“Behold My Beloved Son, in Whom I Am Well Pleased”
In our world of skepticism, confusion and wickedness,
to know the truth,
to have a deep, humble, and solemn conviction
that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of the living God,
is a very precious thing.
I have received the witness of the
divinity of my Savior
through the sweet influence and power of
the Holy Ghost.
I have received this witness in my own heart,
which exceeds all other evidences.
It bears record to me,
to my very soul,
of the existence of
my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ.
This silent, sweet conviction came early in my youth,
while I was on my knees in deep supplication in our
humble hogan,
and at other times,
after reading the Book of Mormon
while tending the sheep
out in the hot desert on the reservation.
Just as I know that my life did not begin when I was born,
just as I know that it will not end when I die,
likewise I know for certain that
the life of Christ did not begin at Bethlehem;
neither did it end on Calvary.
Of himself, the Lord Jesus Christ said:
“I have glorified thee on the earth:
I have finished the work … thou gavest me to do.
“And now,
O Father,
glorify thou me with
thine own self
with the glory
… I had with thee
before the world was.”
(John 17:4–5.)
I bear testimony that
Jesus Christ was the first begotten Son of God in the Spirit.
Like the Father himself,
he was a personage of great power
and intelligence in the universe.
For ages before this world was created,
he lived and ruled with his
Father in Heaven in the
premortal existence on a spiritual basis.
The Lord Jesus had much to do
with our growth and training
prior to our birth on earth.
Under the direction of the Father,
he created this earth and
accepted the appointment to
come here and to be its redeemer.
It was he who came forth in
the Grand Council in Heaven and said:
“Here am I, send me.”
(Abr. 3:27.)
“Father, thy will be done,
and the glory be thine forever.”
(Moses 4:2.)
Of his beloved Son,
our Heavenly Father has declared,
“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 1:33.)
There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin.
He was the only one
that could unlock heaven’s gate
and let us in
(see LDS Hymns, no. 201),
because he was and is
the only one
suited, eligible, worthy, able, willing, perfect,
and qualified for this
great supreme sacrifice.
I bear testimony that
our Redeemer’s birth in Bethlehem
was announced by a great
concourse of angels
and by an angel of
great authority and power
who had come from the presence of God, saying,
“I am Gabriel,
that stand in the presence of God;
and am sent to speak unto thee,
and to shew thee these glad tidings.”
(Luke 1:19.)
Ancient prophets from the time of Adam down
knew of his coming.
He was known by
name, character, and his good works
long before his birth.
Before his birth,
he was a personage of spirit.
After his birth, a body of flesh and bones was added.
After he conquered death and after resurrection,
he became a person with an
indestructible glorified body,
inseparably joined together with his immortal spirit.
His whole mortal life was devoted to
bringing peace
and blessings to others.
He lived a perfect life
in the midst of evil and wickedness.
was not only physical and mental anguish,
but also a spiritual agony that
only a god was capable of experiencing.
In that hour of tremendous anguish
the Savior took upon himself
the burden of the sins of the world
from Adam down to the end of the world.
Then they hanged him on the cross
and crucified him
in the most inhumane and cruel method of execution.
A spike was driven through his hands and feet
as was the method at that time.
Of his suffering he said:
“For behold, I, God,
have suffered these things for all,
that they might not suffer
if they would repent;
“But if they would not repent
they must suffer even as I;
“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.”
(D&C 19:16–18.)
In his infinite love and mercy
he prayed for the very people that crucified him.
He prayed and asked Heavenly Father
to bless and
forgive those that
ridiculed, mocked, and insulted him.
In pain and anguish he cried,
“Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do.”
(Luke 23:34.)
I bear testimony that this same
crucified Christ arose on the third day
from the tomb,
after having met and mingled with others
in the spirit world,
his spirit was reunited with his body.
After being among men on earth,
he ascended to his Heavenly Father
as a resurrected and glorified being.
An angel, speaking of Jesus, said:
“He is not here:
for he is risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay."
“And go quickly,
and tell his disciples
that he is risen from the dead;
and, behold,
he goeth before you into Galilee;
there shall ye see him.”
(Matt. 28:6–7.)
Thus, our risen Lord removed the last barrier
in our march toward perfection and eternal life.
Just as it is said of him
“He is not here: … he is risen.”
(Matt. 28:6),
So it will be for each of us,
because the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus is
not only a symbol but also a guarantee
of our own resurrection and immortality.
It would be a serious mistake and a tragedy
for anyone to assume that Jesus was just a great teacher
and just a great humanitarian.
Because of him,
life continues throughout eternity.
There is no other name under heaven whereby
man will be saved and exalted.
(See Acts 4:12; 2 Ne. 25:20.)
I bear testimony that
our risen Lord and Redeemer
will return to earth
a second time in his
resurrected, immortal body of flesh and bones,
and in celestial glory and power.
When he came the first time
he was misunderstood, condemned, and ridiculed
and was a man acquainted with much grief.
(See Isa. 53:3.)
When he came the first time,
he atoned for the sins of the world.
But when he comes the second time
he will come as a triumphant King of kings
and a glorious Lord of lords.
(See Rev. 17:14.)
He will stand in judgment of sinners who have not repented.
He will come as the Almighty God
to cleanse the earth and
to inaugurate his glorious millennial reign.
The Lord Jesus and the resurrected Saints
will reign upon the earth during
the thousand years of millennium.
(See D&C 29:11.)
Satan will be tied and will have
no power to tempt any man.
(See D&C 43:31.)
Then after the end of the thousand years,
Satan will be loosed again for a little season,
and then will come the end of the earth.
Satan and his forces will be banished forever and ever.
Every person will be resurrected
and stand before God to be judged.
Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
will be crowned with the crown of his glory
to reign forever and ever.
(See D&C 76:108.)
Those that have endured until the end
and have achieved eternal life will abide
with him and Heavenly Father
forever and ever
in the celestial kingdom.
I testify that he is the creator of
“all things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small”
(Cecil Frances Alexander, in Masterpieces of Religious Verse, ed.
James Dalton Morrison, New York: Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1948, p. 17).
He is the master over
ocean, earth, and skies.
He is the promised Messiah.
He is the victor over death and the grave.
He is the Prince of Peace.
(See Isa. 9:6.)
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(See Heb. 13:8.)
Everlasting is his name.
Eternal is his name.
He is Jesus the Christ.
I so testify,
in his holy name,
amen.
Matthew 3:17
Spoken by God the Father when
Jesus was baptised
by John the Baptist
