I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that is no compliment to me. If the gospel of Jesus Christ does not make me a better man, then I have not developed as I should, and if our neighbors not in this Church can live among us from year to year and see no evidence of the benefits that come from keeping the commandments of God in our lives, then there is need for reform in Israel. … 

… Are you doing your duty? are we performing the labor that the Lord has entrusted to our care? do we sense the responsibility that is upon us? or are we idly floating down stream, going with the tide taking it for granted that in the last day, we will be redeemed?

"Seeing no way that [Alma] might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them" (19).

Alma, seeing the many of the members acting not as the should be, bore down pure testimony against them. Testimony has a power we may not fully recognize. We edify one another and strengthen each other through the bearing of our testimonies. Elder M. Russell Ballard said:

“Simply stated, testimony—real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost—changes lives. It changes how you think and what you do. It changes what you say. It affects every priority you set and every choice you make. . . . 

“My experience throughout the Church leads me to worry that too many of our members’ testimonies linger on ‘I am thankful’ and ‘I love,’ and too few are able to say with humble but sincere clarity, ‘I know.’ As a result, our meetings sometimes lack the testimony-rich, spiritual underpinnings that stir the soul and have meaningful, positive impact on the lives of all those who hear them.

“Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies. . . . 

“. . . To bear testimony is ‘to bear witness by the power of the Holy Ghost; to make a solemn declaration of truth based on personal knowledge or belief’ (Guide to the Scriptures, “Testify”). Clear declaration of truth makes a difference in people’s lives. That is what changes hearts. That is what the Holy Ghost can confirm in the hearts of God’s children. 

“Although we can have testimonies of many things as members of the Church, there are basic truths we need to constantly teach one another and share with those not of our faith. Testify that God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ. The plan of salvation is centered on the Savior’s Atonement. Joseph Smith restored the fulness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is evidence that our testimony is true” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2004, 42–43; or Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40–41).