Every month we as Mormons are given an opportunity to ascend to the pulpit and bear testimony to the things we believe are true. I have often wondered how often false statements are introduced and testified of with all the fervor with which we are wont to manifest. I often wonder if the Lord is always pleased with the things that we bear witness of and the certainty with which we bear it. Anyhow that’s a side thought, what got me thinking of this is the account in 1 Nephi 17 where we have 2 separate testimonies borne (or is it bared, I don’t know) which are diametrically opposed.
As a backdrop, Laman and Lemuel have reluctantly followed their prophet father Lehi as he was told in no uncertain terms that they needed to flee Jerusalem and that it would be destroyed and many taken captive etc. This is around 600 BC. They lived as vagabonds in the desert for many years. I’ll cut these two rebellious-prone brothers some slack since if we were in that family’s shoes, I’m afraid many would not have even left.
The testimony they bear is found in verses 21 and 22:
Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy.
And WE KNOW that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, WE KNOW that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us. (1 Nephi 17:21-22, Book of Mormon, emphasis mine)
So these two brothers had a “testimony” of the religious institution to which they were born into. They also had a “testimony” of the righteousness of their fellow Jews because of their religiosity. (Now I’m NOT asking you to apply this to us today because we are swimming in uncorrelated waters now, so please don’t. All is well, Zion prospereth!)
Contrast this to the testimony of the younger brother Nephi, the same Nephi who knew of what he spoke and testified of. The same Nephi who saw in vision the future birth of the Savior and his ministry and death, and saw a great and glorious vision to the end of the world. Although he was not permitted to reveal to us the fullness of his account, he did leave us many warnings, exhortations and a true witness as one who received the testimony of Christ.
Referring to his fellow Jews at Jerusalem, Nephi bares his testimony that:
. . . the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I KNOW not but they are at this day about to be destroyed; for I KNOW that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity. (1Nephi 17:43)
What does history have to say about this? Obviously both of these witnesses’ testimony could not be true no matter how much they hoped it to be. A few years later after this exchange, the king of Babylon himself Nebuchadnezzar II and his army laid siege to Jerusalem and ransacked the city, countless died, the temple was destroyed, the city razed to the ground and a small remnant were taken captive into Babylon, the vast majority however were slaughtered. The king at the time Zedekiah was captured and had his children killed in front of his eyes and then his eyes were cut out. He was taken captive in chains to Babylon and lived in captivity all the rest of his days.
How blind are we today and how many flaxen cords of the adversary are wrapped around our bodies? To whom are we in bondage to? These are interesting things to ponder and apply to our own selves.
Score 1 point for team Nephi. (Nephi actually cheated because he saw the aforementioned events, he didn’t just believe falsely in the traditions of his fathers.)
Next time we are impressed upon to bear testimony of things as they are, as they were or as they are to come, let us choose carefully the words we use and let us choose carefully what we are willing to bear witness to. Sometimes “I believe” or “I hope” is more appropriate than “I know.”