The following transcript is intended to aid in your study. However, while we try to go through the transcript, our transcripts are primarily computer-generated and often contain errors. Please forgive the transcripts’ imperfections.

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[00:00:00] In Moses chapter 6, verse 63, the Lord says, All things bear record of me. Now, I have always interpreted this verse to mean that I should look outward at everything and try to see how everything I'm looking at bears record of him, which I think it kind of does mean that, but I don't think that I have ever really considered myself in that equation.

I mean, have you? How do I personally bear record of him? In this special Christmas episode, we are going to take the challenge found in this week's Come Follow Me lesson, and we're going to spend some time reading and studying The living Christ, the testimony of the apostles. And I have invited several families to help me do this for the next hour.

So we get to hear these friends of mine personally. Bear record of him. And when we are done, I'm going to ask you to do the same. Welcome to the Sunday on Monday study group, a desert bookshelf plus original brought to you by LDS living where we take the come [00:01:00] follow me lesson for the week and we really dig into the scriptures together.

I'm your host, Tammy Uzelac Hall. Now, if you're new to our study Follow the link in our description and it's going to explain how you can best use this podcast to enhance your come follow me study. Just like my friends, Liza and Lindsay from far west Utah. Hey ladies. Thanks so much for listening. Now, another awesome thing about our study group is each week we're joined by two of my friends, but let me tell you what this episode is a lot different because I've invited several friends to help me study the living Christ and to share their thoughts with us on specific paragraphs.

So before we begin, I'm going to encourage everyone to copy off the living Christ so you can follow along with us. Now you can find it at lds. org and then in the search bar, just type in living Christ, or you can go to our show notes where we will have a link and it'll take you right there. Print it off.

Number the paragraphs. because we have numbered them down to 10 paragraphs and we are going to discuss each one. [00:02:00] So grab your copy of the living Christ and let's dig into this amazing and almost 24 year old witness of Christ. And as we do, I want you to consider how you bear record of him. I am so excited to introduce you to my guests.

We have a Leah Boyd and her son, Wilson Boyd. And I love these two so much, and I have met them over the course of the last year through the podcast, and we have done some things together, and I just really value their opinion and their thoughts on the Savior. And so I have asked them if they would first start us out by being the family that just read the Living Christ.

And I want you two to tell me, what was it like to read the Living Christ together as a family? Well, um, it was a really nice experience. You got to feel Christ come into our hearts. And it really felt like he was watching over us as we were reading these pages and these paragraphs. And [00:03:00] it just felt so nice.

It also felt really, um, kind of exciting at the same time. Ooh, I love your descriptive words. Wilson, I like how you kept using the word feel. It felt like, it felt like. What was it like for you, mom? I am so emotional because I just love, I love to hear Wilson's insights because exactly what he said. So we, we've read it a few times.

And then we just read it, um, about 20 minutes ago, and I would say that Wilson was kind of having, you know, just a normal teenage day until I said, Hey, will you read this out loud because I was doing dishes or whatever, and we read it out loud one more time before we. I get to the podcast and it was just like the whole atmosphere of the room changed.

His voice changed. The feeling changed. There was like a light, light switch just flipped on and, [00:04:00] um, you could feel the spirit just having those words. You think? I think. Yeah. So tell me, you've read it then now four times, at least. Uh, yeah. In preparation for this, I want to know from you, Wilson, is there one particular part that really clicked for you?

The one part where they talked about, uh, He went about doing good, yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow his example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

Why was that your favorite part? Well, it kind of gave me encouragement to continue to study the scriptures and learn more about, [00:05:00] learn more about Jesus Christ. And it also kind of made me feel excited for the future. One day I might be healed and. I can actually kind of take this as an example for everyone.

Everyone could, everyone eventually, what kind of, what kind of, uh, uh, mental illnesses or, or, uh, or physical challenges that they deal with, uh, if they, if they strive in the gospel, and if they follow the testimonies of the prophets and the apostles, and And learn about, learn about him. They could receive blessings just as well as I could.

You know, Wilson, as you're speaking, I am feeling the spirit so strong. You really have that, a gift, a profound gift to help us fill the spirit. Can I ask you a question, a personal question? Because you said that that you like that so much because it gives you the [00:06:00] encouragement to learn more about him and then also you talked about how you trusted in the ability to be healed.

What do you need to be healed from? What are you hoping to be healed from? Well, To be more, to be more specific, what I wanted to be healed from was I'm paralyzed from the, from the waist down. I can't feel anything from the waist down. I was born with spina bifida, which is a short in short medical terms basically it's when before you're born, you're back.

You are, you're basically growing in an incorrect position and in consequence, it causes your back to snap and, uh. It's pretty good. So. It's a neurotube defect that happens in utero. Yeah. And so Wilson was born with spina bifida. So he's, um, always [00:07:00] used a wheelchair. And I also have autism and. And I would love Jesus Christ to heal me from these two things.

But, uh, but also I would love it if you could, if you could help me help me get rid of my sins. If he helped cure my sins that would. Be a whole other different story for me. Well, somehow, that is awesome. What are you thinking, mom, as you're hearing him talk about that and Jesus?

Wilson has a really powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. And he's just like every other ordinary teenager. In that he does the ordinary teenager things too, which are like every mom, you know, annoying and hard, but, um, there is a really powerful thing when Wilson, um, lets himself be submersed in the spirit.

It [00:08:00] is just so tangible and powerful for. For everybody around him. And, um, ever since he was a little boy, just teeny tiny, he believed in Jesus Christ, not, not just with like, Oh, my mom and dad said, but he knew the savior and he believed that when he came again, that. That he would heal him. And that was just kind of something that he always talked about.

And, um, so when we read this, every time I asked him the same question, he would just ask, we would read it and I would say, choose something else, like, isn't there something else that sticks out to you? And every time he would say, no, this is my favorite part. And I think that that is, is just one more testimony to me that, you know, Jesus Christ is.

