A member of the Church met up with one of her neighbors on the sidewalk in front of her home. They began talking, and, pretty soon, the neighbor made a negative statement about the Church that was not true. Surmising that he wanted to hear "her side of things," she thought about how to respond to his statement.

Soon, it became obvious that her neighbor didn't want to learn about the Church or hear her opinion. Armed with apparent misinformation, he complained about the Church, its leaders, doctrine and history. This man, she concluded, was on a mission to speak against the Church at whatever opportunity he had. In this case, it was on a public sidewalk.

Although she was uncomfortable, she felt she ought to "defend" the Church. She searched her memory for point-by-point responses to her neighbor's accusations. Fairly well schooled in the scriptures, gospel doctrine, Church history and policies, she felt she could hold her own quite well. However, when she realized that the conversation was more contentious than neighborly, she wondered what she ought say. Then a thought from the scriptures came to her mind: "But we preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Joseph Smith declared that all things "which pertain to our religion are only appendages" to the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, 1976, p. 121).

The woman realized that whatever she said — how many scriptures or doctrinal quotations she recited or historical events she reviewed — would make little, if any, difference. A difference would be made only if her neighbor had an understanding of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. And, she felt, her neighbor must know that she had a testimony of Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Paul and other apostles of the New Testament bore powerful witness of Jesus Christ. For gospel doctrine lessons this year, we have read some of their testimonies. Added to these testimonies are those contained in the Book of Mormon, which we recognize as "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." The title page of the Book of Mormon straightforwardly declares that one of its main purposes is "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ,..."

As we study the scriptures and develop a knowledge of those chapters and verses that pertain to the divine mission of Jesus Christ, we gain a greater insight into His teachings and His Atonement, that redeeming sacrifice that saves us all. And as our knowledge grows, so will our testimony of Him. As we become more acquainted with Him, we — aided by the Holy Ghost — will be able to bear a more powerful witness, and bear it in a spirit of kindness and love rather than in rebuttal or contention.

The Lord admonished: "Thou shalt declare glad tidings, yea, publish it upon the mountains, and upon every high place, and among every people that thou shalt be permitted to see.

"And thou shalt do it with all humility, trusting in me, reviling not against revilers" (Doctrine and Covenants 19:29-30).

The Prophet Joseph Smith once counseled those departing on missions to "go in all meekness, in sobriety, and preach Christ and Him crucified; not to contend with others on account of their faith or systems of religion, but pursue a steady course. This I delivered by way of commandment; and all who observe it not, will pull down persecution upon their heads, while those who do, shall always be filled with the Holy Ghost; this I pronounced as a prophecy" (History of the Church 2:431).

As Latter-day Saints many of us are, or will be, called upon to answer questions about our faith. As we respond, let us do so in the spirit of the Lord's instruction:

"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:44-45).

As we visit with friends and neighbors who are curious about our faith, let us remember that not all testimonies of Jesus Christ gain expression in a chapel. Sometimes, they come forth on a sidewalk in front of one's own house.