A Living Witness of the Living Christ
by Bishop Gérald Caussé
Kristen Erekson - South Relief Society
I recently read this scripture from Mosiah 14:4 as part of the Come Follow Me study: “Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.”I suspect many of you may have felt grief and can relate well, but I had a harder time relating to that word. So I looked it up in the dictionary and it listed misery, anguish, suffering, heartache, heartbreak.
I liked these quotes from the talk by Elder Causse:
“In addition to bearing the burden of our sins, the Christ took upon Himself our sorrows, infirmities, sufferings, and sicknesses and all the afflictions inherent in the mortal condition of man. There is no anguish, no pain or sadness that He did not suffer for us.”
“He died for each one of us, personally, as if you or I were the only person on earth.”
We are not alone in our tough times.
And even when we don’t feel loved by those close to us or anyone at all or when we don’t even feel particularly loveable, I believe that the Living Christ offers us constant love. I draw strength knowing that He died for us and would do it again.
Here is hope!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=
Doralia Serrano - North Relief Society
There are two thoughts that I keep referring to from the talk by Bishop Causse:1. The statue of the Christus that we have in many locations, was originally carved in 1820, the same year that Joseph Smith saw the first vision.
2. The central message of the Book of Mormon is to restore the true knowledge of the essential role of Jesus Christ in the salvation and exaltation of mankind.
I imagine been present there, when Christ came to visit the Nephites as a resurrected being and coming down from the heavens. Christ invited each one of them to come and feel the prints of his hands and feet, showing that he was the One that had been promised to be sent to help us. Those prints were the only physical sign that he had to show them who he was. Each person present was able to receive testimony of who he was and what he could do for them. He is the LIVING CHRIST!
I know that we receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost to do many things that a good for us and for the world. I feel that it is not a coincidence that Bertel Thorvaldsen, the Danish artist that sculpted the image of a living Christ did it in 1820. I imagine that the Spirit let him know that this is the way that Christ comes to us. Without been present at the sacred grove, he was able to portrait the message that God had prepared for that year, because of inspiration. And just like the Spirit inspires people to create works of art that stand for generations, he inspires us to Come unto Christ. Christ is inviting you “to come forth and thrust [your] hands into His side and feel the prints of the nails in His hands and feet, thereby receiving a personal witness that he [is] indeed the long-awaited Messiah.”
How do you feel the prints of the nails in His hands and feet? or “when was the last time you felt the sweet influence of the Savior’s Atonement in your life?”
I feel it when I study the Book of Mormon. Today, I felt a confirmation of the promise that we have received: if we study this book we are going to hear His voice.
Mosiah 26:33 says “when Alma had heard these words he wrote them down that HE MIGHT HAVE THEM.” He wrote the words of revelation and guidance that he received directly from God, that he might have them. And now, we have them too. And Christ invites us to read them to feel the nails in His hands and feet and to receive the hope that he brings.
