Should American Christians Take the Lead in American Politics?

Pastor Dervin L. Gray thinks Christians in America should remember that Jesus Christ is the King that we should follow because no political party or any politician can claim the throne of God. Gray states, “The most revolutionary political announcement in history was not made in Washington, Rome, or any earthly capital. He continued: 

It came when the earliest Christians proclaimed: Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:36). In the Roman Empire, this confession was revolutionary. Caesar Augustus was celebrated as a divinely favored ruler who brought peace and salvation. An ancient inscription even described his birth as the beginning of “good news” (euangelion) for the world.

Rome had its good news, savior, and emperor. Then came the followers of a crucified and risen Jewish Messiah, announcing that Jesus was the world’s true Savior, rightful Lord, and everlasting King.

Paul declared that every knee would bow and every tongue acknowledge that “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11).

Something greater than politics

The earliest Christians were not trying to seize Caesar’s throne. They were announcing that Caesar’s throne was never ultimate.

What they were saying isn’t that the gospel was less than political. It was more than political. As a pastor and theologian, I believe Christians should care deeply about political issues because they affect our neighbors, especially the vulnerable.

But the church does not exist to advance MAGA, Republicans, Democrats, or any political party. The church exists to proclaim King Jesus, make disciples, love our neighbors, and embody God’s justice and mercy.

When political loyalty becomes our primary identity, we diminish the gospel. Instead of being the truth-telling conscience of political parties, we become puppets of political parties.

Likewise, when we demonize opponents, excuse cruelty, or place our ultimate hope in elections, we compromise our witness.

While political parties may pursue aspects of justice, they cannot establish God’s kingdom. No political ideology can contain the glory, holiness, justice, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ. Our allegiance belongs to King Jesus. Jesus is Lord, Caesar is not.

Wisdom from 1984 that the world still needs

A 1984 Assemblies of Goe voter guide recently resurfaced online, reminding Christians that the challenges of political discipleship are not new. Historian Daniel Isgrigg shared 10 principles from that guide for Christian participation in elections, and their wisdom remains striking.

1.     Do not confuse patriotism, national pride, or Western culture with Christianity.

2.     Do not confuse political campaigning with the church’s mission of preaching and witnessing.

3.     Verify information before sharing or repeating it.

4.     Refuse to spread slander, rumors, and personal attacks.

5.     Take time to understand the issues rather than relying on slogans.

6.     Evaluate candidates with honesty and integrity.

7.     Do not vote for someone simply because that person claims to be a Christian.

8.     Do not neglect your family, worship, prayer, or scripture because of political activity.

9.     Do not treat fellow Christians as adversaries because they hold different political views.

10.  Keep your ultimate allegiance centered on Jesus Christ rather than on any candidate, party or election.

This is not a call to abandon conviction in the political realm. It is a call to let our convictions be shaped by Jesus’ character.

5 ways Christians can practice the politics of King Jesus

As we navigate political disagreements, I encourage Christians to practice five commitments.

First, give Jesus your ultimate allegiance, not a political party.

Second, tell the truth. Refuse to overlook political corruption or spread misinformation, even if this defends or advances a political issue you care about. Simply do not participate in slander and lies.

Third, love your political opponents as neighbors. Jesus commanded us t love even our enemies (Matthew 5:44). You can oppose someone’s ideas while honoring their God-given dignity.

Fourth, defend this same God-given dignity of every person, whether they are American citizens, legal immigrants, or undocumented immigrants. We can uphold the rule of law, secure our borders, and treat every human being with compassion, justice, and dignity. These convictions are not in conflict.

Fifth, make disciples, not political converts. The Great commission is to make disciples of Jesus from all nations, not MAGA, Republicans or Democrats (Matthew 28:18-20). We do this by fulfilling the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40).

The world needs a body of believers that looks like Jesus.

I love my country. I am grateful for the Constitution and the religious freedom it ensures for all American citizens, regardless of their religious practices.

But America is not my savior.

