Book of Mormon proclaims Christ's divinity
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Placing in a Yuletide context his now-famous challenge to Church members to read or re-read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, President Gordon B. Hinckley devoted much of his address at the annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional Dec. 4 to quoting what the book says about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
President Hinckley's two counselors in the First Presidency each spoke to the Conference Center congregation, affirming the joy of charity and service that abound during the Christmas season. (Please see accompanying reports of their addresses.) The hourlong program was complemented by seasonal music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, conducted by musical director Craig D. Jessop and associate director Mack Wilberg, with Clay Christiansen at the organ.
"I have asked that each of us read again this year the Book of Mormon, that our witness and testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ might be refreshed and strengthened," the Church president reminded listeners. "It is probable that more people are presently reading the book than at any other time in the history of the Church. I thank each of you."
To the scriptural accounts of Christ's birth in Luke and Matthew in the Bible, the Nephite record adds "a further confirming account," President Hinckley said. He quoted the vision as recounted in 1 Nephi 11 wherein Nephi foresaw the birth of Christ to the virgin Mary, the ministry of the Lord preceded by the preaching of John the Baptist, the Savior's death on the cross for the sins of the world, and "the multitudes of the earth . . . gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb."
He declared, "This wonderful book, which has come out of the dust to speak to men of our generation, stands as another witness of the divinity and reality of the Redeemer of the world.
"From beginning to end, the prophets whose lives it records testified again and again of the Savior of all mankind.
". . . And finally it recounts in detail the visit of the resurrected Christ to the people of the Western Hemisphere following His resurrection."
President Hinckley exhorted the listeners, many of whom were tuned in via television broadcast or satellite or Internet transmission, to "ponder these things" during the Christmas season. "Let us reflect upon them. Let us pray concerning them. Let us emulate in our lives the great and profound teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, not only as they are set forth in the Bible, but also as they are set forth in this companion testament of the New World."
It has been suggested, he noted, that as the year draws to a close and many Church members are concluding their reading of the Book of Mormon, that they may wish to share it as a gift to others who do not have it. "In so doing," he said, "you will bless their lives as well as your own."
With the massive Conference Center organ pipes flanked by towering, flocked evergreen trees, the choir and orchestra performed "The First Noel," "Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine," and "For unto Us a Child Is Born" (from Handel's "Messiah"). The congregation joined the choir in singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" at the beginning of the program and in the final verse of "Silent Night" at the end.
Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Presidency of the Seventy offered the opening prayer and Bonnie D. Parkin, Relief Society general president, the closing.
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