We believe
in a Christ that was born in a manger, with no place in which to lay his head.
His virgin mother Mary, wrapped him in swaddling cloth and wise men from the
East and shepherds visited him. A new star appeared in the sky as angels
heralded his entering into the world. The experience of Christ’s birth of those
who dwelt in the America’s is very similar to the experience of those in
Bethlehem. The Book of Mormon records “And it came to pass also that a new star
did appear according to the word… “ (3 Nephi
1:19). Latter Day Saints believe
in the Messiah born in the manger, brought forth by a virgin, the literal son
of God. In his article Dr. Robert J.
Matthews, Professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University we learn,
“The Book of Mormon tells us that the person we call Jesus Christ is the God of
that whole world, and of all people, and
has been working among all nations to the extent of their willingness and
ability, and in accordance with His own timetable.”
Yet even
long before his birth, the Savior of the world was prophesied of by prophets of
old. Isaiah prophesied that “the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
(Isaiah 7:14). Jeremiah recorded “Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I
will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper
and shall execute judgment and justice in the Earth” (Jeremiah 23:5). The King,
was Jesus Christ, the God of the Old Testament. Jehovah, the Only Begotten Son of the Father. Just like Biblical prophets, the prophets of
the Book of Mormon looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. A prophet by
the name of Samual preached to the people of Zarahemla, a city built up by the
people of the Americas, “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God the same shall have
everlasting life.”
Perhaps even
more beautiful than the prophecies of Christ’s coming into the world is the
prophecies of his atonement, the sacrifice that would provide a way for all men
to return to our Father in Heaven if they believe on the name of Christ and do
all that He has commanded them. Alma prophesied “And he shall go forth
suffering pains and afflictions and tempations of every kind and this that the
word might be fulfilled which saith He will take upon himself the pains and
sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death , which bind his
people, and he will take upon him their infirmities that his bowels may be
filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the
flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11-12).
The purpose for the atonement of Jesus Christ, for all his suffering,
tribulation, and eventual death was so that he would know how to comfort those
who had such experiences. Even on the cross who knew what it felt like to be
forasaken by God so he could understand what it felt like to sin, so he could
know what it felt like to be completely an utterly alone. He had no place to go
that he might better understand the plight of the homeless, he fasted for forty
days that he might know to mollify the parched and the famish. He was tortured “stricken
for our iniquities and bruised for our transgressions” that he might know how
to offer solace to all his suffered, in whatever form that might be.
The question
remains: why did this sacrifice need to be made? Why was it necessary for Jesus
Christ to kneel beneath the pains of the world and be lifted up upon the cross?
One of my favorite verses explains it better than I ever could “And since man
had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death
of Christ atone for [our] sins, through faith and repentance and so forth; and
that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory and
that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory” (Alma
22;14). Nephi tells us “Wherefore all mankind were in a lost and fallen state
and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer” (1 Nephi 10:6).
Essentially, without Christ and his sacrifice the Plan of Salvation would be
null and void we would be subject unto the devil (see 2 Nephi 9) and never be
able to return to the presence of God. All Christian denominations refer to
this as the concept of grace and just like any other Christian denomination
Latter Day Saints revere this concept as doctrine and the word of God. Without
Christ we cannot be saved.
The
atonement is real. That it's power is strong enough to overcome all the
hardships that we experience in life. No matter who or where we are. No matter
what we've done or how far from God we may feel. Christ sacrifice was an infinite
and all-encompassing atonement. Whatever past regrets may haunt our minds and
weigh down our spirits the sacrifice of the Lamb can heal all wounds, take away
all pain, and soothe all sorrows. There is a balm in Gilead and it is the love
of a Father in Heaven coupled with the selfless sacrifice of the Lamb. His
blood erases any stain, straightens any path, overcomes any weakness that we,
as mortals but still beloved children of God, may have, and mends all that is
broken. I testify that He lives, the Savior and Redeemer of the world lives. He
pleads for our souls before the Father masking our imperfections with the
perfect life that He lived. Come unto Him and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Partake of the fruit of His love and forgiveness, taste of its sweetness and
revel in the knowledge that Christ died for you. Had you been the only one for
which a debt needed to be paid He would have paid the price because you are
beloved, you hold a spark of divinity, and you are capable of becoming like
Him. Make a promise to yourself now. If you have experienced the peace of
having Christ at the center of your life but have strayed from that of late,
return to Him. If you have never experienced it, discover Him. If you are
walking in His footsteps faithfully, live for Him. May God bless you and may
you all experience the joy of a Christ centered life, until you read again.
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