The Living Christ

Two weeks ago, John asked me to speak in stake conference.  Thankfully, it wasn't his idea that I do it, but instead was President Price's idea.  The stake presidency wanted a seminary teacher to speak.  The theme of the conference was "The Living Christ" based off the document of the same name:

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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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.

I was given a very specific couple of lines from the document:  "He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, and Messiah of the New.  Under the direction of His Father, He was the Creator of the Earth."

I won't lie--they were very daunting for me to speak about, and I worried that the talk would end up being rather dry.  However, I thought about it everyday for the two weeks, and a million thoughts came into my head.  In the end, I sat down Saturday morning, and the talk just poured on the pages.

It was a beautiful experience (as so many of mine have been lately).  Between teaching Gospel Doctrine, teaching seminary, and now speaking in stake conference, I've had multiple opportunities to study the scriptures. I've never had this kind of experience, but I suspect this is what it's like for full-time missionaries, and to be truthful, it's a little bit exhausting.  Trying to live my life so that my mind is open to the spirit is tiring.  However, it's the best feeling too.  After giving the talk and sitting down, I had none of my usual "did I say the right thing" feeling?  I knew it was what I was supposed to say.

I honestly don't know what it was about this talk, but I received a huge response from it.  In fact, I keep reading it over, wondering what people took from it, and I can't figure it out.  On paper, I still think it's rather dry, but something struck people.  I thought I would record it for posterity:

“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.”  So begins the body of “The Living Christ”, a testimony of the Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

“He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament.”  In other words, he was the premortal Jesus Christ who would be born of Mary.  He was the “Unchangeable One”, “the Great I AM”.  Isaiah teaches us that we can trust in this Lord forever, because he is everlasting strength, and “the most high over all the earth”. 

At times, reading the Old Testament can be a daunting thought.  It’s easy to get bogged down in the day to day rules of living for the people of Israel.  The sacrifices, the covenants, the rule breaking, the need for repentance.  And yet one theme weaves through it all:  Jesus Christ.

As President Marion G. Romney said, “The message of the Old Testament is the message of Christ and his coming and his atonement.”

King Benjamin taught, “And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming.”

Probably one of the most well-known set of scriptures to emerge from the Old Testament is The Ten Commandments, a set of covenants given to the Israelites by Jehovah intended to control their thoughts and desires as well as their acts.

• ·      Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
• ·      Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
• ·      Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
• ·      Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
• ·      Honor thy father and thy mother.
• ·      Thou shalt not kill.
• ·      Thou shalt not commit adultery.
• ·      Thou shalt not steal.
• ·      Thou shalt not bear false witness.
• ·      Thou shalt not covet.

While we might like to think of these commandments as antiquated or not applicable in our own lives, President Monson teaches us, “Although the world has changed, the laws of God remain constant.  They have not changed; they will not change.  The Ten Commandments are just that—commandments.  They are not suggestions.  They are every bit as requisite today as they were when God gave them to the children of Israel.”

“Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth.”  Russell M. Nelson taught, “I testify that the earth and all life upon it are of divine origin.  The Creation did not happen by chance.”  We learn in Moses that everything was created spiritually before it was created physically here on earth. 

“For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. Nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word.”

And what was the purpose of this creation?  “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Or as Lehi taught us, “men are, that they might have joy.”  Coming to earth isn’t about short, momentary bursts of pleasure.  Moments that will be soon forgotten the next day.  It’s about making decisions and living our lives in a way that will bring us closer to our Savior and our Heavenly Father in eternal happiness.

Richard G. Scott gave a talk in the April 1996 General Conference in which he said,

Do you take time to discover each day how beautiful your life can be? How long has it been since you watched the sun set? The departing rays kissing the clouds, trees, hills, and lowlands good night, sometimes tranquilly, sometimes with exuberant bursts of color and form. What of the wonder of a cloudless night when the Lord unveils the marvels of His heavens—the twinkling stars, the moonlight rays—to ignite our imagination with His greatness and glory?

When last did you observe a tiny rosebud form? Each day it develops new and impressive character, more promise of beauty until it becomes a majestic rose. You are one of the noblest of God’s creations. His intent is that your life be gloriously beautiful regardless of your circumstances. As you are grateful and obedient, you can become all that God intends you to be.

Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, “Men are, that they might have joy.”  That is a conditional statement: “they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.

Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy. Pondering their doctrine will let you enjoy the beauties of this earth and enrich your relationships with others. It will lead you to the comforting, strengthening experiences that flow from prayer to Father in Heaven and the answers He gives in return.

A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth. Some people are like rocks thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. Be a cork. When submerged in a problem, fight to be free to bob up to serve again with happiness.

You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you. 

I won’t lie.  It can be hard on a daily basis to find the joy in life, especially as young parents.  The incessant needs of small children can feel mundane and overwhelming.  (I still remember throwing away our last sippy cup.) As my children grew and became teenagers, I held many pebbles close to my eyes.   It felt like days would go by when I could only see their weaknesses and their faults.  However, that all changed when my children received their patriarchal blessings.  With my boys’ desire to have both John and me in the room when they received their blessings, and with the approval of the patriarch, we were able to hear words directly from the Lord about them.  It changed everything. I was able to see my children from the perspective of a loving Heavenly Father.  The pebbles of not making their beds in the morning, or not getting straight As in school, or not being as kind as I thought they should be were cast on the ground.  I realized that my time with them is short, and I should be valuing them as children of God.  Instead of always focusing on the less than perfect behavior, I needed to focus on the joy.  To see their small, beautiful accomplishments.  To trust that they would be what their Heavenly Father and Savior wanted them to be.

“He was the Messiah of the New Testament.”  Jehovah of the Old Testament would be, and was, the King and Savior of the New Testament.  He was the anointed one, sent to save them, not from the oppression of the Gentile nations as the Jews hoped, but he was sent to save them from their sins by teaching them a new, and higher law.  He was giving them the gospel of Christ which was far superior to the law of Moses.

The Law of Moses described a punishment for killing.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that giving way to anger is a sin.

The Law of Moses taught that if you had an issue with another person, a sacrifice could atone for your hatred.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ taught that you should “first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

In Leviticus, the Lord taught the people,

“And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. 

And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;

Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth:  as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.”

But when speaking the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught,

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.”

And finally, it was the Mosaic law to love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”

The Savior teaches us how to find that everlasting joy for which we were created.  As the apostles have said in The Living Christ, “His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.”

I testify that this is true.  Our Savior has created a world for us and given us a way to live so that we can find joy.  Let’s not stop working for it.

And I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.