It's not just that he will heal us. It's that he is healing [00:09:00] us. You know, he is there for Wilson right now. He is comforting him in his afflictions right now. And that's where the belief. Remains and and maintains is because Wilson, like he said, he's working on his sins, just like the rest of us, his sins are no greater than mine.

And yet he's willing to say that, you know, like, I need Jesus to heal me of my sins. Yeah, well, so do I. And I really, that's what I love about Wilson. He's open and honest and I learn, I learn from that.

So next up we have my friends, Reed and Rachel Fuhrman, and I am so excited for what they're going to talk to us about. They get paragraph one! They're going to introduce us to the living Christ. So we're going to listen to that first, and then we're going to talk to Reid and Rachel. [00:10:00] As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of his matchless life and the infinite virtue of his great atoning sacrifice.

None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth. Okay, you two. So, you've got the first paragraph. You're gonna start us off strong, right? I want you two to tell me, what were your thoughts as you read this first paragraph? Wow. No pressure at all, right?

Yeah. Sorry, Rachel. None. It's okay. Um, to me, it's everything because, um, our Savior, Jesus Christ, that's where I mean, that's everything when it comes to our testimony. I just couldn't help but think, especially during this special time of year, during Christmas, um, our Savior is where our joy can come from, and knowing that He is our mark.

He is where we need [00:11:00] to look for everything, for our happiness, for our, um, for repentance, for, um, Taking away our pain and our sorrows. And, um, you know, right now we've got, we're, um, really blessed. We have two missionaries out and it's been a special time of our lives to, um, see them turn to their Lord when they're struggling.

And it's really helped me to realize how important our savior is. For me. Um, the first thing that stands out to me when I read this first paragraph kind of sets the, the, it sets. Everything else that you read. Um, and, and the first thing I hear is the reality of his matchless life. And that to me is the reality that Jesus Christ was a person.

That, that right there is what stands out first of all to me. You know, Jesus Christ isn't a folklore to me. He's, he's my brother. He was a real person. He's a human being. And I can [00:12:00] learn from his experiences that he had.

I want you to talk to me a little bit about the reality of him in your lives. What has your relationship with him been like having two kids out of the house? You know, you worry about them, their safety, their happiness, their, um, desire to stay where they're at, and there's nothing you can do other than pray.

And then, you know, you ache when they ache, and there's so many times that I've just had to say, Heavenly Father, or Jesus, this is, this is too heavy for me, can you take it? And He does. He lightens the load. He, in reality, Knows how to sucker my pain, my heartache, and I don't know how he does it, but he does.

Is there a specific experience that you could share with us where that happened? Go a little more in detail. Um, well, just a couple weeks [00:13:00] ago, Mitchell called on a P Day and he was really struggling. He had just got a new companion and he felt like he was starting over. And he's just like, I don't know.

You know, he wasn't saying he was coming home, but he's just like, I just don't know if I can do this, and he was really, like, and my son's not, our son is not an emotional kid, but he was really emotional, and what do you say, you know, you can do this, and, and I just felt so heavy for like several days, and I finally just was like, I can't continue to feel like this, and I just had to kind of pray and say, Heavenly Father, to just take this from me, and, and take it from him, and amen.

It did. It kind of, my load felt lighter. It didn't totally 100 percent go away, but it felt like, you know, like they talk about the yoke in Christ. It felt like, okay, he can take part of this and help me. And we just continue to pray. And then, you know, the next PD came around and he was a little better. And then this PD came [00:14:00] around and he's even better.

So it's, it's kind of a miracle how that works. Wow. Thank you, Rachel.

Read. Tell me about how he has been real for you. Um, you know, I have a I have a strong testimony of this gospel, but I tend to look at things a little differently than some people. And if this makes any sense at all, I tend to live my life that way in the sense that I know the gospel is true, and I try not to worry about the little things.

I try not to worry about the things that I don't understand. Uh, I don't worry about the things that I don't know because for me, it's all about the basics. It's all about living your life the best that you can in and living the basics. And so when you try and and and and not worry about the little things, I think that the reality of our savior, it lets you know that everything will be all right.[00:15:00]

Okay, now we have Van and Stephen Sargent. Van is the father of this fabulous family, of this whole brood that's helping us with this episode, and Stephen is his only son. And they are going to talk to us about the second paragraph. So let's go ahead and take a listen. He was the great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the new.

Under the direction of his father, he was the creator of the earth. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. Though sinless, he was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He went about doing good, yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill.

He entreated all to follow his example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our [00:16:00] premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

Okay. So before we even dive into this paragraph, Van, will you tell our audience the circumstances surrounding reading this as a family and what that was like? We have a relatively small living room, and when all of us get together with the kids there, uh, there's not even enough room for everybody to sit on a, on, in a chair or a couch.

They're spread out on the floor, and it's fun to be together and to think about, uh, how our understanding of Jesus as, as Jesus and also as Jehovah is so, as Jehovah. Alien to what the rest of the world thinks about that. It's just, um, one of our friends [00:17:00] who has been a state senator and had lots of action interaction with the with the important people in the world talked about how now he's a primary teacher and teaching these three and four year olds and teaching them the same principles.

And he talked about how exciting it was to be able to introduce this new topic to somebody who's never heard about it. And, uh, that's what we feel about it as we introduce it to our children. Excellent. Thank you. Stephen, what do you remember about that day? For me listening to it or reading to it or reading it together as a family in that specific setting that just calls to mind, I guess, the relationship between ourselves and Jesus Christ as, as our brother and the relationship that Christ had with our heavenly father as his only begotten son and, um, in that [00:18:00] setting, it just brings a whole new understanding to Thank you.

