Why Should We Study “The Living Christ”?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” in a Christmas lesson titled “The Matchless Gift of God’s Divine Son.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “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 [2011], 49). Over 160 years later, this statement inspired the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to publish “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” in honor of the 2,000th anniversary of the Savior’s birth (see Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40).

As Latter-day Saints, we rejoice in the blessing of continuing revelation through modern prophets and apostles. We are thankful for their inspired words of counsel, warning, and encouragement. But most of all, we are blessed by their powerful testimonies of Jesus Christ—at Christmastime and throughout the year. These are more than just stirring words of skilled writers or public speakers or insights from scriptural experts. They are the words of God’s chosen, called, and authorized “special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:23).

The subject matter includes numerous principles that could be the topic of this essay. Such principles include (1) “None other has had so profound an influence,” (2) “He rose from the grave,” (3) “His priesthood and His Church have been restored,” (4) “He will someday return to earth,” (5) “He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world,” and (6) “God be thanked for [His] matchless gift.”

Rather than discussing a specific quote from “The Living Christ” document, I feel prompted to discuss the document as a whole. To begin, I would like to share the document. The document is titled “The Living Christ:The Testimony of the Apostles [of] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” 

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. [Emphasis added.]

The document is signed by the First Presidency on January 1, 2000 (Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and James E. Faust) and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on the same date (Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, David B. Haight, Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, and Henry B. Eyring).

It is interesting to me that all of the men whose names are listed above have “graduated” to the next life except Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring – the current Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Oaks) and his first counselor (Eyring). Yet, the current Apostles claim this document as their own because their "name" is on it.

In his discourse in the October 2024 General Conference, Elder Ronald A. Rasband talked about the family proclamation and said, “When I was called to the holy apostleship in 2015, I was advised, ‘This proclamation is now yours. Your name [pointing to the words “Council of the Twelve Apostles” in the title] is right here. Feel it and teach it like you own it.”

Even though the family proclamation and the living Christ are two separate documents, both of them refer to the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in their titles. Therefore, their names are on both of them, and each Apostle has testified that Jesus Christ lives.

My oldest sister had an interesting experience this week in her study of “The Living Christ,” and she gave me permission to use it in my blog post.

Let me tell you of my day of repentance. This week in Come Follow Me, we are learning about The Living Christ. On a podcast I heard the words, “We hang it on our walls, but we never read it.” That fit me. This week I have studied it, read it, and listened to it. I have felt the spirit of it. I have cried over the great blessing my Savior is to me. This morning in my reading in the Book of Mormon, my chapter was Mormon 9. This went along with The Living Christ. My soul was filled, and my eyes leaked.

My sister, obviously, did more than read The Living Christ. She came to know the Savior a bit better and make the living Jesus Christ a bigger part of her life.