The Living Christ

On January 1, 2000, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued a declaration known as “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” (Gospel Library). In this historic document, the Apostles testify of Jesus Christ’s matchless life, divine mission, and sacred roles.

Note: This lesson can be taught at any point during this course. For example, you could teach this as the first lesson of the course, during Easter week, after studying the four Gospels, or at the end of the course.

Additional Resources

Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.

Encouraging Personal Study

Before class, consider sending students one of the following messages, depending on the time of year you teach this lesson. You could also consider sending messages of your own.

Before you begin your study of the New Testament, read “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.” As you read, identify truths about Jesus Christ that you desire to understand better and feel more deeply.
President Russell M. Nelson has encouraged us to give greater focus to the Savior during the week before Easter (see “This Easter, Find Peace in Jesus Christ,” Inspiration (blog), Mar. 28, 2021, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Read and ponder “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” to make your Easter a more Christ-focused experience.
As we conclude our study of the New Testament, read “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.” Reflect on how your own testimony of the Savior has grown during this course of study.

Questions and Sharing

Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.”

Skill Training

The study activity in the handout “Study ‘The Living Christ’” could be a helpful place to use the skill “Searching in the Scriptures and in Gospel Library” in Scripture Study Skills.

Learning Activity

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles

What can “The Living Christ” teach me about the Savior?

Invite students to imagine that someone not of our faith asked, “What do you believe about Jesus Christ?”

Invite students to take a few minutes and record the most important things they would want to share about the Savior.

After students have had time to record their thoughts, remind them that on January 1, 2000, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared what they felt was important about the Savior in “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.”

Before studying “The Living Christ,” consider sharing the following statement by Elder Robert D. Hales:

The world is moving away from the Lord faster and farther than ever before. The adversary has been loosed upon the earth. We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and protected. For example, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was given long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family. “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” was prepared in advance of when we will need it most. (“General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 7)

What stood out to you from this statement?

Distribute the handout titled “Study ‘The Living Christ.’” Give students time to complete the handout individually. You could invite students to study “The Living Christ” in its entirety for this learning activity. Or you could assign students different portions of the document to study.

After students have finished studying, invite them to share their responses from their handout with a partner or small group. Then consider discussing a few questions like the following together as a class:

What did you learn or feel about the Savior as you studied “The Living Christ”?
In what ways do you think the truths taught in “The Living Christ” are essential to the world today? Who could you share these truths with?
How can knowing and believing the truths in “The Living Christ” influence how you live your life?

To conclude, give students time to consider what they might add to what they wrote at the beginning of this activity. Students could share their revised thoughts about the Savior with a partner or in small groups.

Testify of the truths about Jesus Christ that you have discussed in this lesson. Encourage students to record spiritual promptings they have had and to act on them.