Why to Testify of Christ

Much of the second half of Section 84 is instructions regarding missionary work, listing all kinds of pertinent duties and blessings. Even more importantly, it explains why we do it in the first place: If we don't, we're damned.

Verse 61 tells us that the Lord forgives us with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you. This reminds me of a verse I learned of as a missionary: Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you (D&C 62:3).

These are very happy verses and don't contain explicit warnings of damnation at disobedience. However, they also reminded me of King Benjamin's final address, in which he warned his people that he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation Mosiah 26:31). It seems to me that directly forgiving others would be considered on the same principles as giving them the capacity to seek God's forgiveness. If you don't give your neighbors a chance to repent, why would the Lord give you one?

Of course, that all makes the commandment seem harsher and more selfish than it really is. Bearing testimony of Jesus Christ is not something we simply get out of the way to avoid hellfire; it's indicative of our obedience to the greatest commandment Christ ever gave: ...That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another John 13:34). If we don't share the Gospel with others, we obviously don't love them enough, and therefore aren't truly Christian. On the other hand, if we do love them, we will do everything in our power to ensure that they get to feel, as soon as possible, all of the love of God that we have.