You know, a sacrifice made both by our heavenly father and our savior, Jesus Christ, and all that he did and, you know, seeing my own family kind of transition through different stages of life and having my relationships, even with my father and, and my siblings and my kids kind of go through transition.

It, uh, really hit home in a different way than it ever has in the past. And it was touching and I don't know, make me. Fill a different level of relationship with the Savior. So when you read this as a family, everybody kind of shouted out the paragraph they wanted to talk about or the one that touched them the most.

And then Sarah sent me a picture with everybody's name next to the paragraph that they wanted to talk about. And you both were paragraph number two. Tell me what struck you from this paragraph as it was read and why this paragraph meant something to you. One of the things [00:19:00] that struck, struck me the most in reading it was, uh, just the, the sentence that says, um, he went about doing good yet was despised for his gospel was a message of peace and goodwill.

He entreated all to follow his example. Um, I'm just called back to his premortal, um, purpose when he. Offered up the plan that our heavenly father ultimately went with and that the most important and crucial part of that plan is, is our free will and our ability to choose good over evil. And, and I just see like the impact that that's had on my own children and, and, you know, rearing them and, and trying to do my best to teach them how to make those choices and ultimately having to just leave them alone to make those choices on their own is a painful.

necessary part of that process. And, you [00:20:00] know, in reading this, I just really empathized with our Heavenly Father and the Savior, Jesus Christ, and that divine plan that they had for us. But I think just modeling the behavior in this home through my own parents, that they went about doing good. They just molded that behavior.

Set examples for us in mourning with those that mourn and comforting those that stand in need of comfort. And, uh, I've tried to do that with my kids and, and I think setting the pattern when they're super young, as far as discipline goes, and then, um, I don't know, seeing them exercise. Their free will.

Growing up with that basis of discipline is, is I think, kind of created a pathway for them for success, and we've been very blessed and lucky in that regard as well. Okay, so it's two fathers. Then here's what I want last of all from you and Van, we'll start with you, and then Steven [00:21:00] as two fathers. What do you finally want your kids to know about how you feel about Jesus Christ?

More than anything, I just want to have him know that he cares about us more than we could ever know. One of our missionary, uh, sons is having a really, really hard time acclimating to the mission. He was very unsure about going and I just want him to feel the love of his Heavenly Father so strongly that he knows that no matter how is, or homesick he is, or how much he wants to be someplace else, that his heavenly father wants him to be there.

And it's not just in the mission field, but in all aspects of our life. And we have relationships with our siblings, or when we get married and have [00:22:00] trouble spring up between maybe, or trials spring up between our Us and our spouse. We can know that Heavenly Father is in, in our relationship. He's the third member and, and uh, he's there to care for us and, and heal us when we need to be healed.

We used to have a young man in our ward that Has Asperger's syndrome and they've since moved to Spokane, Washington, but periodically he'll send me text messages, me and this other friend of mine that is our former bishop and multiple times I've received a text from him asking me, you know, over periods of months where he'll ask me.

You know, if the savior suffered for all the sins and all of the infirmities of mankind and, and for him and his literal brain, he has a difficult time like comprehending that. And, and every time I love receiving that text from [00:23:00] him, because it gives me the opportunity to, uh, testify to him that I know that the savior did that for us.

And that he was motivated purely by love for his brothers and sisters. And that's the message I want my children to understand. I, you know, that we were, we are so blessed in our family, um, with the relationships we have and, and, uh, I know that when any of us are going through hard times, if, if, if I was to reach out to Sarah or Rachel or any of my sisters or my, my parents, they would drop whatever they're doing and come, come to my rescue, no matter what.

And I just want my children to understand that the savior is that times 10 and that he's just waiting on the other side of the door, wanting us to, uh, open it and invite them into our lives. And that's definitely my testimony. Thank you. Thank you to both of you for sharing that. All right. Now [00:24:00] we have Larene Sargent and Ruth Beck.

And Larene is the mother of this fabulous family, married to Van, and Ruth is the baby of the family. She's the youngest. And so they are going to talk to us about paragraphs three and four, and we'll give those a listen right now. He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of his great atoning sacrifice.

He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges. Convicted to satisfy a mob and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. He gave his life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth. We solemnly testify that his life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary.

He was the firstborn of the Father, the only begotten Son in the flesh.

Share with us what [00:25:00] stood out in these two paragraphs and why you wanted to talk about them. His life neither began in Bethlehem, nor concluded on Calvary. I mean, these, the men who wrote this, this document were so poetic in their language. And I just loved the fact that that represents. That Christ is an eternal being.

It didn't start in Bethlehem. It didn't start on this earth. It didn't end on the, on the cross on Calvary. He was the first, he was before the world began and he'll be the last. He'll be here long after the world is over. And knowing that in my life has made my life so much easier because it helps me to keep an internal perspective in all the trials I have, knowing that Christ has been here, has gone through this, has experience in knowing what I'm going through, and will be here until the end of my life and until the end of time.

That makes my life seem doable and much easier because he's, he knows what I'm going through. [00:26:00] And all the things I'm dealing with are just temporary. Where he's an eternal being. You use the word trials and then you said he knows what I'm going through and that his atonement makes this life doable. So I have a question for both of you because you chose the paragraph.

That first mentions he instituted the sacrament as a reminder of his great atoning sacrifice. So right there. Great atoning sacrifice. Larine, I have a very personal question for you. Oftentimes when we hear great atoning sacrifice, specifically the word atonement, we are, we're inclined to go right to sin and talk about how the savior sacrifice forgives us of sin, which we have talked about.

But Larine, I want you to tell me about how. This Atonement, or the Savior's Atoning Sacrifice, has helped you personally through some of your hardships in your life. I'm going through, [00:27:00] which to me, is a one time, nobody's ever done it, the whole, you know, I'm going through cancer and. And every little thing I just want to share and say, Oh, look at my finger.