No president is my messiah.

And no political party is my church.

We need Christians who take civic responsibilities seriously without confusing them with eternal identity, and churches that form disciples whose political engagement reflects the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Believers, please don’t forget:

Caesar is not Lord.

The state is not our savior.

Jesus Christ is King.

And his kingdom is greater than them all.

Articles of Faith: What Do Latter-day Saints Believe About the Godhead 5?

Article of Faith 1

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ,

                                and in the Holy Ghost.

This is the fifth article on the Godhead in my series on the Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The past few weeks, I discussed the character of God the Father or Elohim. Since Jesus Christ taught that His disciples “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9), we can know that He has the same character traits as His Father. This essay will use the words of Elder Bruce R. McConkie to explain clearing who Jesus Christ is.

There are numerous ways in which the labors and ministry and status of “God the second,” who is the Son, are distinct and separate from the other members of the Godhead. Chief among them are these:

1. He is the Firstborn.

Our Blessed Lord is the firstborn spirit child of the Father of Spirits; all others are junior to him. His is the eternal birthright and the everlasting right of presidency. “I was in the beginning with the Father,” he says, “and am the Firstborn.” (D&C 93:21.) Paul says he is “the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature.” (Colossians 1:15.) The body he then possessed was a spirit body, a body made of spirit element, a body like those of all the spirit hosts of heaven. Appearing to the brother of Jared, he said: “This body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit.” (Ether 3:16.) In that spirit state he advanced and progressed until, in power, dominion, and intelligence, he became, “like unto God.” (Abraham 3:24.) It was then that he created all things and was foreordained to be the Savior and Redeemer.

2, He is the Creator.

Under the Father, Christ is the Creator of this earth, of worlds without number, of all things. Paul says: “By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17.) Being “like unto God,” he became and was the GREAT I AM, the I AM THAT I AM, the Eternal One, the Lord Jehovah. He operated and ministered in his Father’s name and by his Father’s power.

3. He is the Promised Messiah.

The ancient prophets testified that God would send his Son into the world to save and deliver his people, to save them from the temporal and spiritual death brought upon all mankind through the fall, to be their Deliverer and Redeemer. The prophetic word acclaimed him as the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of David, who would reign on the throne of his Father….

4. He is the God of our Fathers.

Because God is known only by revelation, because the knowledge of God and of salvation was revealed to our father, and because there is only one God and one plan of salvation for all men in all ages, how appropriate it is to call Christ (by whom salvation comes) the God of our fathers. He was their God and he is our God….

5. He is the Son of God.

All men (Christ included) were born as the sons of God in the spirit; one man (Christ only) was born as the Son of God in this mortal world. He is the Only Begotten in the flesh. God was his Father; Mary was his mother. His Father was an immortal man; his mother was a mortal woman. He is the Son of God in the same literal, full, and complete sense in which he is the son of Mary. There is nothing symbolic or figurative about it. He is God’s Almighty Son and as such is distinguished from the Father in the same way any son is a separate person from his father.

6. He is our Redeemer, Savior, Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate.

Salvation comes because of Christ and his atoning sacrifice. He is the Redeemer who ransoms men from the effects of Adam’s fall. He brings immortality to all men, thus redeeming them from temporal death through the resurrection. Those who believe and obey his laws are redeemed from spiritual death and have eternal life. In like manner he is the Savior….

7. He manifests and reveals the Father.

There are two concepts here. First, God was in Christ manifesting himself to the world. That is, because the Son was in the express image and likeness of the Father, and because he was one with the Father in all things, insomuch that he did and said what the Father would do and say in like circumstances, anyone who saw the Son also the Father. To know the Son is to know the Father. Second, Christ reveals the Father to the faithful, as it is written, “Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27.) …

8. He is the Eternal Judge.

“The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.” (John 5:22-23.) And this Son of Man, in a not far-distant day, shall come again, in all the glory of his Father’s kingdom, to take vengeance upon the ungodly and to give glory and honor to the righteous.

