Speaking Sunday morning, Elder James M. Paramore - reading from a letter he had written to a friend - spoke of the many witnesses of Jesus Christ and His work.

"Because He is the central figure of the life on this earth, every possible opportunity should be taken to understand Him, His purposes, and the witnesses that can bring us to Him," said Elder Paramore of the Presidency of the Seventy.There are many witnesses of Christ in each era of time to which members can go and with perfect surety know of Him and His ways, Elder Paramore said.

"All these witnesses certify of Him, of the things He taught and of the guidelines or standards - yes, the commandments - He gave that man could securely pass through this earth life with joy and happiness and eternal blessings."

Elder Paramore spoke of witnesses in Old Testament times, in New Testament times and in latter days.

Speaking of Old Testament prophets, Elder Paramore said, "These prophets left their witnesses for us to study and to pray about and to receive our own testimony of the `looked for' Savior of the Old Testament."

Later, Elder Paramore explained, Jesus established His Church "to serve as a refuge from the world where the Saints could learn about Him and His truths and His ways, and could learn to love and serve each other."

Then He offered Himself, though in the greatest agony and pain ever known, upon the cross as a final witness of His love for all men by taking their sins upon Himself.

"But the greatest of His blessings came a few days later when the tomb was open and He emerged as the living, resurrected, immortal Christ, showing us that He lives and that we too would live," Elder Paramore added.

"What powerful witnesses Jesus gave those few short years upon the earth. But unfortunately, man would ultimately change His truths, His Church, and lose sight of His promises."

The heavens, however, were opened to restore the gospel to the earth through Joseph Smith and once again He provided important witnesses of the truths and blessings He brings, Elder Paramore related.

"No, God has not forgotten His children, even though they leave His presence for a season and come to earth. We are all on a journey to come to earth and prove ourselves, to find the Savior and the witnesses we have talked about today, and to embrace them with all of our heart.

"This will bring us peace and safety in a world of ever more frightening challenges and will ultimately make us witnesses ourselves of Him and His work and take us home one day to our Father in Heaven crowned with glory and eternal lives."