A Testimony of Jesus Christ
Missionaries do a lot of things. We ride bikes, we study, we do service, we meet amazing people, and we are constantly moving from place to place. Everything we do, we do because we have a message to share. That message has many facets, but is comprised of a single, simple, glorious element: A testimony of Jesus Christ. We speak of prophets and apostles upon the earth, we testify of new scripture and personal revelation, we rejoice in the construction of sacred temples and the reinstitution of pure ordinances, but it is our testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that is the cornerstone of our faith.
I testify of Jesus Christ. He lives. He was born to the virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem, in the land of Jerusalem, and is the literal son of God. Angels announced His birth, and shepherds and magi alike worshiped at His infant feet. He performed miracles and taught pure doctrine to his disciples and apostles. He spoke, He worked, He lived, and He died. In Gethsemane, on the streets of Jerusalem, in the palace of Pilate and upon the cross at Calgary He suffered for our pains and our sins, and when this eternal and everlasting Atonement was finished, He willingly gave up his life of His own power.
Three days later, He literally rose again. He lives and speaks to men and to women. Mary recognized His face. Thomas touched His hands and feet. Stephen saw Him on the right hand of God. Saul was shaken and transformed by His voice. Joseph Smith saw His face and basked in His presence, receiving power from Him to establish His church upon the earth once again. He lives, He reigns, and He knows our names. He stands victorious and supreme, and invites us individually every day to come unto Him through Faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. One day we will see Him again, and our knees shall bow and our tongues confess that he, Jesus of Nazareth, is the Christ.
This is my testimony, and it is central to the message that I, and missionaries throughout the world, seek to share. With whom may we share it next?
I testify of Jesus Christ. He lives. He was born to the virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem, in the land of Jerusalem, and is the literal son of God. Angels announced His birth, and shepherds and magi alike worshiped at His infant feet. He performed miracles and taught pure doctrine to his disciples and apostles. He spoke, He worked, He lived, and He died. In Gethsemane, on the streets of Jerusalem, in the palace of Pilate and upon the cross at Calgary He suffered for our pains and our sins, and when this eternal and everlasting Atonement was finished, He willingly gave up his life of His own power.
Three days later, He literally rose again. He lives and speaks to men and to women. Mary recognized His face. Thomas touched His hands and feet. Stephen saw Him on the right hand of God. Saul was shaken and transformed by His voice. Joseph Smith saw His face and basked in His presence, receiving power from Him to establish His church upon the earth once again. He lives, He reigns, and He knows our names. He stands victorious and supreme, and invites us individually every day to come unto Him through Faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. One day we will see Him again, and our knees shall bow and our tongues confess that he, Jesus of Nazareth, is the Christ.
This is my testimony, and it is central to the message that I, and missionaries throughout the world, seek to share. With whom may we share it next?