It's not working right. You know, and then you look, you talk to somebody else and, and their whole body's not working right. So sometimes I feel like just close your mouth and you'll make it. You don't need to advertise everything that's going on. So, uh, she's kind of being a little bit humble. She's got stage four metastatic breast cancer and she's on hospice, and she has been for a year.

So she's, she's actually suffering a lot more than she's letting, letting you know, but she's very, very brave about all of it. Well, you just have to be, I just got, you know, I'm, I've got a whole pharmacy in my bedroom and. Take this when this happens. And [00:28:00] so it's it's quite an experience. So I'm just trying to march through it And you know, just and every everybody you talk to has got something even worse So that's what we're trying to do right now is just get through it.

How does Jesus help you get through it? Oh my goodness. He he helps me every day He helps me to be brave and, and not to get so focused on myself, just try to see what, what everybody else is going through and, and see if you can help them along the way. Ruth is the resident physician in the family. And so anytime there's anything wrong with anyone, they go to Ruth and Ruth, I want to know because you spoke about how it makes life doable.[00:29:00]

How has the Savior helped you and your load as you've also tried to care for your mother and you've done it more than once? I don't know. I heard somebody say that the Savior didn't just sacrifice for our sins. He sacrificed for all entropy, which entropy is like the scientific term for things kind of falling apart naturally.

You know, we're, we're all kind of falling apart naturally and that's just part of the fallen world. Never going to get any better than we are right now. We're all just going to keep getting worse. And Christ suffered for all of that, like whether it's sin, it's death, it's pain, it's suffering, it's disease.

He suffered for all of that. He knows how all of us are feeling. And, uh, you know, watching mom and dad go through different physical issues is certainly a challenge. But, you know, the fact that Christ was willing to come to this earth and sacrifice for us and, and overcome death. Not just sin, but overcome [00:30:00] death so that we can all be resurrected and become eternal like he is and his father is.

And the fact that he did that so that we can have eternal happiness and be living in eternal families. And to me, eternal happiness wouldn't be without my family. My mom and dad have been such wonderful examples to me, and of course, because of them, I want to help them every way I possibly can as they're getting older and struggling more.

And sometimes that's a challenge, but you wouldn't do it any other way than to show them the love that they've showed others and have shown us throughout our lives. And just to wrap this all up, then, Ruth, I want you to send us home, finish this up, and will you just read the very last part, the last line?

A paragraph for, and kind of just share your thoughts on that. He was the firstborn of the father, the only begotten son in the flesh, the redeemer of the world. I like the last part, the redeemer of the world. That means the world had to be redeemed. It is a fallen world. [00:31:00] All of us feel that fall every day with our physical ailments and with how cruel we can be to each other and with the effects of sin and the fact that God had such a perfect plan that he sent a redeemer for us.

Is such a blessing and such, uh, such a, a help to my spirit to know that. The plan has been in place from before the world began, and I'm so grateful for, for my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Thank you so much.

All right, so next up, we have one of my closest and dearest friends. Her name is Sarah. Sarah Sargent is the oldest of the Sargent clan, and she's the reason everybody's doing this for me. I love this human being so much, makes me emotional, just saying it. Um, one of my Just truly dearest friends. [00:32:00] So I, I originally asked her, Hey, do you think your family would be interested in talking about the living Christ?

And she immediately volunteered them. Um, how do you say that? Um, Sarah Ballin told her family, they are doing the living Christ. Of course, they were all lovely and gracious. And as you have heard their answers and their comments, you can tell what a beautiful family this is. And so here we have Sarah and Sarah is going to talk to us about the fifth paragraph.

We're going to go ahead and play that for you. And then I get to talk to Sarah or Sargi, as I like to call her. He rose from the grave to become the first fruits of them that slept as risen Lord. He visited among those he had loved in life. He also ministered among his other sheep in ancient America. In the modern world, he and his father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long promised dispensation of the fullness of times.

Alright Sargi, so when you read that as a family, tell me why that paragraph stood out to you. Share your thoughts with me. [00:33:00] Well, um, a few things. I love that it said that he ministered among his other sheep because that was us in America, right? And then also this was the part I loved the most. He visited among those he had loved in life because I just think of Jesus as the ultimate friend who shows up for people.

And so the fact that when they would have been mourning his loss, then he showed up for them. Plus, I like to get together with my friends and visit, and so I could relate to that. Sarah, I want to know, can you think of a time in your life, maybe, when you felt visited by the Savior when He came to you as a friend?

Um, I can think of lots of times. The first time that comes to my mind was when I was 16. My mom had a stillborn baby boy, and it was really my first experience with death of someone that I knew that wasn't like some great, great grandpa or something. And I can just remember, Being [00:34:00] comforted by this, the savior, as people comforted us.

And I can remember the people that showed up at that little graveside service and how important it was to me that they showed up. And that was really a lifelong lesson to me of showing up for other people during their grief and to help them mourn. Um, and then just. And I guess it just kind of plays out when I have had people show up for me in hard times.

My, I mean, including you, have, you know, driven to Idaho Falls to, um, unload my dishwasher and do some laundry when I had my thyroid cancer surgery. And when you guys drove up to give me a baby shower when I was on bed rest for 90 days, just when people show up. that love you, and they're doing it because they're friends, but also they're doing it to honor their baptismal covenants.

And so those are initially the things that come to mind. You know, Sarah, I've read this so many times, and I've never viewed he visited among those he had loved in [00:35:00] life the way you did just now. And knowing who you are and knowing the friend that you've been to me my whole life, I can see why that stood out to you the most.

And I've never considered, like, yeah, of course he loved the other sheep, and of course he went to visit them. And then when he comes to America, he says the same thing to the Nephites. There's other sheep, which are not the ones in Israel, that there's more other sheep that he went to visit. Like, he really did What he said he would do, visited those he had loved.

