On January 1, 2000, the First Presidency and Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles issued the following declaration. Titled
“The Living Christ,” this declaration bears witness of the
Lord Jesus Christ and summarizes His identity and divine
mission:
“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” (Ensign, Apr. 2000, 2–3).
See also Atonement of Jesus Christ
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