9. He is the Father.

There are three ways in which Christ the Son is properly called the Father. First, he is “the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.” (Ether 4:7.) That is, he is the Maker, Organizer, and Creator of all things; he fathered them in this sense. Second, he is the Father of all who believe and obey his law. Those who receive the gospel have “power to become [his]sons.” (D&C 39:4.) they thus become “the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters”; they are “spiritually begotten” by him; they take upon them “the name of Christ.” (Mosiah 5:7-8.) They are born again and have a new Father. Third, he is the Father by divine investiture of authority. “In all His dealings with the human family Jesus the Son has represented and yet represents Elohim His Father in power and authority.” The Father, accordingly, places his own name upon the Son so the Son can speak in the first person as though he were the Father. “And so far as power, authority and Godship are concerned His words and acts were and are those of the Father.” (“The Father and the Son,” exposition of the First Presidency, June 30, 1916.)

Who Is Jesus Christ?

With Easter being on Sunday, it is only natural that my VIP for the week should be Jesus Christ. Nearly two thousand years ago, He was resurrected. His spirit and His body came together never to be separated again. By overcoming death by resurrection, He made it possible for all mankind to also be resurrected and live forever. By His atoning sacrifice, He also made it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins and live with Heavenly Father for all eternity.

Tyler O’Neil, a senior editor at The Daily Signal, shared his thoughts about Jesus Christ and the Easter message. 

History is chock-full of pivotal moments, from Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon to Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler deciding to invade Russia, to George Washington turning down power. One moment eclipses them all—and most people at the time had no idea this moment would change the world forever.

Mankind has a virtually guaranteed 100% death rate, but one obscure carpenter-turned-rabbi defied the odds. He set off a chain reaction that didn’t just offer eternal salvation, but also inspired movements of compassion and invention that made life better for billions in the here and now.

I know I’m biased—I worship Jesus Christ as the Son of God and believe he will come again. But I also honestly think his Resurrection is the pivotal moment in human history, and not just because it offers eternal salvation to those of us who believe.

It’s hard for us to grasp just how painful most of human existence in the past truly was. Not only did people live for thousands of years without modern conveniences like refrigerators, microwaves, and washing machines, but high infant and child mortality was a fact of life—for the poorest of the poor as well as for the wealthiest and most powerful.

In Ancient Rome, when a plague began spreading, the wealthy quickly departed and the poor secluded themselves. Christianity spread, by contrast, in part because Christians started risking their lives to care for the sick; with a little help, many of the sick recovered.

Rodney Stark, a now-deceased social sciences professor at Baylor University and author of the book “The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success,” told PJ Media that without the Resurrection, “we would still be in a world of mystery and probably in a world of repressive empires.”

He argued that Christianity has been the driving force behind limited government, science, capitalism, the abolition of slavery, medicine, organized charities, and more—and Christianity would have been impossible without the Resurrection. In fact, the Gospels record that Jesus’ disciples scattered—and Peter even denied Jesus three times—but the Resurrection brought them together. According to church tradition, all but one of the apostles died painful deaths under torture, refusing to reject the faith.

There is more information in O’Neil’s article, which you can access here. Jesus Christ had greater influence on mankind than anyone else. His gospel teaches a better way to live. His atoning sacrifice makes it possible to live forever. 

What Does Easter Mean to You?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to numerous scriptures – Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants – about the Easter story. The lesson is titled “He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory” and introduced by the following information. 

The life of Jesus Christ “is central to all human history” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” Gospel Library). What does that mean? In part, it means that the Savior’s life influences the eternal destiny of everyone who has ever lived or ever will live. You might also say that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, on that first Easter Sunday, connects all of God’s people throughout history: those who were born before His Resurrection looked forward to it with faith (see Jacob 4:4), and those born after look back on it with faith. As we read Old Testament accounts and prophecies, we don’t ever see the name Jesus Christ, but we do see the evidence of the ancient believers’ faith in and longing for their Messiah and Redeemer. So we who are invited to remember Him can feel a connection with those who looked forward to Him. For truly Jesus Christ has borne “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6; emphasis added), and “in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22; emphasis added).

