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