{"id":73078,"date":"2019-04-18T13:44:14","date_gmt":"2019-04-18T19:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=73078"},"modified":"2019-04-18T22:23:30","modified_gmt":"2019-04-19T04:23:30","slug":"can-modern-people-believe-in-the-resurrection-of-jesus-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2019\/04\/can-modern-people-believe-in-the-resurrection-of-jesus-christ.html","title":{"rendered":"“Can modern people believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Maui<\/a>
Sunrise atop Haleakal\u0101, on Maui (Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here is my 2019 Easter column for the Deseret News<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCan modern people believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I published the Easter article below in the 24 March 2016 issue of the Deseret News<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820 and its formal organization in April 1830, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a> has resounded with testimonies of the risen Savior.<\/span><\/p>\n

Notable among these is the joint declaration of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the first president of the LDS Church<\/a>, and Sidney Rigdon following their February 1832 vision of the three degrees of glory: \u201cAnd 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 \u2026\u201d (see\u00a0Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-23<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Also noteworthy is the collective witness of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as it was expressed in January 2000 in a proclamation titled\u00a0\u201cThe Living Christ.\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Less known are the statements of President George Q. Cannon that I discussed here a few weeks ago (see \u201cRemembering the history of the LDS Church on the Hawaiian Islands<\/a>,\u201d Feb. 18, 2016): Speaking during the 1893 dedicatory services for the Salt Lake Temple, he testified of having \u201cseen and conversed with Christ as a man talks with his friend, \u2018face to face.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that God lives,\u201d he wrote in the\u00a0Deseret Evening News on Oct. 6, 1896<\/a>. \u201cI know that Jesus lives; for I have seen him. \u2026 I testify to you of these things as one that knows \u2014 as one of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Noteworthy, too, is President Lorenzo Snow\u2019s September 1898 experience in the Salt Lake Temple. Just hours after the death of President Wilford Woodruff, the Savior appeared to President Snow, directing him to reorganize the First Presidency immediately and not wait for months or even years as had previously been done (see \u201cA Visit from the Savior,\u201d Ensign, September 2015<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Elder Orson F. Whitney, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles between 1906 and 1931, had a life-changing experience while serving as a missionary in Pennsylvania:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne night I dreamed \u2014 if dream it may be called \u2014 that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior\u2019s agony. I saw him as plainly as I see this congregation.\u201d The vision continued, he said, until \u201cI was perfectly familiar with his appearance \u2014 face, form and movements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen came the divine illumination, which is greater than all dreams, visions and other manifestations combined. By the light of God\u2019s candle \u2014 the gift of the Holy Ghost \u2014 I saw what till then I had never seen, I learned what till then I had never known, I loved the Lord as I had never loved Him before. My soul was satisfied, my joy was full, for I had a testimony of the truth, and it has remained with me to this day. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Not even Job knew it better. I have evidence that I cannot doubt\u201d (see \u201cThe Divinity of Jesus Christ<\/a>,\u201d Liahona, December 2003).<\/span><\/p>\n

Elder David B. Haight, an apostle from 1976 until 2004, missed general conference in April 1989 because of a life-threatening health crisis that required a serious operation. In the October conference of that year, however, he reported on what had happened when he lost consciousness during his illness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe terrible pain and commotion of people ceased. I was now in a calm, peaceful setting; all was serene and quiet. \u2026 I heard no voices but was conscious of being in a holy presence and atmosphere. During the hours and days that followed, there was impressed again and again upon my mind the eternal mission and exalted position of the Son of Man. \u2026 I was shown a panoramic view of His earthly ministry. \u2026 I was being taught, and the eyes of my understanding were opened by the Holy Spirit of God so as to behold many things. \u2026 During those days of unconsciousness, I was given, by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, a more perfect knowledge of His mission. \u2026 I cannot begin to convey to you the deep impact that these scenes have confirmed upon my soul\u201d (see \u201cThe Sacrament \u2014 and the Sacrifice<\/a>,\u201d Liahona, April 2007).<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s appropriate to recall such accounts \u2014 which might be multiplied considerably \u2014 at Easter season:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith \u2026\u201d (see\u00a0Hebrews 12:1-2<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 Here is my 2019 Easter column for the Deseret News: \u00a0 \u201cCan modern people believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?\u201d \u00a0 *** \u00a0 I published the Easter article below in the 24 March 2016 issue of the Deseret News: \u00a0 Since the appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1356,3976,1363,4657,4654,4663,380,1489,4660,1366,4486,356,4003,921],"class_list":["post-73078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-christ","tag-david-haight","tag-easter","tag-george-cannon","tag-george-q-cannon","tag-jesus-christ","tag-joseph-smith","tag-lorenzo-snow","tag-orson-whitney","tag-resurrection","tag-savior","tag-sidney-rigdon","tag-witness","tag-witnesses"],"yoast_head":"\n"Can modern people 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