I Believe in Christ

Bruce R. McConkie gave his final General Conference address in April of 1985. He knew that his health was failing him, and despite the advice from his doctor, he gave one final testimony in front of millions of viewers... he bore powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and his Atonement. I took a copy of this talk, titled "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane," with me today as I visited Gethsemane. This talk was actually the basis of our hymn "I Believe in Christ." I hope and pray that I might be able to gain such a testimony before I see His face.

"In speaking of these wondrous things i shall use my own words, though you may think they are the words of scripture, words spoken by other Apostles and prophets. True it is that they were first proclaimed by others, but they are now mine, for the Holy Spirit of God has borne witness to me that they are true, and it is now as though the Lord had revealed them to me in the first instance. I have thereby heard his voice and know his word."

"We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive, the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane."

"In Gethsemane we will see the Son of God ransom man from the temporal and spiritual death that came to us because of the Fall."

"And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God--I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.

I am one of his witnesses, and in the coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."

I believe in Christ. He is my King. With all my heart, to Him I'll sing!