Who Is Jesus Christ?

My VIP for this Christmas week is Jesus Christ, the reason for the Christmas season. I love Jesus Christ, and I worship Him as the Son of Heavenly Father. Yet, I feel inadequate to write about Him. Therefore, I will use the words of other people to answer the question, who is Jesus Christ?

In April 1976, Elder Eldred G. Smith, then-Patriarch to the Church, spoke on the topic “Who Is Jesus?” He opened his address by quoting the words of the Savior as He was praying to Heavenly Father, just prior to his crucifixion: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). 

We must know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to have eternal life. So, what does it mean to know Them, and how do we gain that knowledge. I propose that we must go to the beginning, even our premortal life. Elder Smith shares essential information.

In that council in heaven, the plan and purpose of this earth life was explained to all the spirits [all of us because we were there], and then “the Lord [Heavenly Father] said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man [Jehovah]: Here am I, send me. And another [Lucifer] answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first.” ([Pearl of Great Price, Abraham] 3:27).

He who was selected was Jehovah, the oldest, who had promised that in going he would honor the Father and give him all the glory.

The Father has declared: “This is my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” ([Pearl of Great Price,] Moses 1:39.)

Jehovah was, then, under the direction of the Father, the creator of this earth and many other worlds. Moses was shown in vision “many lands; and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof.” (Moses 1:29.) God declared to Moses: “By the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.

“And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.” (Moses 1:32-33.)

To get some idea of the magnitude of these creations: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said, “Astronomers now yield what they did not formerly yield, that there may have been many, and probably were, many worlds like ours. Some say there were in this galaxy perhaps from its beginning, one million worlds like unto this one.

“’Worlds without number have I created,’ through ‘mine Only Begotten Son.’ I repeat, our Lord is not a novice, he is not an amateur; he has been over this course time and time and time again.

“And if you think of this galaxy of ours having within it from the beginning perhaps until now, one million worlds, and multiply that by the number of millions of galaxies, one hundred million galaxies, that surround us, you will then get some view of who this Man we worship is.” (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Behold the Lamb of God, Deseret Book Company, 1962, pp. 16-17.)

He was truly no novice, no amateur, in the art or skill of a creator. “Worlds without number” he has created.

It was he, then, who came to this earth in the meridian of time, born of the virgin Mary – the literal Son of God the Father, “the Only Begotten Son.”

He declared who he was. Throughout his life on earth, he repeatedly declared that he was the Son of God….

On numerous occasions, he declared that he was the Christ, the Son of God.

Is it any wonder then that he, the Son of God, the great Creator, had power over the elements of this earth, even to violate the law of gravity by walking on the water?

I suppose it was quite simple for him, the Creator, when obligated to provide wine at the wedding feast to change the water to wine.

Nor was it a trick of the imagination when he fed five thousand plus the women and children with a few loaves and fishes, and on another occasion, four thousand plus the women and children. (See Matt. 14:16-21; 15:32-38.)

He also showed his power over the elements when at his command to “be still,” the stormy sea was calmed. (Mark 4:39.)

He demonstrated his power over the animal kingdom; on two separate occasions, at his command, a great catch of fish was made when they had had no success before. (See Matt. 14:16-21; 15:32-38.)

He showed his power over the vegetable kingdom when he cursed the fig tree. (See Matt. 21:19.)

On each occasion, he was declared to be the Christ, the literal Son of God.

He healed all manner of illness or disease. At his command, the evil spirits departed, they, too, declaring who he was. He made the blind to see, the lame to walk. Yes, he even controlled life itself, for he restored Lazarus to life, who had been declared dead for four days. There were others, too….

He took upon himself the sins of all who shall repent, and gave his life that all might live. He brought about the resurrection for all. Do you realize that the creation of this earth, and all the work of Jesus and the prophets since the very beginning, was for you – that you might have immortality and eternal life – just as much as for anyone else? …

In March 2008, President Boyd K. Packer, then-Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, authored an article titled, “Who Is Jesus Christ?” He wrote of the many titles of Jesus Christ – such as Mediator, Savior, Redeemer and then quoted the Apostle John and Joseph Smith. 

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16) ….

The Prophet Joseph Smith was often asked, “What are the fundamental principles of your religion?”

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 49]

Who is Jesus Christ? He is the Creator of the earth and “worlds without number.” He is the Son of God. He is our Mediator with the Father. He is the Savior of the world. He is the Redeemer of all people who believe on His name and repent of their sins. He is our loving Elder Brother.

He is the Head of His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through His Atonement, He made it possible for each of us to repent of our sins and become clean. Through His resurrection, He overcame death and made it possible for all of us to overcome death and live forever.

I love Jesus Christ. I know that He loves you and me. I know that He lives, and that He made it possible for you and me to live forever with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.