The Living Christ

When I was a child, I recall friends asking me why our church didn’t have a cross. I can’t remember what I said. I do remember, however, what the prophet around that time, Gordon B. Hinckley, later said about why members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don’t typically display crosses:

I do not wish to give offense to any of my Christian colleagues who use the cross on the steeples of their cathedrals and at the altars of their chapels, who wear it on their vestments, and imprint it on their books and other literature. But for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ.

President Hinckley went on to say that the lives of the people must become the most meaningful expression of their faith and, therefore, the symbol of their worship.

That certainly is consistent with what Jesus taught.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:14-16

Jesus’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, his cruel treatment among the rulers of the Jews and the Roman soldiers, as well as His agony and death on the cross, are not forgotten nor are they trivialized in any way.

An ancient American prophet named Alma, whose teachings are found in The Book of Mormon, taught that it was because of Christ’s suffering that He knows how to comfort us.

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Alma 7:11-12

I will be forever grateful that Christ suffered so much for me. Latter-day Saints believe that Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane encompassed not only the sins of all mankind but also all of their pains, sicknesses, and infirmities.

This is the most expansive understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in all of Christianity as far as I’m aware. As a result, we often refer to the Savior’s suffering in His final days as an infinite atonement. An experience that came to a climax as He hung on the cross and cried, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matt. 27:46

I believe Christ felt forsaken so that He would not and could not forsake us. I also wonder if it’s possible that the full weight of the world’s sorrows and sins returned to Him in that moment. Perhaps God’s Spirit had to withdraw in such company, giving the Savior the full sinner’s experience?

But shouldering this inestimable burden of eternal consequence completely and utterly alone isn’t the end of the story. As the Psalmist said, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Latter-day Saints testify that He rose again on the third day, conquering both sin and death.

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Cor. 15:55

Which leads me to the point of this post… I wanted to share an official declaration by the First Presidency of the Church (the prophet and two counselors, all ordained Apostles), and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles given in January of 2000.

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.