52 The Matchless Gift of God’s Divine Son
The Matchless Gift of God’s Divine Son
The Matchless Gift of God’s Divine Son
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “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.”
Over 160 years later, this statement inspired the First
Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to publish “The
Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” in honor of the 2,000th
anniversary of the Savior’s birth.
Drawing
the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives
They are the words of God’s chosen, called, and authorized
“special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world” (Doctrine
and Covenants 107:23).
Christmas
None other has had so profound an influence
Jesus has the most profound influence on all of us
throughout the earth and throughout all time.
How has the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ influenced
you? What does Christmas mean to you and for you?
Video: Why We Need a Savior: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2015-12-1000-why-we-need-a-savior?lang=eng
He rose from the grave
paragraph
5 “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).
The Apostles testify of the Resurrection of the Savior,
mentioning three appearances of the risen Lord.
Focus on the Savior. “Prayerfully reading ‘The
Living Christ’ is like reading the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John, and the prophets of the Book of Mormon. It will increase your faith in
the Savior and help you stay focused on Him” (M. Russell Ballard, “Return
and Receive,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017,
65).
His priesthood and His Church have been restored
Feel and express gratitude for the blessings of the
Restoration.
A Review:
Doctrine
and Covenants 1:17–23
How have the truths of the restored gospel helped you to
know and love Jesus, your Savior?
He will someday return to earth
“Christmas is a time to look back on the day Jesus Christ
was born and to look forward to the day He will come again.”
The
Living Christ second-to-last
paragraph “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.”
Enjoy the Christmas hymns that speak of Jesus Christ’s birth
and of His Second Coming.
Joy
to the World
It
Came upon the Midnight Clear
He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world
final
paragraph “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.”
Light: How is Jesus Christ like a light to you?
You might consider drawing a picture or taking a photo that, to you, represents
the light He gives you. What do you feel inspired to do to share His light?
(See also John
8:12; 3 Nephi
18:24; Doctrine
and Covenants 50:24.)
Life: Why do you think life is
a good word to describe Jesus Christ? In what sense does He give you life? How
would your life be different without Him and His gospel? (See also John
10:10; 1 Corinthians
15:19–23; Doctrine
and Covenants 66:2.)
Hope: What do you hope for because of Jesus
Christ and His gospel? Do you know someone who feels hopeless about the future?
Ponder how you might share with that person the hope you feel in Jesus Christ.
(See also Romans
8:24–25; Ether
12:4; Moroni
7:41.)
Video: The Light, the Life, and the Hope of the World: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/insights-from-the-apostles/2025-10-the-light-the-life-and-the-hope-of-the-world?lang=eng
God be thanked for [His] matchless gift
Based on what you find in “The
Living Christ,” how would you complete this sentence: “Through Jesus
Christ, God gives me the gifts of …”
What can I do to receive these gifts? How will I use these gifts to bless
others?
Four
Gifts That Jesus Christ Offers to You
For Kids
I can “offer [my] testimony” to celebrate Jesus’s birth.
Help acquaint children to The
Living Christ. Have them find the name Christ. Show them the signatures of
the prophet and apostles that signed the document. Let them know how special it
is to have witness from the New Testament and from our Church today who have
seen Jesus Christ and know that He is alive and has accomplished the mission Heavenly
Father sent Him to do.
Why is that testimony important for all the world?
Share pictures of Jesus, and allow the children to color or
draw pictures of their own, as you read sections from the document.
What do you know about Jesus? When have you felt His love? Do
you love Him too?
For Kids
He went about doing good
The
Living Christ Second paragraph: “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.”
What did Jesus do? Share pictures from His life. activity
page How can we serve like Jesus?
Watch Light
the World videos.
For Kids
He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world
Sing primary songs and hymns that talk about Jesus being the
Light of the World.
For Kids
God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son
What gifts have we received because of Jesus Christ?
Receive His Gift: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/04/55kearon?lang=eng
1.
His matchless life
2.
The infinite virtue of His great atoning
sacrifice.
3.
Most profound influence upon all
4.
Under the direction of His Father, He was the
creator of the earth.
5.
All things were made by him.
6.
Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all
righteousness.
7.
He “went about doing good”.
8.
His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill.
9.
He entreated all to follow His example.
10. He
healed the sick, caused the blind to see, and raised the dead.
11. 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.
12. He
instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice.
13. He
gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His
14. His
was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.
15. His
life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor
concluded on Calvary.
16. He
was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the
Redeemer of the world.
17. He
rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept”.
18. As
Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life.
19. He
also ministered among His “other sheep”
20. He
and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised
“dispensation of the fulness of times”.
21. He
told Joseph Smith, “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”
22. Joseph
declared of Him, “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”
23. Modern prophets and apostles have added their
witness, “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’”.
24. 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”.
25. He
will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords
26. And
every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him.
27. Each
of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of
our hearts.
28. His
duly ordained Apostles bore testimony—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the
immortal Son of God.
29. He
is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father.
30. 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.
31. God
be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.
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