The lesson included numerous principles, including (1) Prophets ancient and modern testify of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. (2) Jesus Christ offers me peace and joy. (3) Because of His Atonement, Jesus Christ has the power to help me overcome sin, death, trials, and weaknesses.

(4) Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for my salvation.

I feel prompted to discuss a compilation of ideas, something from each principle. There are many passages in the Old Testament that point to the Savior’s life, ministry, and atoning sacrifice. An example could be Zechariah 9:9, which many Bible students will recognize.

9 ¶ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ rode a young donkey, a colt, into Jerusalem, as recorded in Matthew 21:1-11.

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

The second principle is about Jesus Christ offering each person peace and joy. Easter is a joyful time, because it’s a time to celebrate the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection. It is a time of new life – trees, bushes, and grass turn green, flowers start to bloom, and new life is seen in the animal kingdom. Yet, there are many people who do not feel joyful for assorted reasons. We can help them to feel joy by sharing a favorite scripture. One scripture that is helpful to me is

Alma 22:11-22.

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

17 Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state?

18 Behold, we went forth even in wrath, with mighty threatenings to destroy his church.

19 Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair?

20 Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.

21 And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.

22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

The third principle teaches that Jesus Christ can help us overcome the problems in our lives because of the power of His Atonement. There are numerous scriptures from which to choose, but I chose Moroni 10:32-33. These verses teach many blessings that can come to us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

The last principle teaches that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for my salvation through his atoning sacrifice. He described his suffering to Joseph Smith as follows.

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – President Dallin H. Oaks, President Henry B. Eyring, and President D. Todd Christofferson – released the following Easter message:

As Mary Magdalene and her companions mournfully approached the Garden Tomb, two angels appeared to them and shared the clarion call of all Christianity:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5–6).

This Easter season we also joyfully testify of this same eternal truth — Jesus Christ is risen. He lives! The Savior of the world was crucified and, on the third day, rose from the dead, “the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). His Resurrection allows all to be resurrected, and through His grace, we can find peace “which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) and “be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

We invite each of you during this Easter season to “seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written” (Ether 12:41). As you do so, we testify that your Easter celebrations can strengthen your own faith and testimony that “death is conquered; man is free. Christ has won the victory” (“He Is Risen!,” Hymns, no. 199).

I am grateful for the Easter season because it reminds me that Jesus Christ paid the price for my sins and made it possible through His atoning sacrifice for me and all mankind to return to the presence of Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father sacrificed His Only Begotten Son and Jesus Christ sacrificed His life because They love me and They love you. I look forward to being back in Their presence and enjoying eternal life with Them.

  

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.

Who Should Be Our Christmas Guest?

It is Christmas week, and our thoughts should be on Jesus Christ and His mission to redeem all the children of God. He can redeem us only as soon and as much as we allow Him to influence us and our lives. A good start is to invite Jesus Christ into our Christmas celebration. A friend sent this story written by Helen Steiner Rice in her Christmas card.

It happened one day near the year’s winter end,

Two neighbors called on their long-time good friend;

And they found his shop, most often meager and lean,

Made merry with a thousand boughs of green.

And their friend was sitting with face all a-shine

When suddenly he stopped as he stitched a twine,

And said, “Old friends, at dawn today,

When the cock was crowing the night away,

The Lord appeared in a dream to me,

And said, “I am coming your guest to be.”

So I’ve been busy with feet astir;

Strewing my shop with branches of fir.

The table is spread, and the kettle is shined,

And over the rafters the holly is twined.

And now I will wait for my Lord to appear

And listen closely so I will hear

His step as He nears my humble place,

And I will open the door to His celestial face.

So his neighbors went home leaving him alone,

For this was the happiest day he had known,

‘Ere, long since his family had all passed away,

Their friend has spent many a sad Christmas Day.

