The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, in His momentous visit to the Israelites then living in ancient America where the Lord had led them when He scattered the tribes, expounded His doctrine in these clear words:

“And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

“And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

“And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned” (3 Nephi 11: 32-34; emphasis added).

Summed up, we may say that it is the Lord’s doctrine that God the Father commands us to come to Christ, believe in Him, repent of our sins, and be baptized. This is the way. It is what the Bible teaches. It is what the prophets have always taught. It is true doctrine and comes from the lips of the Savior of mankind.

Furthermore, the resurrected Redeemer told these same Nephite disciples in ancient America:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

“And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

“And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

“And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.” (3 Nephi 11:35-39).

The Lord’s Gospel is from the Father; Jesus is the Father’s perfect representative. He is the “author of eternal salvation unto all them who obey him,” and the High Priest of the Church which bears His holy name (Hebrews 5:9-10). We are told to believe in Him, and to believe Him. If we do, and do so in humble sincerity as a child, the Father will send the Holy Ghost to confirm precious eternal truths to our souls, just as He confirmed to Peter the truth that the Man with whom He walked the dusty valleys of the Holy Land was really the Son of God and the promised Messiah (Matthew 16:15-17).

The Holy Ghost, the Son, and the Father are three separate Beings, yet totally united – or one – in their eternal purpose of saving and exalting the Father’s children (Moses 1:39). The singular path that leads to this blessing of salvation and exaltation in the Kingdom of Heaven is believing in Christ, receiving an irrefutable witness of the truth through the Holy Spirit, repenting of and forsaking our sins, being baptized in Jesus’ name, and building upon the rock of the Gospel of Christ while continuously humbling ourselves like little children before our Eternal Father. I testify that this is the way; it is the “way of holiness” (Isaiah 35:8), or the “covenant path.”

The Lord Himself has given us His assurance – and He does not lie – that if we build upon His rock, we cannot fall. Christ is the only sure foundation. The ordinances of His Gospel, of which baptism is the first, link us to Him. Each ordinance we enter into, and each covenant we make with Him, adds another link to the chain that gratefully binds us to our Savior and to His eternal love, grace, and salvation. This salvation that He extends to us on conditions of repentance, baptism, and obedience to every ordinance and law of the Gospel, was made possible through His atoning sacrifice for us in Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary, and is ensured by the Resurrection from the powerless tomb.

This Easter season with its all-important Holy Week is the perfect opportunity to focus on Him, to hear Him, and to make or renew our covenants with Him. We can hear His voice in many ways, including through the quiet but sure voice of the Spirit, the words of holy scripture, and the teachings of duly commissioned and authorized representatives. I testify that prophets, apostles, patriarchs, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons who hold and exercise the Lord’s Holy Priesthood as delegated to them through the proper order of succession leading back directly to the Savior Himself, who bestowed it upon the Twelve Apostles anciently, walk the earth.

The Lord’s representatives come together in a grand conference twice a year to conduct the general business of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to expound doctrine, to fortify the faith of the Saints, to warn against pernicious and Satanic influences, to defend families and moral principles, and to edify each humble hearer who invites the Holy Spirit into the experience. These conferences are some of my favorite events of the year. I have a vibrant personal witness of the reality of living prophets, and that sacred and unshakable witness was gained at the end of the October 2006 General Conference. It was there that I learned what I had already believed; namely, that the Lord Jesus has again called living prophets in modern times and endowed them with His authority to officiate in saving ordinances and to direct the work of salvation.

To His Apostles in Galilee, the Lord instructed, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). In slightly more detail, Matthew records the instruction thus:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).

To the Nephites, after teaching them the above-quoted instruction concerning believing in Him, repenting, being baptized, and building upon His rock, the resurrected Lord commanded, “Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth” (3 Nephi 11:41). Again, He taught:

“And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you. . . .

“Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. . . .

“And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world” (3 Nephi 18:16, 24-25).

Because I am an unashamed disciple of Jesus Christ, and because I possess an absolutely sure testimony that Jesus is the Savior and that His Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which is led by living prophets and apostles, I raise my voice to encourage each of you to come, feel, and see. Tune into General Conference on this April 5th and 6th, or spend time later in the vast archives of this and past conferences. You will be edified, instructed, uplifted, and drawn closer to your Redeemer.

I testify that President Russell M. Nelson, a one-hundred-year-old man of humility and wisdom who stands as the chief prophet, seer, and revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ today, is the Lord’s current mouthpiece. I testify of President Nelson’s counselors, Presidents Oaks and Eyring. I give my witness that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are likewise inspired and hold the authority of the Holy Priesthood, exercising it under the direction of President Nelson and the Lord who is the true Head of His Church. If you have ever wondered what the Lord might say if He were to speak today, stop wondering; come and see.

Rivet your eyes on the Savior. Immerse yourself in His word which is obtained through personal revelation, holy writ, and the teachings of authorized apostles and prophets. God be thanked that He has given mankind apostles and prophets in our day! We don’t need to “wander from sea to sea” and “run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord” (Amos 8:11-12) – it is generously before us set out on the table like a feast. Those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6) may satiate their spiritual cravings by “feasting upon the word of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20).

I testify that at the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, inspired apostles of the Lamb of God will declare the words which He has spoken. They will “enlarge [your] soul . . . enlighten [your] understanding,” and “be delicious to [you]” (Alma 32:28).

Zack Strong,
April 5, 2025

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