The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles

"The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles" is a 2000 restatement of doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Description edit

The document is a one-page declaration that was issued on January 1, 2000 and was signed by the fifteen apostles in the LDS Church: the three members of the First Presidency and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The declaration commemorates the birth of Jesus and is a reaffirmation of church doctrines and teachings about him. The text includes quotations of significant scriptural passages from the Bible and other LDS Church scriptures and identifies Jesus as the Jehovah of the Old Testament and Messiah of the New Testament.

According to the LDS Church, the document is meant to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ approximately two millennia prior.^[1]

Contents edit

Although the Proclamation presents no new doctrines, it provides an official statement of the church on Jesus. Throughout the work are titles of Jesus and descriptions of what He has done for humankind.

Titles of Jesus edit

Jesus Christ
Jehovah of the Old Testament
Messiah of the New Testament
Creator
Firstborn of the Father
Only Begotten Son in the flesh
Firstfruits of them that slept
Redeemer of the world
Risen Lord
Living Christ
The First and the Last
Advocate with the father
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Immortal Son of God
King Immanuel
The light, the life, and the hope of the world

Use and purpose edit

Since it was issued, the document has been frequently featured in church magazines and publications. One commentator has suggested that "the document may have been created to strengthen LDS Christian claims."^[2] The church encourages its members to place a copy in their homes and to study it often.^[3]

Signatures edit

The document was signed by the following individuals:

Gordon B. Hinckley (First Presidency)
Thomas S. Monson (First Presidency)
James E. Faust (First Presidency)
Boyd K. Packer (Quorum of the Twelve)
L. Tom Perry (Quorum of the Twelve)
David B. Haight (Quorum of the Twelve)
Neal A. Maxwell (Quorum of the Twelve)
Russell M. Nelson (Quorum of the Twelve)
Dallin H. Oaks (Quorum of the Twelve)
M. Russell Ballard (Quorum of the Twelve)
Joseph B. Wirthlin (Quorum of the Twelve)
Richard G. Scott (Quorum of the Twelve)
Robert D. Hales (Quorum of the Twelve)
Jeffrey R. Holland (Quorum of the Twelve)
Henry B. Eyring (Quorum of the Twelve)

Notes edit

^ "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
^ Bushman, Claudia L. (2006), Contemporary Mormonism: Latter-day Saints in Modern America, Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, pp. 26–27, ISBN 0-275-98933-X, OCLC 61178156.
^ "20 years of 'The Living Christ': How the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles continue to emphasize the Savior". Church News. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2023-02-18.

External links edit

"The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles", churchofjesuschrist.org
"The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles", churchofjesuschrist.org (PDF)

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[1] "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-02-18.

[2] Bushman, Claudia L. (2006), Contemporary Mormonism: Latter-day Saints in Modern America, Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, pp. 26–27, ISBN 0-275-98933-X, OCLC 61178156.

[3] "20 years of 'The Living Christ': How the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles continue to emphasize the Savior". Church News. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2023-02-18.

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