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Special Witness of Christ Videos: Second Coming
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These beautiful woods near the town of Palmyra in the state of New York have come to be known as the Sacred Grove. It was here on a spring morning much like this in 1820 that Joseph Smith Jr. a sincere and tender-hearted boy of 14, knelt in prayer, seeking to know his standing before God, and to receive divine direction about the religion he should follow. Joseph had purposely chosen this quiet grove of trees near his home so that he could pray privately and undisturbed. As he began to pray, Joseph was seized upon by a dark, destructive power that nearly overcame him. However, this demonic influence fled as a column of light appeared, descending until it enveloped the boy and his surroundings. Standing within the light above him in the air were two glorious beings, glorious beyond the power of words to describe. The first of these, God, our Heavenly Father, motioned toward the other, the Lord Jesus Christ, and said, “Joseph, this is my beloved Son. Hear Him.” In this magnificent vision, the Father and the Son commissioned Joseph Smith as the instrument by whom they would reestablish the ancient church and gospel of Jesus Christ upon the earth. As a manifestation of the love of God, the significance of this event cannot be overstated. The centuries long night of spiritual darkness had ended. God again spoke to man. Divine priesthood authority to act in the name of God would follow. The blessings of the Savior’s infinite atonement would be accessible not only to mankind on earth, but even to the spirits of the dead as they await the resurrection. As a youth, I came to this hallowed place one summer night alone. I sought a divine confirmation of the truth of what Joseph said had happened here. Though I prayed earnestly for what seemed a long time, no answer came to me, and I left keenly disappointed. Some weeks later though, as I sat at home reading and pondering the words of the Book of Mormon, the Holy Ghost filled my soul and gave me the answer I had been seeking. By this spiritual communication, not limited to words, indeed more powerful than words, I was given to know that the Father and the Son had in fact appeared to Joseph Smith here, and that his witness and the witness of all the holy scriptures concerning Jesus Christ are true. Since then, that spiritual witness has been reconfirmed to me many times in various places and circumstances. I found that it was not necessary for me to be here in this sacred grove to receive that testimony through the Holy Spirit, just as it is not necessary for you to come here or any other special place to receive the same spiritual confirmation. Your Heavenly Father knows you and the hopes and desires of your heart wherever you are. As with me, He’ll speak to you in his own time and way. And if you’re sincere and willing to act on His answers, He will reveal to you what you desire to know. Despite unrelenting persecution, Joseph Smith never yielded in his testimony of the reality of God the Father and his son Jesus Christ and what occurred here. His life ended in a martyr’s death just 24 years later. His compelling witness of the living God and the resurrected Redeemer now carries the added force of having been sealed with his own blood. From here has gone forth anew the same witness borne by the prophets and apostles of old. And now after the many testimonies which have been given of him, Joseph Smith later declared, “this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.” As one of His apostles today, in humility yet with full conviction, I testify that Jesus of Nazareth, born 2,000 years ago, is the divine Son of God. He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven to sit down on the right hand of the Father. He is full of grace, mercy, and truth. And as many as will believe in Him, repent and be baptized in His name and endure in faith to the end will enjoy peace in this life and salvation in His heavenly kingdom. I attest that Jesus is the holy Messiah who was prophesied to come and who is further prophesied will come again to reign upon the earth. His appearance in this sacred grove and what followed thereafter constitute the beginning preparations for that glorious and much anticipated second advent. I too bear witness that He lives in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. D. Todd Christofferson, “Special Witnesses of Christ,” (video), Gospel Library.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
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Whenever I come to this great city of Jerusalem I feel a renewed reverence for Him who made this land holy. Under the direction of the Father, Jesus the Christ was creator of this and other worlds. He was Jehovah, God of the Old Testament. Jesus was the promised Immanuel as prophesied by Isaiah more than two thousand years ago. The Lord Jesus Christ was born in nearby Bethlehem as the only begotten Son of Almighty God. Jesus was the only perfect man to walk the earth. In New Testament days Jesus established His church built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. He healed the sick and caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. He raised the dead. Yet He allowed His life to be taken to make resurrection a reality and eternal life a possibility for all humankind. It was here in Jerusalem that the Savior spent His final days in mortality. I am standing on the Mount of Olives. Here at the base of the Mount Jesus came to the Garden of Gethsemane. He came to submit to the will of His Father and offer Himself as the sacrifice for the sins and weaknesses the pains and burdens of all who would ever live. In that garden olives had been pressed under great weight to squeeze precious oil from the olives. In like manner Jesus was literally pressed under the weight of the sins of the world. There He sweat great drops of blood His life’s oil which issued from every pore. Not far from here is a hill named Golgotha meaning skull, which symbolized death. There upon the cross the Savior of the world was lifted up. He gave His life as part of His atoning sacrifice. His subsequent resurrection, His triumphant victory over the grave is recorded in holy writ. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Because the Savior offered Himself as the infinite atonement you and I have the opportunity, the privilege, to be forgiven when we repent. We can also turn to Him for healing of our hearts, for strength where we are weak, and for help to do things we simply cannot do on our own. By virtue of His transcendent offering Jesus also gave us the gift of immortality and the opportunity for eternal life acclaiming, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Another testament of Jesus Christ comes from ancient America where God the Father introduced His Son to the Nephites declaring "Behold my Beloved Son ... hear ye him." Modern prophets have also borne witness of Him including this declaration by the Prophet Joseph Smith "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" I also declare that Jesus the Christ lives that His church has been restored to the earth complete with His power and authority with apostles and prophets and essential ordinances and covenants. In a coming day the Lord will return to this holy land. Then "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." [Isaiah 40:5] Then he will offer these words: "I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God." [D&C 45:52] Then every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. I testify that He is the Living Christ our Lord and Savior, Exemplar, Redeemer and Judge. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. Russell M. Nelson, “Special Witnesses of Christ,” (video), Gospel Library.
President Russell M. Nelson
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