On January 1, 2000, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published a combined testimony titled The Living Christ. This collective testimony opens with a reference to Christmas, which they had just celebrated: “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.”
The document goes on to describe His mortal ministry, His atoning sacrifice, His resurrection, and the promise of His return to the earth. It places His birth in a broader context, reminding us that His life “neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary.” The apostles testify of the Savior’s continuing relevance: “He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world.”
They testify of His “matchless life” in the first sentence, and they call Him a “matchless gift” from God in the last sentence. The word “matchless” appears eight times in the Book of Mormon and nowhere else in the scriptures. The prominent use of this word in this document reflects the influence of the Book of Mormon on these witnesses of Christ.
The document specifically references passages from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants, but the principles it teaches are also found in the Book of Mormon. Here is a blog post which pairs each sentence of The Living Christ with a corresponding passage from the Book of Mormon:
As we celebrate Christmas this week, let’s think not only about the miraculous birth of the Savior but about the broader significance of that event for the world, for our families, and for us personally. Let’s remember the truths about the Savior taught in The Living Christ, and let’s share those truths with one another as we celebrate this most important event!
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