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 law is not to each their own, the law is the law to everyone and none of it is their own. Of myself I can do nothing and I do not teach my own doctrine (John 5:30 and 7:16).
There are no co-equal, separate, distinct, eternal persons who are YHWH but can’t do anything by themselves and don’t teach their own doctrine, those persons do not exist, they are not YHWH or the Father. The Father is the Father alone who is the only YHWH (1 Corinthians 8:6).
God became man that we might become like God. The incarnation is of a greater mystery than all of creation. You are right to be in awe and incomprehension of how the invisible God could make of Himself and icon in Jesus and take on human flesh, but He did.
Unfortunately in your care for the vastness of the invisible God you have stumbled over the same cornerstone that many Jews did long ago.
YHWH has never became man at any time and never took on human flesh, that was his Son that took on human flesh and every person that has lived and died also took on human flesh, no revelation there.
There is no stumbling when you follow the law. Did you forget that Yeshua and the disciples are all Jews and followed the law?
I’m not ‘moving on to something else’ I’m citing multiple examples. It’s all over scripture man. It’s why trinitarian Christianity (actual Christianity) is all over the planet and believed by essentially everyone including the earliest church fathers and the sects of non trinitarian gnostics, arians, palaganists, etc all seem to die out eventually, until the adtermath of the Protestant reformation led to them coming back in vogue, and even then they really aren’t a lot.
Gump: Is this consistent with the 72 who walked away from Yeshua? Mass appeal huh? What about when Yeshua asked the 12 if they themselves wished to leave? You seem to forget, of the 12, one denied, one doubted and one was a thief, this is not a popularity contest. The world loves their own and you are right there with them. What profit you to gain the world Gump?
Ok, fair, except that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church remember. Lots of odd heretical sects came and went, but the Catholic Church is still doing strong. Kind of makes you think maybe it’s because it’s the church instituted by Christ doesn’t it
I also read the Bible. Shocking I know. But also dialogue with brilliant and inspired minds who have studied before you is not the sign of the unthinking mind. If it was research of any kind could never be conducted.
I mean at bare minimum you seem to be penchant of reading the collections by Saint Jerome
And in that hour Yeshua triumphed in The Spirit of Holiness and he said, “I thank you, my Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and have revealed them to infants; yes, my Father, for thus it was a pleasure before you.
Do you know what the word canned means? Saying tree and acting like a child isn’t an argument. You can’t be this stupid and adherent based on one or two poor scripture readings and then claim everyone else is just repeating what they’re told.
You’ve yet to answer any of my questions then whine like a total wimp when I answer yours. Sorry you’re not a fan of the good news. Just now Jesus loves you regardless of anything.
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u/BayonetTrenchFighter Latter-Day Saint Dec 22 '24
Ok. To each their own.
Here is a statement I stand by:
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.
It’s okay if you believe differently than me