The Anointed One

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Jeffrey Thayne

Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter

Today, I would simply like to share my conviction that the man who we call Jesus Christ, who was born a little over two thousand years ago, is the promised Messiah, that He is the one who was anointed to save us from sin. I believe in the words of Lehi, the ancient prophet, who said, “Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin … unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (2 Nephi 2:6–7).

The idea of a fall and promised redemption is woven throughout the history of philosophy. Many mythologies account for the evil in the world as the result of a separation between God and man. Christianity promises to reunite God and man through the suffering, death, and resurrection of God’s Son. How this works has been debated ever since it happened, and it is indeed a strange story. But it doesn’t seem like the type of narrative someone would invent if they were trying to deceive the world. It is a narrative that I have committed my life to, and I believe with all my heart that it is true.

Shortly prior to the Savior’s birth, a prophet named Alma said, “Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh; Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people” (Alma 13:21–22). God sent messengers to all parts of the world, promising His children that the Messiah would soon be born, who would save them from their follies.

Those who were privileged to receive this news from angelic messengers then shared it with others. These men testified of God’s promise. They were considered prophets, seers of the future, revealers of God’s truth. It is through authorized prophets that God has instructed those who believed in the coming of His Son.

When Christ lived on the earth, He appointed apostles to lead His church when He was gone. The apostles were privileged to witness the greatest miracle in history: after He died, the Savior Jesus Christ came back to life. The apostles touched Him, spoke with Him, and ate with Him; they testified to all they met that not only did Jesus Christ fulfill all the prophecies of His coming, but also that He lives! And that because of Him, everyone else will live again after they die!

After nearly two thousand years of spiritual darkness and confusion, God has again appointed men to act as apostles and prophets, to prepare us for the Messiah’s second coming. There are special witnesses of Jesus Christ living today. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s authorized organization, through which we can come to know and understand the Savior’s message, hear His words given through authorized servants, and partake of the redemption He offers.

This Christmas season, I would like to add my voice to the millions of others who have testified that Jesus Christ lives today, that He directs The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through living prophets and apostles, and that through the Savior Jesus Christ, we can find redemption from sin, be resurrected from death, and return to God’s presence again.

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