The other thing that I love about this particular paragraph, I guess, is when he talked about appearing to the boy Joseph Smith, um, about a year and a half ago, we took our twins to, um, the sacred grove. It was supposed to be their baptism trip, but that was COVID. So we went the year, the next year. And it was, in the spring and it was cold and there was no leaves and so it really wasn't what I was picturing but there was no one else in the grove so it was just me and my husband and kids and then my husband's twin sister and her brother or her husband [00:36:00] and um my husband and son kind of got separated from the group and Slade said to my husband, like, Dad, let's look and see if we can see some knee prints from Joseph Smith kneeling down to pray.

And it was so cute, but so sweet and so faith filled that he thought those would still be there. That's how much he believed that that really happened, which it did really happen. And I'm glad that he has a belief system in that reality. Oh my gosh, I'm writing that down. And I fully believe that Slade thought he would find them.

Oh, he, they looked long and hard. That's brilliant. Oh, that's so good. I love your testimony. It's something I've always loved of yours. I'm very, very thankful for that. Wow, Sarah. Well, thank you. That was perfect. Okay, we have Leah Perks. Leah is the fourth [00:37:00] out of five sergeant children, and I just love Miss Leah so much.

I always call her Miss Leah. She's just adorable. And so Leah is going to share her thoughts with us on the sixth paragraph. Here we go. Of the living Christ, the prophet Joseph wrote, his eyes were as a flame of fire. The hair of his head was white like the pure snow. His countenance shone above the brightness of the sun.

And his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying, Okay, Leah, there's so many descriptive words in this paragraph. Tell me what your thoughts were and what you think about the way they described Jesus Christ. I just thought that he was so bright that it was probably hard to look upon him.

Especially when they said that his eyes were as flame as a fire. And his hair is white as the pure snow. As I remember, as I remember when the [00:38:00] first snow fall and it's always bright, especially when the sun's Um, reflecting off of that and how his voice was sound like rushing water. I never really thought of that either.

It's like, it's like out and then you think, what does rushing water sound like? Yeah, I was just going to ask you that. What's the loudest water you've heard? Probably a waterfall or the white waters from the Snake River. They're pretty loud, but some, some of it quiet. So I'm sure you have to listen to it real well.

Like I never really tried to listen to rushing water before. So maybe next time I'm by rushing water, I'll listen more closely and say, Oh, okay, that's how quiet or how noisy Christ will be when he comes and tries to give this a word or something like that. Oh, I like that, Leah. And, and you know, it, it takes a certain amount of belief to recognize seeing or hearing Christ.

So Leah, before we finish, could you share your [00:39:00] testimony with us, please? I believe that I know when you're going through a tough time, you know, it's, Um, ask for help, not, I know I can sit down and ask him personally, but it's always nice to have family because I know family is important and you can ask help with, um, family and I know that Jesus Christ sent family to us so he can help us through them.

That's neat how you just explained that your family is the answer to your prayers. Cause I know when I struggle, I can always go talk to my mom or, or my siblings and they can give me some advice and I can either take it or leave it. I just know that I know what I need to do or something like that.

That's so cool. That for family, it's through your family that you're able to see more. Yes.[00:40:00]

Okay. I'd like to introduce you to my friend Kent Beck and Kent is married to Ruth. Ruth is the youngest of the Sargent clan. I've known Kent for a very long time and it's been fun and getting to know him. Fun fact about Kent, he's a UPS driver. So there you go. We were just chatting about the hours he has put in over the holiday season and it's a lot.

So we're grateful that he has time right now to talk to us about the living Christ. So we're going to play his paragraph and then talk to him about it. I am the first and the last. I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain, I am your advocate with the Father. Of him the prophet also declared, 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 [00:41:00] and of him the worlds are and were created. And the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. Okay, Kent, you got straight scripture.

Tell us why this stood out to you, or what you have to say about it. Well, you know, just right at the beginning when it says, I am the first and the last. I mean, right, right there. It just, he was, he was the firstborn of our Heavenly Father. And yet he he's going to be, he's going to, he's the last two. And I just think that that's awesome.

That, uh, that he's, he's going to be there for us. And, um, from the beginning to the end, he's never going to leave. He's going to, he's, he knows exactly what he's doing. And, and I'm just so grateful that, you know, he could have been, I'm the first and that's it, you know, I'm the best, I'm the first, but no, I'm the last, I'm the last, and I'm there for you.

And so that just, that sticks out to me too. And then when it. When it talks about I am he who live it [00:42:00] when I when I read that, um, the spirit just hit me hard that just said, Yep, I'm not somebody who just died. And then now I'm gone. I live it. And I live it for you. And we're here. I'm here for you. And I'm alive.

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. You know, and obviously this is talking, this is Joseph Smith and Oliver Calgary that, and to be able to witness that they saw, that they saw Christ, that they, that they talked with Christ.

I mean, that, that's just amazing to me. And when I was in the MTC. I, uh, I just had a, I just, I was having a rough time and, and I just knew that I had to go out and tell people that, that, um, that Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ and, [00:43:00] and that he has spoken to him. And I was struggling, do I, do I believe this?

Do I, do I, do I believe it? And I was struggling with my Spanish. Um, I, I just couldn't get it down and I was praying, I, so I knelt down and just earnest prayer. Did Christ really speak with Joseph Smith? And I, so I get done with the prayer, sit there for a long time and nothing, and I don't feel anything.

And so I, and so I. I get to class a couple of days later, my Spanish teacher asked me, he goes, I need you to bear your testimony in Spanish. And I'm just beside myself and I'm like, I don't even, I can't even say anything. I just learned how to say my name or just say my name is, you know, and I don't want to say this.

What, what am I going to say? And so she, she looked at me during that time and she, and then she turned the time over to me to bear my testimony. And in the most [00:44:00] perfect Spanish,

I just said, I know Christ lives and I know that. That Joseph Smith saw Christ. And so right then my prayer was answered that that he lives that Christ that Joseph Smith saw him and and he's my advocate that he's there for me and and I just, it was just, it was just an awesome moment. Now, uh, I just want to keep going with this, this story a little bit.

