Jesus Christ
Mormons know that Jesus Christ is the literal only begotten son of God, the Father. His Father was God and His mother was Mary, a mortal woman. This unique combination allowed Jesus to do what no other person could do. He had the humanness to live the life of a mortal on earth, but the divine heritage that allowed Him to survive the atonement and to live a sinless life.
Although much of the world wants to deny the divinity of Christ, Mormons know He is divine. He came to earth on behalf of all of us, to first live a perfect life, setting an example of righteous living and extraordinary service, and then to atone for our sins. The atonement was the purpose of His earthly life. He retired to the Garden of Gethsemane and there took on Himself every sin ever committed by people and every sin that would be committed. This was an extraordinarily painful experience, and one He could have stopped at any time, but didn’t because He loves us and He’d promised us He’d do this for us.
Soon after this powerful gift, Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be placed on the cross and killed. Then He rose again from the dead. He gave this life freely-it couldn’t be taken from Him against His will. Because of this sequence of events-the atonement, the death on the cross, and the resurrection, we can also rise from the dead and live forever. The gift of living forever is ours, no matter what choices we make during our lives. It is an unconditional gift.
Even greater than this unconditional gift however, is the gift of the ability to live with God forever. None of us, on our own, could have overcome the grave. None of us could live a perfect life or atone for our own sins. Because of the Savior’s gift, we can be forgiven for our sins, and if we work to discipline ourselves, we can become worthy to be in God’s presence.
Jesus continues to be a part of our lives today. When we pray, we pray to God through Jesus. He is our mediator and advocate with the Father. Someday, He will return to earth again and rule the earth. It is Jesus who will judge us at the end of our days, and advocate for us to God.
Jesus Christ is central to the gospel practiced by the Mormons. His name is in the very center of the church’s real name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His name is in the church’s name because it is His church. As His name is in the center of the church’s name, it is also in the center of the Church’s teachings. The Book of Mormon says:
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” 2 Nephi 25:26
The Savior and His ministry are mentioned far more times in the Book of Mormon than it is in the Bible. The Book of Mormon’s purpose is to testify of the Savior and to share with the world a miraculous moment in the Savior’s life, foretold, but not told in the Bible.
From the smallest child, singing, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” to the adult carefully studying the New Testament, Mormons are keeping Jesus in their hearts.
Be sure to visit the image galleries to see some interpretations of the Savior’s life by LDS artists.
