A few years ago when I was a student in an institute class, the teacher, Brother Bailey, wrote “Jesus Christ” on the whiteboard. Suddenly, he SLAPPED the whiteboard and yelled, “It’s NOT his last name!” He had the attention of the entire class. I think that statement came as a surprise to some. I have never forgotten that profound teaching moment.
The name “Christ” is Greek, meaning “anointed one,” and is synonymous with the Hebrew term “Messiah.” Both words are sacred titles prophesied from ancient times to belong to our Savior, Jesus the Christ. His birth was promised from the beginning, starting with Adam in the Garden of Eden (Moses 5:6-9).
Every prophet that has lived on this earth was sent to testify of Jesus and his Atonement for each and every one of us. Abinadi told King Noah, “Did not Moses prophecy … concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began – have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?” (Mosiah 13:33).
Christ’s birth was foretold to Jeremiah that he would be born through the House of David, a descendant of the tribe of Judah, (Jeremiah 33:15). He was to be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) whose name would be Mary (Alma 7:10) in the village of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). His birth was prophesied in detail for thousands of years to prepare the hearts of his disciples and the world.
Some of the most profound words we read in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon were penned by Isaiah, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
President Ezra Taft Benson proclaimed, “The most important event in the history of the world was the birth of Jesus Christ.” Hallelujah! His birth was patiently awaited by ancient prophets and now his mortal ministry is gloriously testified by our latter-day prophets.
Each of us has a divine lineage because of our Father in Heaven and our Savior, who is the Messiah of the world. We are literal children, sons and daughters of God and we have temples to seal us to our family – to God’s Family – so that we may return to live with them for eternity.
I hope that we will remember the divine lineage of our Savior and his reason for coming to this earth during this Christmas season and realize how important the work of temple and family history is both to us and those on the other side of the veil. —Aimee McDaniel