Who is Jesus Christ?
I recently had a a hard trial of depression that you can read about here. I received some very specific revelation to study the life of the Savior in order to again, feel the presence of the Savior near me Seems too simple, right? It did to me, but I chose to heed the prompting anyway. And really, I was grateful for the simplicity of it, even though it seemed too simple. I'm not sure I had energy or drive to do much more. I feel that alone was proof the Lord was mindful of me. He met me where I was.
The following day I searched on 'Jesus Christ' on LDS.org and was directed to the website JesusChrist.LDS.org. What an amazing site that is! It is packed full of pure testimony and witness of the Savior.
As I began reading I immediately felt the Spirit wash over me. As tears streamed my face I felt the comfort of His loving arms that I'd missed for so long. My prayer had been answered. The Lord kept His promise and a miracle occurred.
I wanted to share some excerpts from some of the talks I read. These are powerful testimonies from our leaders that bear solemn witness to the truth, divinity and purpose of our beloved Savior.
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Atonement of Jesus Christ
Boyd K. Packer
Before the Crucifixion and afterward, many men have willingly given their lives in selfless acts of heroism. But none faced what Christ endured. Upon Him was the burden of all human transgression, all human guilt. And hanging in the balance was the Atonement. Through His willing act, mercy and justice could be reconciled, eternal law sustained, and that mediation achieved without which mortal man could not be redeemed.
He by choice accepted the penalty in behalf of all mankind for the sum total of all wickedness and depravity; for brutality, immorality, perversion, and corruption; for addiction; for the killings and torture and terror—for all of it that ever had been or all that ever would be enacted upon this earth. In so choosing He faced the awesome power of the evil one, who was not confined to flesh nor subject to mortal pain. That was Gethsemane!
How the Atonement was wrought we do not know. No mortal watched as evil turned away and hid in shame before the Light of that pure being. All wickedness could not quench that Light. When what was done was done, the ransom had been paid. Both death and hell forsook their claim on all who would repent. Men at last were free. Then every soul who ever lived could choose to touch that Light and be redeemed.
I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal, living Son of our literal, living God. This Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer who, under the guidance of the Father, was the Creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. I bear witness that He was born of a virgin mother, that in His lifetime He performed mighty miracles observed by legions of His disciples and by His enemies as well. I testify that He had power over death because He was divine but that He willingly subjected Himself to death for our sake because for a period of time He was also mortal. I declare that in His willing submission to death He took upon Himself the sins of the world, paying an infinite price for every sorrow and sickness, every heartache and unhappiness from Adam to the end of the world. In doing so He conquered both the grave physically and hell spiritually and set the human family free. I bear witness that He was literally resurrected from the tomb and, after ascending to His Father to complete the process of that Resurrection, He appeared, repeatedly, to hundreds of disciples in the Old World and in the New. I know He is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah who will one day come again in final glory, to reign on earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. I know that there is no other name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved and that only by relying wholly upon His merits, mercy, and everlasting grace can we gain eternal life.
The Only True God, and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent
Jeffrey R. Holland
I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal, living Son of our literal, living God. This Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer who, under the guidance of the Father, was the Creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. I bear witness that He was born of a virgin mother, that in His lifetime He performed mighty miracles observed by legions of His disciples and by His enemies as well. I testify that He had power over death because He was divine but that He willingly subjected Himself to death for our sake because for a period of time He was also mortal. I declare that in His willing submission to death He took upon Himself the sins of the world, paying an infinite price for every sorrow and sickness, every heartache and unhappiness from Adam to the end of the world. In doing so He conquered both the grave physically and hell spiritually and set the human family free. I bear witness that He was literally resurrected from the tomb and, after ascending to His Father to complete the process of that Resurrection, He appeared, repeatedly, to hundreds of disciples in the Old World and in the New. I know He is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah who will one day come again in final glory, to reign on earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. I know that there is no other name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved and that only by relying wholly upon His merits, mercy, and everlasting grace can we gain eternal life.
We Testify of Jesus Christ
Gordon B. Hinckley
We know not all that lies ahead of us. We live in a world of
uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others,
disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and
gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do
not know. But one thing we do know. Like the Polar Star in the heavens,
regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world,
the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the
rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith.
In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to
assure and smile upon us.
None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made
a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and
the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare His divinity without
equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak the name of Jesus Christ in
reverence and wonder. He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ,
who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! He lives, resplendent and
wonderful, the living Son of the living God.
I want to add my own testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ:
I know He lives
I know He atoned and suffered for each one of us
...so that
We may be freed from Satan's flaxen cords
I also know that if I was the only one in existence, the only one that needed to be atoned for
...that
He would
He would still suffer the pains of all existence
Just for me
He loves me that much
He is my big brother
He is my Light
He is my Grace
He is my Savior
and
I love Him...
With.... my....whole....heart
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I want to add my own testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ:
I know He lives
I know He atoned and suffered for each one of us
...so that
We may be freed from Satan's flaxen cords
I also know that if I was the only one in existence, the only one that needed to be atoned for
...that
He would
He would still suffer the pains of all existence
Just for me
He loves me that much
He is my big brother
He is my Light
He is my Grace
He is my Savior
and
I love Him...
With.... my....whole....heart
Thank you for this Sidreis, I loved it so much. I especially loved your personal testimony. The individuality of the Atonement is so real, and I loved how beautifully you described it. Love you!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Love your face!
DeleteIf you write a book is it going to have a lot of "..."s in it, because that is sooooo your writing style.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when I first came to your blog I was touched by your deep testimony and developing understanding of the atonement. I wanted that, I still do. It compelled me to seek out help. Forever grateful.
Haha I love me some ellipsis!!
DeleteAwww I love you! Thank you for that. It really means a lot to know I'm touching people, because truly, that's all I want.