THE LIVING
CHRIST
THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Highlighted sections correspond to the seven Values of the YW Program and
their colors:
FAITH = White
DIVINE NATURE = Blue
INDIVIDUAL WORTH = Red
KNOWLEDGE = Green
CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY = Orange
GOOD WORKS = Yellow
INTEGRITY = Purple
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ
two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great
atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon
all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.
He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament,
the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His
Father, He was the creator of the earth. "All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made" (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized
to fulfill all righteousness. He "went about
doing good" (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing
the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught
the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose
of our life on earth, and the potential for
the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
He instituted the sacrament
as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted
to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind.
His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who
would ever live upon the earth.
We solemnly testify
that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem
nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten
Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.
He rose from the grave
to "become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20).
As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved
in life. He also ministered among His "other sheep" (John 10:16) in ancient
America. In the modern world, He and His Father
appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised "dispensation
of the fulness of times" (Ephesians 1:10).
Of the Living Christ,
the Prophet Joseph wrote: "His eyes were as
a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance
shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of
the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was
slain; I am your advocate with the Father" (D&C 110:3–4).
Of Him the Prophet
also declared: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given
of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he
lives!
"For we saw him, even
on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is
the Only Begotten of the Father—
"That by him, and through
him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof
are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:22–24).
We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the
earth—"built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20).
We testify that He
will someday return to earth. "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together" (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as
King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every
knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him.
Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and
the desires of our hearts.
We bear testimony,
as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal
Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the
right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life,
and the hope of the world. His way is the path
that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.
THE FIRST PRESIDENCY
AND THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE
January 1, 2000