But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest

This Christmas would be the dearest and best.

So he listened with sweet joy in his heart,

And with every sound he would rise with a start,

And look for the Lord to be standing there

In answer to his earnest prayer.

Then he ran to the window after hearing a sound,

But all that he saw on the snow-covered ground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn

Wrapped in clothes so ragged and worn.

The shopkeeper was touched and went to the door

And said, “Your feet must be frozen and sore,

I have some shoes in my shop for you

And a coat that will keep you warmer, too.”

As the shopkeeper noticed the time of day

He wondered what made the dear Lord delay?

Then he heard a knock and ran again to the door,

It was another stranger just as before.

A bent, old crone with a shawl of black,

A bundle of kindling piled on her back;

She asked only for a place to rest,

But that was reserved for his Heavenly Guest.

Her voice seemed to plead, “Don’t send me away

Let me rest awhile on Christmas Day.’

So, he brewed her a bowl steaming to the brim,

But after she left, he was filled with dismay

For he saw that the hours were passing away;

And the Lord had not come as He said He would,

The shopkeeper felt sure he had misunderstood!

When out of the stillness he heard a plea,

“Please tell me, kind sir, where might I be?”

So again, he opened his friendly door,

And stood disappointed as twice before,

It was only a child who had wandered away

Lost from her family on Christmas Day.

So he invited her in and wiped her wet tears

And carefully quieted her heart-felt fears.

Then he led her back to her home once more

But as he entered his own darkened door,

He knew that the Lord was not coming today;

For the hours of Christmas had passed away.

He went to his room and knelt down to pray

And said, “Dear Lord, why did You delay?

What kept You from coming to call on me,

For I wanted so much Your face to see.”

When soft in the silence a gentle voice he heard,

“Lift up your head, for I kept My word.

Three times My Spirit crossed your floor.

Three times I came to your lonely door.

For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet,

I was the woman you gave to eat,

And I was the child on the homeless street.

Three times I knocked and thee times I came in,

And each time I found the warmth of a friend.

Of all the gifts, love is the best,

I was honored to be your true Christmas guest.”

Merry Christmas to all!

Will America Learn the Lesson of Hanukkah?

According to Jason Bedrick and Daniel Flesch, America needs to learn the lesson of Hanukkah. This week marks the beginning of Hanukkah and the lighting of menorahs in “what may be the most explicitly Zionist holiday in the Jewish calendar.” The authors explained their belief in their article published at The Daily Signal. 

The story of Hanukkah recounts the Maccabean Revolt of the second century B.C.E. After the Seleucid Greeks sought to suppress Jewish religious practice and identity, Jews fought to reclaim sovereignty in their homeland.

The Maccabees wanted the Jews to have independence in the land of Judea so they could worship God according to the dictates of their conscience.

In other words, Hanukkah is a celebration of religious liberty and Jewish national liberation.

The Jewish people survived two millennia of statelessness, persecution, pogroms, expulsions and a holocaust by maintaining a deep connection to these biblical roots – a lesson America must heed in its times of political turmoil.

Even in times of darkness – including in defiance of the Nazi regime – the menorah’s light served as a beacon of hope and resilience, a reminder of the miracle of Jewish endurance against all odds.

Today, just as the Jewish state draws strength from its ancient connections to the Land and God of Israel, America will flourish only if we remain committed to the Judeo-Christian heritage that forms our nation’s foundation….

… the Zionist aspiration is as old as the Jewish people itself and foundational to Judaism.

It begins with God promising the Land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which was fulfilled in the wake of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt.

Following the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., the yearning to return to home and rebuild the Temple has been woven into the fabric of Jewish ritual and liturgy.

Every Passover seder and Yom Kippur service conclude with “Next year in Jerusalem.” Jews also pray facing Jerusalem.

Despite nearly 2,000 years of exile, the Jewish people’s enduring commitment to their foundational story and principles provides the foundation for Israel’s resilience today.

