On Jan. 1, 2000, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” on the morning of one of the most anticipated dates in history.
The First Presidency at the time comprised the late President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust. The three jointly announced the 700-word proclamation made by members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; it was published immediately in Church News and in Church magazines soon after.
In their letter announcing the proclamation’s publication, the First Presidency wrote: “We add our witness to that of our predecessors. We encourage you to use this written testimony in helping to build the faith of our Heavenly Father’s children.”
Twenty-five years later, four of the document’s original signers serve in the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Church President Russell M. Nelson; President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring, counselors in the First Presidency; and President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
President Nelson’s and President Oaks’ signatures appear directly across from those of President Eyring and President Holland. The latter two were the newest members of the Twelve at that time. The 11 others whose signatures are on that document have died in the quarter century since their collective testimony of the Savior was published.
President Nelson published a social media post on New Year’s Day 2025 about his experience with “The Living Christ.” In that post, he mentioned those who have read it and how his own testimony has grown by studying it.
“Over the last quarter century this testimony has been read, studied and even memorized by countless disciples of Jesus Christ. My study of this testimony increases my desire, every day, to be more like Him,” he wrote.
In 2000, when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, then-Elder Nelson spoke with Church News about “The Living Christ” and its video companion series released later in the same year titled “Special Witnesses of Christ.” He called the two “the most sacred thing that we can contribute, mainly our testimony that the living Christ is the literal Son of God.”
As with apostles who have come before in this dispensation and that of the Savior, President Nelson expressed his desire to have “The Living Christ” stand the test of time as a testimony that would bless others for many years into the future.
“We wanted to leave something that would get into the hearts of people and endure, even beyond the life of those testifiers,” he said.
The document, which President Nelson called a “testimony,” includes nine scriptural citations. Two come from this year’s “Come, Follow Me” book of study, the Doctrine and Covenants.
The first of those two mentions is the Prophet Joseph Smith’s description of the Savior from Doctrine and Covenants 110:3-4.
“His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.”
The second includes the shared testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon from Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24.
“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father — That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.”
Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson also posted on Jan. 1, 2025, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the publishing of this apostolic testimony.
“The Light of Christ is not bound by a season,” she said, referencing the recent Christmas season. “His love is constant. His guidance is sure. And His invitation remains the same — ‘Follow me.’”
