President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared his powerful testimony in his devotional address today. In the spirit of the upcoming Christmas season, he focused on the condescension of God and the significance of the birth and Atonement of Christ.
President Christofferson started by sharing the story of Nephi’s vision of Christ being born to Mary. Through that and other revelations from God, Nephi and all who read his account learn that Christ descended from His holy rank to join us in mortality and atone for us.
President Christofferson pointed out that Christ had to learn and grow like all of humanity — “grace for grace” — but that He matured in a more accelerated and holier way. Though He was the Son of God, He still experienced pain, suffering and temptations. He did it all so God’s children could not only hear about the path of discipleship, but see the steps they should take.
“In a sense, you too are experiencing a personal condescension of your own."
While the rest of humanity’s condescension is different in purpose, people still experience condescension because they have the gift of agency, physical bodies susceptible to pain and the call to return to God through following His commandments. Just as Christ returned to His Father after accomplishing His mission here on earth, so can His other children.
“You are here, first, to apply His divine gift of repentance in your life and by His grace overcome sin and death, and second, to bring others to Christ to receive this same gift of repentance and eternal life,” President Christofferson said.
President Christofferson expanded on the Atonement, specifically Christ’s personal suffering and the sadness Heavenly Father was surely experiencing as He watched His Son. Though it was a pain-filled experience, it paved the way for God’s children to return to Him, bringing both Father and Son much joy.
President Christofferson reminded the audience that enduring to the end like Christ did is the way to qualify for eternal life. Enduring to the end is more than just checking boxes and accomplishing works.
“We are fully justified in joyously celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is this tender beginning that eventually led to His Atonement which, in turn, leads to the new beginnings in our lives and faithfulness to the end of our lives.”
His final invitation was to remember the parallels between the Savior's condescension and each of God’s other children, especially during Christmas and Easter, and to choose to follow Christ faithfully.
"I invite you to think of your own condescension, its purpose, and how you too, having descended into a fallen world, may with 'good cheer' rise above and overcome the world with Christ. I plead with you to 'take up [your] cross daily, and follow [Jesus]' faithfully, to the end. I testify that Jesus was born of Mary, that He lived on earth, that He now lives, the God of our redemption."