This same story of Jewish perseverance inspired the men and women who built America.

As our Heritage Foundation colleague Katie Pavlich recently observed, the “history of America and Israel didn’t start in 1948. It goes back to 1776 when American rebels looked to the Promised Land, its foundational story, and were inspired to reject the British Empire in pursuit of their own nation.”

Authors cite: (1) “Benjamin Franklin’s proposal for America’s Great Seal” to be “Moses extending His hand over the Red Sea.” (2) A letter from President George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation of Savannah in 1790 drawing “parallels between America’s founding and the Israelites’ exodus” to their Promised Land. (3) John Adams’ letter to Mordecai Manuel Noah, Jewish American patriot, pledging his “support for Jewish restoration to their homeland.”

Indeed, the concepts of covenant, rule of law, limited government, human dignity and justice that shape the American constitutional order stem from the biblical tradition. They are not arbitrary human constructs, but principles derived from the understanding that human beings are endowed by our Creator with inherent dignity and purpose….

The parallel between Israel and America is instructive. The Jewish state flourishes because of its people’s connection to their ancient heritage and founding principles. Similarly, America’s strength depends on our faithfulness to the principles that shaped our founding.

Those who seek to cut America off from its Judeo-Christian roots would destroy the tree of liberty itself. Just as a tree severed from its roots cannot long survive, nor, too, can a nation that abandons its founding principles….

The founding principles of America are found in Christianity, an off shoot of Judeo roots. Ancient American prophets, as taught in the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, testified that those people who live in America must worship the God of this land, even Jesus Christ, or be swept off the land. America must stay true to its foundation of Jesus Christ.

Was Charlie Kirk a Martyr for Christ?

My VIP for this week is Charlie in a contrast-and-comparison to Jesus Christ. Both Charlie and Jesus Christ became larger after death than while they lived because each is a martyr for a cause. Charlie is a martyr for “the religion of social justice,” while Jesus Christ was killed because He claimed to be the Son of God. Charlie was a follower of Jesus Christ who interested many people in the gospel of Jesus Christ, while Jesus Christ has the power to change the eternal life of every mortal man, woman, and child.

Virgil Walker says that “America now stands at a crossroads.” Americans can choose “the broad path that leads to chaos and destruction, or the narrow path that leads to peace and life?” He calls the situation an obvious choice: “Christ or chaos?” 

Walker compared the situations surrounding the deaths of George Floyd, Michael Brown (Ferguson, Missouri), and Jacob Blake (Kenosha, Wisconsin) with that of Charlie Kirk. The deaths of the first group of men led to nationwide protests, riots, student walkouts, cities burned, businesses ransacked, stores looted, and calls to defund the police.

Now, set that against what followed the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

He was murdered for daring to give the biggest microphone … to those who opposed him. He welcomed debate. He confronted hostile ideas head on. He refused to be silenced by intimidation. And for that, he paid with his life.

But look at the fruit that followed his death.

No buildings burned. No businesses looted. No cities reduced to ash.

Instead, only candles burned – vigil candles, lifted high in memory of a man who gave his life for truth. People gathered in churches. Prayers rose instead of Molotov cocktails. Instead of mobs demanding blood, thousands made decisions to follow Christ. Politicians who would never publicly declare the name of Jesus suddenly spoke openly about the need for the gospel. Instead of excuses for lawlessness, there were testimonies of salvation….

What explains this radical difference?

On one hand, you have a spirit of rage. A spirit that justifies destruction as expression. A spirit that sees justice as vengeance. That spirit has turned too many American cities into ruins.

On the other hand, you have the Spirit of God. A Spirit that produces repentance instead of riots. Worship instead of war. Candles instead of chaos. When the world lost Charlie Kirk, a true martyr, the response revealed something deeper – something eternal.

The battle lines of our culture are not political but spiritual. The evidence could not be more clear.

The apostle Paul reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). What we are seeing is not merely two different sets of political responses but two different kingdoms on display….

