Christ is the Reason

It’s ironic that at this time of year, when it is relatively acceptable to talk about Jesus in public, that I struggle to articulate my feelings about Him. My testimony of the Redeemer is my most precious possession, the only thing that is always there for me, even after the momentary glee of new seasonal gifts wears off and is forgotten. The peace of mind that comes with having a faithful relationship with the Savior, that He loves us all and will always be there to strengthen us, is worth more than all the wealth in all the worlds. I am also grateful for prophets and apostles, who walk the earth today, who bear a special witness of the reality of Jesus. In closing of my own testimony about Jesus, may I quote the words of one of the apostles, whose words convey the feeling in my heart this Christmas season:

“I testify that the living God is our Eternal Father and that Jesus Christ is His living and Only Begotten Son in the flesh. I testify that this Jesus, who was slain and hanged on a tree, was the chief Apostle then and is the chief Apostle now, the Great High Priest, the chief cornerstone of His Church in this last and greatest of all dispensations. I testify that He lives, that the whole triumph of the gospel is that He lives, and because He does, so will we.

On that first Resurrection Sunday, Mary Magdalene first thought she saw a gardener. Well, she did—the Gardener who cultivated Eden and who endured Gethsemane. The Gardener who gave us the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, the cedars of Lebanon, the tree of life.

I declare Him to be the Savior of the world, the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, the Bright and Morning Star. I know that our garments can be washed white only in the blood of that Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. I know that we are lifted up unto life because He was lifted up unto death, that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, and with His stripes we are healed. I bear witness that He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, that He was a man of sorrows acquainted with grief because upon Him were laid the transgressions of us all.

I bear witness that He came from God as a God to bind up the brokenhearted, to dry the tears from every eye, to proclaim liberty to the captive and open the prison doors to them that are bound. I promise that because of your faithful response to the call to spread the gospel, He will bind up your broken hearts, dry your tears, and set you and your families free.”- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Missionary Work and the Atonement 6/20/00

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

# posted by Adam and Myisha Partridge @ 8:58 PM