So fast forward in my mission. I, uh, I'm knocking doors. Well, in Argentina, you clap, you clap at somebody's gate or clap in front and then they come out. And this guy just comes bursting out of the [00:45:00] house and he just comes charging at us and he just starts saying, he goes, he goes, you guys talk about how this Christ that Joseph Smith saw this Christ and, and, uh, he goes, and he obviously is talking to us in Spanish and he's just Just being belligerent and just really coming at us and I'm just sheepish and I just start to duck my head and my companion to any my companion starts to grab me and and to turn and walk away and I start to turn and I walk away.

And the first thing that came to my thought was In the MTC, I told you that he's, that I saw Joseph Smith, that I was there, that we were there, and he goes, you need to tell him, and so I just turn around and my chest just puffs up, and I just say [00:46:00] to this guy the same thing. I know that Christ lives. I know that he, that he's, that Joseph Smith saw him.

And I said, and whether you know it now or then, when you need Christ, you will know, too, that He lives and that Joseph Smith saw Him. And so I just, that's just my testimony of this, this whole thing that I, I just know that, that, um, that Joseph Smith saw Him. And in this incident with Oliver Cowdery, and I just know that He lives.

Trent, I mean, the Spirit is so strong as you shared that story, both stories, I should say. I've loved talking about the living Christ because I just keep feeling the Spirit with everything people have been saying. And your testimony of this is so powerful. Not what I expected at all. I didn't even know.

I'm like, [00:47:00] how's he going to talk about just nothing but scripture? And you nailed it, Kent. That was so beautiful. So I'm going to ask you a personal question. You shared with us stories about how he was there for you in the MTC. I want to know, recently you have experienced some loss in your life. How has he been there for adult Kent?

Well, especially there for my brother. And I was asked to speak at his funeral. Um, and, and even then when I got the call that Um, that he had passed away and, and we're only 11 months apart. And, and where I still feel like I'm young, even though I know that I'm not that young, but you know, back then, even then I was, you know, young and in our forties and, and to lose my brother, it's only 11 months older than me.

It, you know, it was hard. It was extremely hard. But then when I was, I was preparing to talk about, um, my brother, Carl and his life. The only thing that I could think about was my [00:48:00] savior and and what he has done for me and then he was there for me right then in that moment too, that everything's going to be okay because my brother led a hard, led a hard life, um, and didn't do the best things.

And so I was concerned about that too. And right then I just had the same, same thought. Don't you worry. I'm I'm the advocate. I'm the judge. I'm there for him as well as for you. And so just let me take care of that part of things. You just worry about everything's going to be okay because there's a plan.

There's a plan here. And so it just eased my mind that everything is going to be okay. Thank you for sharing your testimony and experiences. That was truly wonderful. Next up, we have Tony Perks, and Tony is the husband of Leah, and they have two adorable little children. And Tony's going to talk to us about the eighth paragraph.

Let's give that a listen. We declare in words of solemnity that his [00:49:00] priesthood and his church have been restored upon the earth, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Okay, Tony. Looking at that paragraph now, and it taught us about His priesthood and his church.

Tell me what stood out to you in this paragraph. I think it would be the priesthood, because the priesthood, I mean, if we didn't have the priesthood on earth, we probably wouldn't be where we're at today. And if they didn't bring it back, I think we'd be still lost. Oh, I like how you said we'd be lost without the priesthood.

Tony, tell me about an experience you've had with the priesthood. Does anything stand out to you? I, probably when I, when I learned about the priesthood, I was able to baptize my children. My Olivia and Brigham. I think that's one thing I have the keys to bless my children and baptize them and also give father blessing when you [00:50:00] can win any special blessing in that home or for anything.

I mean, Priest said I really think it really changed a lot for me because when I became an elder I noticed a change in me and it made me more mature and realized it would help to keep our family together and help with what is it that we can get so many blessings and receive out of the priesthood. I think it's cool how you just, in the most simple way, Bore your testimony about the power of the priesthood, which is what that whole paragraph is about, is priesthood.

Right? Who taught you about the priesthood? Did anyone teach you about that when you were younger? Uh, my, my dad, my father, my parents. How did they teach you about it? He, he probably, I think he said, sat down and taught to me, telling 'em the story about the priestess and, and how we got the prison on this earth around eating the milk cousin.[00:51:00]

And then I learned it from my leaders in the church, you know, when I went around in Melchizedek and primary, and you learn a lot about it too, and your bishop, you talk to him, when do you go for interview, and I had a lot of, you know, sample leaders out there. My grandparents, you know, they, they were always a great sample of my life to tell me about the gospel.

How are you teaching the priesthood to your children? Well, I try to have, some days I try to do a come follow me lesson with them. And I set it up where, where I give the lesson. But before we listen, we have prayers, psalms, and. And my wife helped me out with stories, and we do, we try to do a little activity afterward.

And that's part of being, setting up a program at your home is, it's also so they can learn what we learned, [00:52:00] uh, but try to teach it their level so they can understand it better. Because they think charities sometimes can be boring, which sometimes they say they're not having fun, and you try and Trying to splant their level tellers.

It's not boring. It's fun. You just gotta learn to love it We're trying to read scriptures and but and they have a hard time reading but I know it'll take time We just have to work it with them and and prayers They're they're doing a lot better prayers when they first are but I know me my wife been Pray over their children as much as we can and try to, once in a while, do family prayers or special prayers for these, you know.

Like I said before, I, when school started, I usually give my kids a father blessing, you know, help them out for a year. They, they love that. Wow. Well, Tony, I want to thank you because this paragraph starts out by saying, solemnity, and I think that you just perfectly demonstrated what that looks like. Your [00:53:00] words of solemnity definitely described what the priesthood is by calling it amazing, a wonderful gift, and by teaching us what it looks like for you.