History teaches us that rage consumes itself….

But the fruits of the Spirit endure. Out of Charlie Kirk’s death, lives are being changed forever. The gospel is advancing. The church is awakening.

The contrast forces every Christian to make a choice….

The choice is clear: Riots or revival? Chaos or Christ?

Lest anyone get the wrong idea, I know that Charlie was a mere mortal, while Jesus Christ is the Son of God who atoned for the sins of mankind, who died and was resurrected on the third day, and who will return to earth in glory soon. Charlie himself would be the first to deny that he was worthy to be compared to Christ. However, they are both martyrs, whose lives and deaths have impacted vast numbers of people. Charlie testified and witnessed for Christ, while Christ makes it possible for all of us to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.

What Can We Learn from the Visions Recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 76 in a lesson titled “Great Shall Be Their Reward and Eternal Shall Be Their Glory.” The lesson was introduced by the following paragraphs. 

“What will happen to me after I die?” Nearly everyone asks this question in some form or another. For centuries, many Christian traditions, relying on biblical teachings, have taught of heaven and hell, of paradise for the righteous and torment for the wicked. But can the entire human family really be divided so strictly? In February 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon wondered if there was more to know about the subject (see Doctrine and Covenants 76, section heading).

There certainly was. While Joseph and Sidney were pondering these things, the Lord “touched the eyes of [their] understandings and they were opened” (verse 19). They received a revelation so stunning, so expansive, so illuminating that the Saints simply called it “the Vision.” It threw open heaven’s windows and gave God’s children a mind-stretching view of eternity. The vision revealed that heaven is grander and broader and more inclusive than most people had previously supposed. God is more merciful and just than we can comprehend. And God’s children have an eternal destiny more glorious than we can imagine.

The scripture block includes the following principles: (1) Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Doctrine and Covenants 76), (2) I can understand God’s will “by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5-10, 114-18), (3) Exaltation is the highest form of salvation (Doctrine and Covenants 76:39-44, 50-70), and (4) My Heavenly Father wants me to receive eternal life in the celestial kingdom (Doctrine and Covenants 76:50-70, 92-95). This essay will include all four principles.

The first principle is “Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, the Son of God” and is found throughout Doctrine and Covenants 76. This section reveals numerous important truths about our eternal destiny, including the three kingdoms of glory and the plan of salvation. However, it is more accurate to say that this section is about Jesus Christ, who makes possible God’s plan for our salvation and eternal glory.

This section describes the type of people who will inherit the different kingdoms of glory. To state it simply, each of the sons or daughters of Heavenly Father will receive immortality and inherit the kingdom of glory – celestial (verses 50-70, 92-96), terrestrial (verses 71-79, 97), or telestial (81-90, 98-106, 109-12) – that they choose by their choices and actions in mortality. Those people who receive the testimony of Jesus Christ and make and keep the necessary covenants will receive the highest degree of the celestial kingdom and enjoy eternal life (the ability to be married and have spirit children).

The second principle  is “I can understand God’s will ‘by the power of the Holy Spirit’” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5-10, 114-18). Not all members of the Church easily accepted the revelation in section 76, because it taught that almost everyone would be saved and receive some degree of glory. Brigham Young said: “My traditions were such, that when the Vision came first to me, it was directly contrary and opposed to my former education. I said, Wait a little. I did not reject it; but I could not understand it.” He explained that he had to “think and pray, to read and think, until I knew and fully understood it for myself” (in “The Vision,” in Revelations in Context, 150).

The third principle is “Exaltation is the highest form of salvation” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:39-44, 50-70). Doctrine and Covenants 76:39-44 describe salvation generally. Verses 50-70 describe exaltation, a specific kind of salvation. There is a significant difference between salvation and exaltation. Salvation comes to every single person who received a mortal body through the power of the resurrection. Exaltation is the highest degree of salvation and involves living the kind of life that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. Jesus Christ makes both salvation and exaltation possible.

