The Living Christ: The Testimony Of The Apostles
By Alan on May 26 in Blog tagged America, Apostles and Prophets, baptized, blind to see, brightness of the sun, chief cornerstone, Christ, creator of the earth, despised, doing good, eternity, fulness of times, goodwill, Gordon B. Hinckley, He is the Messiah, He lives, he who was slain, His Church, His example, His priesthood, immortal, James E. Faust, Jesus Declares, Joseph Smith, LDS, message of peace, messiah, of God, only begotten, other sheep, premortal existence, purpose of life, raising the dead, Redeemer of the World, Risen, sinless, son of God, sons and daughters, taught truths, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first, the First Presidency, the Great Jehovah, the last, the life, the light, the living Christ, The Son, the testimony of the Apostles, Thomas S. Monson | Comments Off
Jesus Declares He Is The Messiah
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The Living Christ: The Testimony Of The Apostles
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.
The First Presidency
Gordon B. Hinkley
Thomas S. Monson - James E Faust
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Are Mormons Christians?
By Alan on Mar 23 in Blog tagged Are Mormons Christians, Baptized of John, Book of Mormon, born to Mary, chief cornerstone, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, every child, Gordon B. Hinckley, Jesus Christ, Jesus died, Jesus was resurrected, Mormons, of latter-day Saints, our Deliverer, perfect life, Redeemer, savior, son of God, son of our Heavenly Father, the Bible, The Church of Jesus Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of cChrist, we rejoice oin Christ, we talk of Christ | Comments Off
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A statement in The Book of Mormon sums up our assertion that Mormons are most certainly devoted Christians:
“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ” (2 Nephi 25: 26).
We seek to emulate Christ. We love the Bible, which testifies of Jesus Christ, and we love The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. With all people of other faiths who love and worship Jesus Christ, we declare with them that we too are Christians.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, prior President of the Church, said:
We are Christians in a very real sense and that is coming to be more and more widely recognized…we have a very vital and dynamic religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. We, of course, accept Jesus Christ as our Leader, our King, our Savior…the dominant figure in the history of the world, the only perfect Man who ever walked the earth, the living Son of the living God. He is our Savior and our Redeemer through whose atoning sacrifice has come the opportunity of eternal life. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pray and worship in the name of Jesus Christ. He is the center of our faith and the head of our Church. The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and witnesses of His divinity, His life, and His Atonement.
Mormons believe that Jesus is the actual Son of God, our Deliverer, Redeemer and Savior.
Mormons believe that Jesus was born to Mary, His mortal mother, and that He was the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father.
Mormons believe that Jesus was baptized of John and later told Nicodemus that the only way to enter the kingdom of God was to do likewise.
Mormons believe that Jesus lived a perfect life—the only individual to do so–and that He invited us to come unto Him and follow His example and His teachings.
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ organized a church while He lived on the earth. Mormons believe that the name of that His church was The Church of Jesus Christ, and Mormons believe that the organization of that church was as perfect as He was. Mormons believe that the foundation of the ancient Church of Jesus Christ was “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2: 20). Thus, Mormons believe that the perfect foundation of The Church of Jesus Christ continues to be “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”
Mormons believe that in a supreme act of love, Jesus Christ suffered and died for each of us. Mormons believe that because Jesus sacrificed His life and atoned for us, if we follow Him in the way that He prescribed, we can receive forgiveness of our sins, achieve reconciliation with our Heavenly Father, and qualify to live one day with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Mormons believe that Jesus died and rose from the grave on the third day and thus overcame death by His literal, bodily resurrection. Mormons believe that because of Jesus’ resurrection, He has the power to resurrect every child of Heavenly Father in a marvelous, universal resurrection.
What is anti-Christian about these beliefs?
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Mormons love Jesus Christ as the central figure in their lives.
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Mormons worship and adore Him. Mormons pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
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Mormons weekly partake of the sacrament by which they covenant to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember Jesus Christ, and to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ.
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Mormons take Jesus Christ as their example for living a happy and fulfilled life.
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Mormons seek to bring people to Jesus Christ so He can heal and bless them.
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Mormons have made sacred covenants to devote their lives to Jesus Christ and to emulate and serve Him.
Jesus gave His followers a test by which they could discern who was His true disciple and who was not. “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Good trees bring forth good fruit and evil trees bring forth evil fruit. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7: 16-20). Therefore, an investigator needs only to observe the lives of Mormons to see which type of fruit they bring forth. For example,
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Has the investigator ever read The Book of Mormon to realize that nearly every page speaks of Jesus Christ?
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Had the investigator ever attended one of our worship services or listened to the sermons that invariably center on Jesus Christ?
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Is the investigator aware of the Church’s vast humanitarian efforts:Has the investigator listened to the Tabernacle Choir which consistently testifies of and worships Jesus Christ?
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the thousands of yellow-Tee-shirted “Helping Hands” volunteers
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the massive education fund to help students in third world countries
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the enormous storehouses filled with food and staples for the poor
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Deseret Industries which gives clothing, furniture and other items to the poor
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the Church’s women’s organizations that extends millions of hours in compassionate service to those in need
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or the myriad local and Church-wide projects to assist the sick, under-privileged and otherwise needy?
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Has the investigator ever listened to Latter-day Saints’ conversations with each other? Invariably, they default to their love of the Savior and His goodness in their lives.
Yes, Mormons are Christians—some of the most Christian people in the world.
