The Living Christ

Statue of Christ, 1833, by Bertel Thorvaldsen, Vor Frue Kirke (Our Lady’s Church), Copenhagen; the inscription at the base reads “Kommer til mig” (“Come to me”). This is the original white Carrara marble statue; Wikimedia Commons

Where Science Meets the Doctrine and Covenants, for the Come Follow Me lesson Dec 22-28; Christmas

I cite here a portion of The Living Christ, The Testimony of the Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, January 1, 2000.¹ I have been selective because the entire text of The Living Christ is readily available on the churchofjesuschrist website. I highly recommend you read the entire proclamation, as no part of it is unimportant. I have only selected a few phrases to cite here.  

“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.”

I also recite the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, given February 16, 1832, as record in Doctrine and Covenants 76: 22-24, “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.”

As my discussions of Science and the Doctrine and Covenants come to a close, I simply add my testimony to those of much greater witnesses. I have not seen Him in the flesh, but I have felt His guidance as I have prayed about what to say in my blogs, and I have been a witness to His reality and postmortal dealings with humanity, as recounted in the 138 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. This witness I humbly bear in His Holy Name. Amen

Trent Dee Stephens, PhD

trentdeestephens.com

stephenstrent7@gmail.com

References

1.     churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles/the-living-christ-the-testimony-of-the-apostles?lang=eng