The last principle is “My Heavenly Father wants me to receive eternal life in the celestial kingdom” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:50-70, 92-95). Heavenly Father wants all of His children to join Him in the celestial kingdom, but He will not force anyone to go there. He wants us to choose to be with Him because we love Him. Many people wonder if they are good enough to be in the celestial kingdom. Elder J. Devn Cornish of the Seventy spoke on the topic “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 32-34) at the October 2016 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As with my own experience, our members often ask, “Am I good enough as a person?” or “Will I really make it to the celestial kingdom?” Of course, there is no such thing as “being good enough.” None of us could ever “earn” or “deserve” our salvation, but it is normal to wonder if we are acceptable before the Lord, which is how I understand these questions.

Sometimes when we attend church, we become discouraged even by sincere invitations to improve ourselves. We think silently, “I can’t do all these things” or “I will never be as good as all these people.” …

Please, my beloved brothers and sisters, we must stop comparing ourselves to others. We torture ourselves needlessly by competing and comparing. We falsely judge our self-worth by the things we do or don’t have and by the opinions of others. If we must compare, let us compare how we were in the past to how we are today – and even to how we want to be in the future. The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us. Please sincerely ask Him what He thinks of you. He will love and correct but never discourage us; that is Satan’s trick.

Let me be direct and clear. The answers to the questions “Am I good enough?” and “Will I make it?” are “Yest! You are going to be good enough” and “Yes, you are going to make it as long as you keep repenting and do not rationalize or rebel.” The God of heaven is not a heartless referee looking for any excuse to throw us out of the game. He is our perfectly loving Father, who yearns more than anything else to have all of His children come back home and live with Him as families forever. He truly gave His Only Begotten Son that we might not perish but have everlasting life! Please believe, and please take hope and comfort from, this eternal truth. Our Heavenly Father intends for us to make it! That is His work and His glory.

I love the way President Gordon B. Hinckley used to teach this principle. I heard him say on several occasions, “Brothers and sisters, all the Lord expects of us is to try, but you have to really try!”

“Really trying” means doing the best we can, recognizing where we need to improve, and then trying again. By repeatedly doing this, we come closer and closer to the Lord, we feel His Spirit more and more, and we receive more of His grace, or help.

  

Why Is Easter Important to Christians?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to a special Easter lesson titled “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

April 3, 1836, was Easter Sunday. After helping administer the sacrament to Saints in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery found a quiet place behind a veil and bowed in silent prayer. Then, on this sacred day when Christians everywhere were commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the risen Savior Himself appeared in His temple, declaring, “I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:4).

What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is “he who liveth”? It doesn’t just mean that He rose from the tomb and appeared to His disciples in Galilee. It means that He lives today. He speaks through prophets today. He leads His Church today. He heals wounded souls and broken hearts today. So we can echo the words of Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony … which we give of him: That he lives!” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22). We can hear His voice in these revelations, witness His hand in our lives, and feel “the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’” (Hymns, no. 136).

Most of us have not had the privilege of seeing Jesus Christ, but the Prophet Joseph Smith did. However, we can know that the Savior lives, just as Joseph did that Christ knows us, our successes, and struggles. We can also know that He will help us in our needs. For the testimonies of living prophets and apostles, see this document. 

Joseph Smith lost his father and two of his brothers, and Joseph and Emma lost six babies younger than two years of age. Joseph knew what it feels like to mourn for loved ones who have died. Knowing about the Savior and His Resurrection brought great comfort to Joseph just as it can bring to us.

Jesus Christ accomplished a “perfect atonement” for you and me. He first suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane where He submitted His will to that of the Father and began to suffer for the sins and afflictions of all mankind. Then He was betrayed by Judas, was tried, hung on a cross, and died. On the third day, He was resurrected. Because the Savior overcame death, we will be resurrected and become immortal. Because He overcame sin, we can have eternal life by becoming His disciples, receiving His ordinances, and being obedient to His commandments.