A Time to be Known, A Time to be Anonymous

From whom do we seek our rewards?

A Time to Be Known

Having a name is important. Witnesses' names are known. Those who are willing to develop the faith necessary for salvation are those willing to lay it all on the altar. The kingdom of Heaven can only be obtained through sacrifice. This includes sacrificing your reputation, honor, recognition, and the esteem of men. You cannot pretend to witness and hide under an anonymous pseudonym. No one slips through the pearly gates incognito. 

The kind of persecution which produces the “kingdom of Heaven” is martyrdom. Originally the word “martyr” meant “witness”. . . but so many of the early Christian witnesses were killed that it came to have the modern meaning of “one who dies for their faith.” Martyrs were seen in John’s vision below the altar of God. . . This means they were holy because of their sacrifice, the Heavenly altar being a symbol of them having shed their blood as witnesses. . . Blessed are those who are willing to endure persecution for His name’s sake. For they are those who are willing to develop faith which cannot be obtained in any other way. It is through the sacrifice of all things that faith necessary for salvation is developed. Glossary Martyr

• And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. And blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake, for ye shall have great joy and be exceeding glad, for great shall be your reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. 3 Nephi 5:19

A Time to be Anonymous

Do alms in secret. Anonymous good deeds bring the Father’s reward.

• And it came to pass as Jesus taught his disciples, he said unto them, Take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise, you have no reward of your Father who is in Heaven. Therefore, when you do alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Truly I say unto you, they have their reward. But when you do alms, let it be unto you as your left hand not knowing what your right hand does, that your alms may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret himself shall reward you openly. Matthew 3:27

Remaining Anonymous Makes Sense

Why would you want to be a disciple of Jesus, openly bare record of truth, and be willing

to receive the consequences when . . .

• You could stand in the fire as Abinadi attested. Mosiah 9:5

• Your head might be on the chopping block as John the Baptist affirmed. Mark 3:11

• You could lose the association of friends and family as Amulek proved. Alma 10:16

• You might be stoned to death as Stephen verified Acts 4:10

• You will ultimately hang on a cross as Jesus demonstrated John 10:12-15

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Hebrews 1:49

Yup! Remaining anonymous makes sense!