So thank you for being a witness of that. And thank you for sharing your, your testimony on the priesthood.

Now we have Angie Sargent. Angie is married to Stephen Sargent. Stephen is the third born and the Sargent clan, the only boy. They have three fabulous children. Cooper, you may remember was on the, was on the podcast a couple months ago with the three amigos, the boys getting ready to go on their missions.

And he is out now he is serving. And Angie is going to talk to us about paragraph number nine. We testify that he will someday return to earth and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed in all flesh shall see it together. He will rule as king of kings and reign as lord of lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before him.

Each of us will stand to be judged of him according to our works and the desires of our [00:54:00] hearts. Okay, so Angie, I want to know, talk to me about the experience when you read this as a family and what stood out to you throughout the whole living Christ. And then talk to me about paragraph nine. I mean, I just love all of the living Christ, but, um, to just go to this, I just love that the first part of it is we testify.

And so anytime you hear, you know, this is, this is how many years ago, uh, 2000. And so the quorum of the 12 and the first presidency, you know, President Hinckley is there and he's like, no, we testify, all of us testify. That he will someday come to this earth and his glory shall be rebuilt in the flesh. And so we can all see his flesh.

And to me, that is just, I mean, pow, and we can see it. And it kind of goes back to the paragraph a couple of before it says, we saw him even on the right hand of God. And we heard him and before we saw him. And so it's just, it's more than just, uh, I have faith. type of thing. It's more than that. I have knowledge and I testify [00:55:00] and there's no doubt ever that that's what's happening.

And so to me, that's just a little strong and it kind of hits the little tear ducts a little bit. Tell me more Angie. How did Angie Sargent get her testimony of this? How do you know? Oh, it's the feelers. And I don't know, you know, some of us are, as Sarah says, the gift of weeping and poor Cooper, his parents are both weepers.

So he, he gives it more than anyone, but, um, the gift of weeping and, but it's, it's, um, just the feelings you get when you hear. The people that you look up to the most, which would, sorry, which would be our, um, parents and, um, uh, leaders of the church, specifically the first presidency, no matter who, um, happens to be the president at the time.

They're all called of God and to hear them and to know that that's what they believe. And I've heard that my whole life and I feel very, very blessed to have parents, [00:56:00] excuse me, that love Heavenly Father and love our Lord. And, um, I've known this my whole life. But then to read it and to hear it in such a profound way, it's wonderful.

Um, yeah, so, now the tears are flowing. It's great, huh? It is great. We love it. Yeah. And then the next little part is, um, King of Kings. I don't know, I just love Christmas music and it's the time of year where we Celebrate that. Um, and it's an, you know, old messiah. And I, I know that you love, you know, talking about that kind of stuff too, but the king of king and lord of lords and the hallelujah chorus and nothing.

I think that music is so, so powerful. And when you hear that song sung by Powerful voices like the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square and even anywhere where they sing any of these amazing choirs that sing that song, it just hits you because he is King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and you can feel it [00:57:00] and you know it's true and it's just another testament that it's just so powerful that he will live forever and he's because of him that we can have the privilege of the same.

What's your calling in the word? Oh, um, I am the primary chorister. So am I. I know. Isn't that great? It is the greatest calling ever. Okay. So here's my question then. So as primary chorister in the month of December, we just get to have so much fun. The pressure's off of planning the program and seeing program songs.

And now we just get to sing the songs in the hymn book. or the, you know, the Christmas songs. Is there a Christmas song you love? To sing with your primary kids? Yeah, I, um, we just, we sing it every year. Mainly because they know it. But then I do have a new one this year that I think most people have heard.

It's the youth [00:58:00] sing Joy to the World. And then the primary children sing Joy to the World. When he comes again, it's a little mashup and the accompaniment is beautiful. And so we've been learning that and then to sing it with the youth of the ward, because we have a very large, um, youth group in our ward and it just is quite powerful.

So I'm excited for that to happen. I also love the nativity song is the one we like to sing. And it just talks about, um, what everyone's doing basically when Christ was born. And so it's. You know, this is a seeds and beloved of the year singer ring Christmas time, and it has a whole thing, but my favorite for the verse for it says, these are the shepherds humble and mild hastening.

And we just always talk about hastening, how they're hurrying so fast because they had to come so far hastening to worship the heavenly child. These are the wise men who follow the star fragrance that's golden were brought from afar. And just how much work it was to get to. The blessed [00:59:00] place to see the Savior and it wasn't easy for him and and it was hard for them to um, I think it was a sacrifice for, you know, all of the shepherds and the wise men to get to see the Savior.

Well, and it doesn't surprise me that that verse strikes you the most because you're a hastener. Like, I know you and you're busy and you're go, go, go, go, go with that. That's perfectly describes you, right? You like to stay busy. You've always got something going on. And so when it comes to hastening to see the savior, the way the shepherd, you would be a great shepherd.

Like I imagine you there with the flocks, with all the little sheep, and you're just taking care of them, and you're hastening them. And I want to know, what does that look like for you in your family right now? When you have children, you've been raising them, how have you hastened them to come to the Savior?

I know you work your whole life to get them to be productive humans and I know that you're kind of in a similar situation where you've got some that are [01:00:00] still at home and you've got some adult ones and you just want them to be following. You know our savior and you want them to make good choices and you don't want them to fall flat on their face, but how do you know if you taught them well and so I feel like we just go go go all the time and we're trying to do our best and we're trying to teach them all these things and then you always wondered.

Did I do it? Did I do it? And then little things come up where you feel like you did so good and other things come up where you're like, well, that didn't work. Oh, darn. Now what do we do next? And so you feel like you kind of fail as a parent, but then you get those other moments where you're like, okay.

