“To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.” (D&C 46:13). Just how powerful a gift is a knowledge of the Divine Sonship of Jesus Christ and His mission as the Savior and Redeemer of the World? When Jesus asked His disciples if they knew Who He was, “Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18). Knowledge revealed by the Holy Ghost of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and of His mission to die for the sins of the world, is the rock upon which Jesus Christ's church is built. Even Joseph Smith taught, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” If we do not feel particularly intelligent or financially savvy or physically strong or emotionally stable or charismatic, if we feel that our talents are few in number and lacking in substance, despite all of that, if we have been given the gift to know by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died for our sins, then all of the rest is vanishingly insignificant in comparison. Who cares if we can't carry a tune when our Elder Brother Jesus Christ has carried us through our toughest challenges? Who cares if we can't draw a stick figure when we know that Jesus Christ will draw near to us as we draw near to Him? To have a testimony of Jesus Christ, of the reality of His miraculous birth, His incomparable life, His incomprehensible mercy and compassion and infinite strength as He suffered and died for our sins, and the glory of His resurrection and the light and warmth of His love, this is a gift like no other. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He died for the sins of the world. This gift has been given to me by the Holy Ghost and it is a gift that is available to each and every one of us.
