Date: 11/17/2020
Bearing Testimony: Speaking Truth to Power
Andrew Bolton of Leicester, England
Excerpted from “Bearing Testimony: Speaking Truth to Power,” Australia Herald, August 2020, p. 14
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. —Proverbs 31:8–9
We are a testimony-telling people. We tell personal stories of how we have experienced God’s love. When I first met church people as a young adult, I loved hearing peoples’ testimonies of God’s reality in their lives. I was moved, touched, and grew in faith to the point I wanted to be baptized.
Speaking truth to power on behalf of those who cannot always speak for themselves is an extension of our testimony tradition. It is the stewardship of citizenship. The first act of justice is listening to the pain, seeing the hurt and suffering. The second act is doing something. This includes speaking respectfully to those who can change things.
All you need is compassion and courage. Where does courage come from? The Holy Spirit who calls us! Another word for Holy Spirit is Comforter—from the Latin com forte—which means “with strength.” The second source of courage is the support of others.
The best way I have found to visit politicians is to go with someone else, ideally several people, who feel the same way as you. To go with a victim, and others, gives lots of courage. If you can go with members of other faiths, even better.
- Have a single issue.
- Make sure you are well-researched, using reputable sources.
- Practice what each is going to say.
- Introduce yourselves.
- Have your well-prepared “ask”—what you want the politician to do.
- Keep to time; be civil.
- Thank the person for something they have done that you are grateful for. Our long-term goal is to build respectful relationships and have long-term influence.
Letter writing is another form of advocacy. When a politician receives a letter or when you phone, they think, “A thousand other people also are thinking like this.” A good letter includes the following:
- Be brief. Keep to one page. Handwritten is better.
- Be courteous.
- Say what legislation or stand you want your representative to take.
- Give reasons.
- Ask questions so they have to reply.
“Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:3b).
Prayer Phrase
God, help me seek peace for me, peace for us, peace for everyone, and peace for our planet. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
The International Community
Find (or imagine) a globe or map of the world. Look at all the nations and find a country other than your own. Notice the geographic distance between your homeland and this one. Picture a person living there. Pray for this person. Sense God’s love connecting you just as the oceans connect the continents. Thank God for the spiritual connection you have with all of God’s people around the globe. Ask a blessing on the church as a community sharing Christ’s peace, drawing all into the family of God.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
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