Maybe we've got it and maybe they'll be okay. And I think it's just a never ending battle. And I don't think it matters like if your kids are nursery or primary or in youth groups or if they're now to where we have some adult children, it's hard to parent adult children and, but it's also hard [01:01:00] to parent a two year old.

So it's just all hard. It's just a different phase of life. Well, then how much do we love the mercy that is found in the very last sentence of your paragraph? Will you read that for us? Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and our desires of our hearts. How does that desires of our hearts feel for you?

Well, I mean, being a parent, it's like, you know, you want everything for them. And so, you know, we, we fail and that's just how life is, but it's always in our, our hearts. Be successful and have our kids to be successful. And, you know, it's our desire and our, Like, that's the only thing you really want. So hopefully I can be just for for my effort of trying, but not of the failures.

'cause we all, we all do have those, but sometimes those, that's what stands out and you just, you just don't want it to, and you hope that, [01:02:00] you know, there's that mercy in the end that it'll all be.

So for the last paragraph of the living Christ, I've asked Shane Williams, this is Sarah's husband, if he would share with us his thoughts on this, we're going to go ahead and listen to it. And I'm looking forward to hearing what Shane has to say. We bear testimony as his duly ordained apostles, that Jesus is the living Christ, the immortal son of God.

He is the great King Emmanuel who stands today on the right hand of his father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of his divine son. All right, Shane, of all the paragraphs that you could have selected, this was the one that stood out to you, and I'm curious to know why.

Tell me your thoughts on this. [01:03:00] Uh, well, I really like, uh, here at the end, where they bear testimony and declare themselves to be ordained apostles of Jesus Christ. You know, that's That's what the world needs. All Christian people who believe, uh, in Jesus Christ and the original church need to know and understand that there's 12 apostles ordained here on the earth to speak for the Savior and to represent Him here on the earth.

And so, initially, I like that where they, you know, they bear testimony as his ordained apostles of a living Jesus Christ. But you just can't deny that when these men speak that, uh, that they're not truly, uh, men of God and what they're saying is absolutely true. And that their, their best interests are for us, their brothers and sisters and the children of God to, you know, to have happiness here in this life.

It's to understand the gospel. I [01:04:00] like how you called them men of God. I, I highlighted his duly ordained apostles in my copy of the living Christ and I wrote above it, men of God. I mean, we call them that, but when you have just the way you've talked about them being the mouthpiece being men of God and that they are bearing testimony that Jesus is the living Christ.

I like how you pointed that out. Not the deceased Christ, not the anticipated Christ, but just that he is alive and breathing and living. That hit me when you said that. Yeah, you know, and I love to remind myself of that. I mean, certainly we pray in Christ's name and we want him to be effective in our lives.

But sometimes, sometimes, you know, you think of him as being a Christ of the scriptures and a Christ that the apostles feel close to. And, and, uh, so I guess it's just important that, that we all remember that Jesus Christ lives. Today, just like we live, you know, it's not in our [01:05:00] presence, we don't see him, but he's as real as, you know, the air we breathe and his gravity and, uh, and he, and he lives.

You know, Shane, when you first started talking about the duly ordained apostles, one of the things you said that I really, really liked was you said that the whole world needs to know this. The whole world needs to know that there are 12 apostles on the earth. who follow God and bear testimony of Him.

And I'm wondering, in this last paragraph that you chose, what else would you select that you feel like the whole world needs to know from this paragraph? What would help the world right now? Well, I think it's just real clear that it'd be almost the last sentence there, that His way, the way of Jesus Christ, is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the worlds to come.

And I think as human beings, Regardless, even if you're not Christian, I think all people would seek happiness of some, of some kind. [01:06:00] That's what brings me happiness is knowing that keeping the commandments and all of those things are, are good for me, I guess, as an individual. But those are also the things that, that bring true and lasting happiness.

And I've just seen their works and I know that light comes from believing in them and following their examples and listening to their teachings. Uh, light comes from reading the Book of Mormon, uh, the Bible and the other scriptures. Certainly, uh, the Book of Mormon is just full of light knowledge. And, uh, I guess that's kind of, you know, how I've come to realize that it's all true.

Wow, Shane, I like how you were, you used the word light so many times. Light comes from studying the living Christ. I felt light come from your testimony that you just bore of all of this. That was so powerful. So Shane, just do this one last thing for us. Read that very last line of the living [01:07:00] Christ and send us home.

God be thanked for the matchless gift of his divine son. Amen. Wow. Well, I think the only thing I can say after all of that is, Merry Christmas. And this week, as we gear up for Christmas, I'm going to give everyone listening a challenge. This week, I want you all to bear record of him. So here's how we're going to do this.

Study the living Christ and choose one sentence or one specific part and share it with family, with friends, maybe in church this Sunday, or here's the big ask. I want you to share it on social media. Let's flood the world with our witness of Christ and bear record of him whom we will celebrate in one week.

The reason for this whole holiday season. If you haven't already joined our discussion group on Facebook or on Instagram, go to our show notes for this episode at LDS living. com slash Sunday [01:08:00] on Monday, and we're going to have the links where you can bear record of him. Type your sentence, type what stands out to you and post it on Facebook, post it on your own Instagram account or post it on ours.

I think it will be so awesome to have this huge audience of listeners bearing record. We're also going to have a transcript for this episode, so be sure to go and check this out. The Sunday on Monday Study Group is the Deseret Bookshelf Plus Original, brought to you by LDS Living. It's written and hosted by me, Tammy Uzelac Hall, and today our incredible study group participants were the Boyds, the Sargents, the Williams, the Furmans, the Becks, and the Perks.

Our podcast is produced by Cole Wissinger and me. It is edited and mixed by Cole Wissinger and our executive producer is Erin Hallstrom. Thanks for being here. We'll see you next week. And please remember as you bear record of him, you are his favorite.

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