I Will Praise Thy Name

Each latter-day prophet has stood as a witness for Christ. At this Christmas season, as in the past, the power and surety of their testimonies ring out to the world. They can join with Isaiah in saying, “O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” (Isa. 25:1).

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.

Joseph Smith

I testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world; I have obeyed his sayings, and realized his promise, and the knowledge I have of him, the wisdom of this world cannot give, neither can it take away.

Brigham Young

Jesus came here according to the foreordained plan and purpose of God, … as the Only Begotten of the Father full of grace and truth. He came to offer himself a sacrifice, … to meet the requirements of a broken law, which the human family were incapable of meeting, to rescue them from the ruins of the fall, to deliver them from the power of death to which all peoples had been subjected by the transgression of a law.

John Taylor

I have always looked upon the life of our Savior—who descended beneath all things that He might rise above all things—as an example for His followers. And yet it has always, in one sense of the word, seemed strange to me that the Son of God, the First Begotten in the eternal worlds of the Father, and the Only Begotten in the flesh, should have to descend to the earth and pass through what He did—born in a stable, cradled in a manger, persecuted, afflicted, scorned, a hiss and byword to almost all the world, and especially to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea. … There is something about all this that appears sorrowful; but it seemed necessary for the Savior to descend below all things that he might ascend above all things.

Wilford Woodruff

I had no sooner opened my lips in an effort to pray, than I heard a sound, just above my head, like the rustling of silken robes, and immediately the spirit of God descended upon me, completely enveloping my whole person, filling me from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and O the joy and happiness I felt! No language can describe the almost instantaneous transition from a dense cloud of mental and spiritual darkness into a refulgence of light and knowledge, that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and of the restoration of the Holy Priesthood, and the fullness of the Gospel.

Lorenzo Snow

I bear testimony to you, that I have received an assurance which has taken possession of my whole being. It has sunk deep into my heart; it fills every fibre of my soul; so that I say before this people, and would be pleased to have the privilege of saying it before the whole world, that God has revealed unto me that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Redeemer of the world.

Joseph F. Smith

I know that God lives, I know that Jesus is the Christ, I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, I know that the Gospel tree is alive, that it is growing, that the fruits of the Gospel growing upon the tree are good. … It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the plan of life and salvation. God lives; Jesus is the Christ, and He is the chief corner stone of this great work—He is directing it, and He will continue to direct it.

Heber J. Grant

I have been bouyed up and, as it were, lifted out of myself and given power not my own to teach the glorious truths proclaimed by the Redeemer of the world. I have not seen Him face to face but have enjoyed the companionship of His Spirit and felt His presence in a way not to be mistaken. I know that my Redeemer lives.

George Albert Smith

There is not a principle which is taught by the Savior of men but is applicable to the growth, development, and happiness of mankind. Every one of his teachings seems to touch the true philosophy of living. I accept them wholeheartedly. I like to study them. It is a joy to try to live them.

David O. McKay

We proclaim that to gain salvation men must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by immersion by one who has authority, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and then press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, keeping the commandments and enduring to the end.

Joseph Fielding Smith

I know, with all the feelings of my soul, that the Savior lives. I know that he is standing closer to us today. He said that in a revelation. “I am in your midst and ye cannot see me; But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am. …” (D&C 38:7–8.) …

And so I leave you my witness and bear my humble testimony to the divinity of this work.

Harold B. Lee

No matter how much we say of him, it is still too little.

He is not only the Carpenter, the Nazarene, the Galilean, but Jesus Christ, the God of this earth, the Son of God, but most importantly, our Savior, our Redeemer.

Spencer W. Kimball

I want you to know that I know that Christ is at the helm. This is His world. This is His Church. His purposes will be accomplished.

Christ is our ideal. He is our exemplar. What manner of men and women should we be? Even as He is. The best measure of true greatness is how Christlike we are.

Ezra Taft Benson

References:
D&C 76:22–24
Discourses of Brigham Young, ed. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954, p. 26.
Journal of Discourses, 22:140.
The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, ed. G. Homer Durham, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946, p. 4.
Preston Nibley, The Presidents of the Church, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, p. 140.
Testimonies of Our Leaders, comp. Horace Green, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1958, p. 47.
Testimonies, p. 50.
Testimonies, p. 53.
Improvement Era, Nov. 1961, p. 818.
Ensign, June 1971, p. 4.
Ensign, Aug. 1972, p. 39.
Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 7.
Ensign, May 1986, p. 78.

Painting by Harry Anderson