Raising a Generation That Can Stand in Holy Places
What happens when Jesus is reduced to a symbol? A vague ideal? A cultural icon with no real power to save?
In her powerful message Thou Art the Christ, Sister Amy A. Wright of the Primary General Presidency pleads for something deeper than casual Christianity: a life centered on the real, resurrected, glorified Jesus Christ. Not a fictional Jesus. Not a simplistic or bodiless Jesus. But the living Son of God—mighty to save, and intimately involved in our lives.
She also issues a clear call: our children must come to know this Jesus. If we want them to stand in holy places as the storms of mortality and morality rage, they must encounter not just teachings about Him, but personal testimony, sacred images, and spiritual experiences that anchor their discipleship.
As we study Doctrine and Covenants 85–87, where the Lord warns of global upheaval and commands, “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved” (D&C 87:8), Sister Wright’s message becomes strikingly urgent. In a world of shifting norms and relentless noise, the holy place that matters most may be the one built in a child’s heart—where faith in the true Christ takes root.
Apologetic Issues: Misunderstanding Who Jesus Is
Misconception: “Latter-day Saints don’t believe in the same Jesus as traditional Christians. Their view of Christ is simplistic or unorthodox.”
Response:
Latter-day Saints affirm that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God, the divine Savior of the world, who was resurrected with a glorified, immortal body and now sits at the right hand of the Father (see John 20:27; Philippians 2:9–11). Sister Wright testifies powerfully of this same Jesus: “a glorified, omnipotent, resurrected, exalted, worshipful, powerful Only Begotten Son of God, who is mighty to save.”
Her plea is to center our lives not on a caricatured or casual Christ, but on the real, risen Redeemer—not merely admired, but worshipped.
Common Fallacy: False Dilemma – presenting two oversimplified options as if they are the only possibilities
Critics often set up a False Dilemma, suggesting that one must either accept a traditional creedal view of Jesus or conclude that Latter-day Saints worship “a different Christ.” But scripture teaches that belief in Christ is demonstrated by faith in His words and power (see John 14:15–21)—not by agreement with post-biblical creeds.
Solution: Recognize that Latter-day Saint Christology is rooted in scripture and emphasizes a real, personal relationship with the living, resurrected Lord.
Social Issue: “Faith Is Optional—Goodness Is Enough”
Criticism: “Why teach kids to center their lives on Jesus Christ? Isn’t it enough to just be kind, honest, and a good person?”
Response:
While kindness and honesty matter, they are not enough without Christ. Sister Wright warns: “If we are not testifying to the veracity of His … Resurrection in our homes and in every single meeting of this Church, then our messages of love, service, honesty, humility, gratitude, and compassion can become nothing more than a jaunty pep talk of thoughtful living.”
Christ isn’t a motivational figure. He’s the source of all transformation. Without Him, our efforts may improve behavior—but they cannot redeem souls.
Common Fallacy: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – the belief that God wants us to be nice, but isn’t personally involved unless needed
This critique reflects Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, a shallow worldview that sees Jesus as optional and religion as a self-help tool. It strips discipleship of its divine power.
Solution: Teach that Christ is not just an example of goodness, but the only source of salvation (Mosiah 3:17). Faith in Him enables not just goodness, but godliness.
Apologetic Application: The Nature of Jesus Christ
At the heart of Sister Wright’s message lies a clear doctrinal call: Jesus Christ is not symbolic—He is real, resurrected, glorified, and divine.
This doctrine holds deep apologetic value in a world that increasingly reduces Christ to metaphor, myth, or mere moral teacher.
The restored gospel teaches that:
- Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God (John 3:16), born in the flesh, crucified, and resurrected with an immortal body (Luke 24:39; 3 Nephi 11:14–15).
- He is omnipotent, exalted, and worshipped by all who recognize His divine identity (Philippians 2:9–11; 2 Nephi 25:29).
- His role as Savior is not symbolic—it is actual, embodied, and eternal.
Defending Core Beliefs
1⃣ Jesus Is Not a Mere Moral Example
Misconception: Some claim Jesus was just a wise teacher whose value lies in His ethical philosophy.
Clarification: Sister Wright challenges this directly: “Without Jesus Christ there is no power to change, no purpose to aspire to, and no reconciliation of the travails of life.”
Latter-day Saints affirm that Christ’s power is redemptive, not just inspirational (Mosiah 3:5–8). The Atonement, Resurrection, and priesthood covenants transform mortal experience—they’re not optional footnotes to a good life.
2⃣ Jesus Is Resurrected and Exalted—Not Abstract or Distant
Criticism: Some critics argue Latter-day Saints believe in a “different Jesus,” or that their view is too anthropomorphic.
Clarification: In reality, the restored gospel declares Jesus rose in a glorified, tangible body and remains eternally divine (D&C 76:22–24; 3 Nephi 11). This doesn’t diminish His power—it fulfills prophecy and affirms the reality of resurrection for all.
Sister Wright underscores this with reverent precision: He is not a casual or fictional Jesus, but “a glorified, omnipotent, resurrected, exalted … Only Begotten Son of God.”
Practical Apologetic Use
Understanding the real nature of Jesus Christ protects against cultural Christianity that values virtue but forgets divinity.
Apologetic Use: When someone says, “All that really matters is being a good person,” you can respond, “We agree that goodness matters—but goodness alone can’t save us. We follow Christ not just because He taught truth—but because He is the truth, and He alone has power to transform and redeem.”
Analogy: A lighthouse isn’t just inspiring—it’s essential to navigate storms. Without the real, shining light of Christ, even moral people can drift off course.
Historical and Doctrinal Connections
Throughout scripture and across dispensations, the Lord has issued this same charge to His people: Stand in holy places and be not moved. From Israel at Sinai to the Nephites at Bountiful to Latter-day Saints preparing for Zion, sacred spaces have always served as spiritual strongholds amid chaos, division, and uncertainty.
Sister Amy A. Wright reinforces this enduring command by pointing us back to the central source of holiness—Jesus Christ Himself. She urges that He must not be reduced to a symbol, fictionalized, or made casual. The real Christ—resurrected, glorified, and worshipped—is the reason any place becomes holy at all.
In Doctrine and Covenants 87, the Lord prophesies war and global calamity—not as a message of doom, but to highlight where peace can be found:
“Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved.” (D&C 87:8)
Sister Wright’s words offer modern continuity to this command. The “holy places” of today are not limited to temples or churches—they include homes where testimonies are borne, lives shaped by covenants, and hearts centered on Christ’s reality and mission.
Just as Christ invited the Nephites to “thrust their hands into his side” and “feel the prints of the nails” (3 Nephi 11:14–15), Sister Wright reminds us that our children need real experiences with the real Christ—seeing, hearing, and feeling the Spirit testify of Him in ways that transcend the symbolic.
Doctrinal Connections to Come, Follow Me (D&C 85–87):
- D&C 85:6 – “Yea, thus saith the still small voice…”
Just as the Spirit testifies of truth in quiet, personal ways, so too must our testimonies of Christ be sincere, specific, and Spirit-led—not abstract or generic. - D&C 86:11 – “Be a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people…”
Sister Wright calls each of us to teach, guide, and lift others—especially children—by connecting them to the living Christ. - D&C 87:8 – “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved.”
This isn’t just a warning—it’s an invitation to build a holy refuge in our hearts and homes, founded on an unshakable testimony of Jesus Christ.
These revelations echo and support Sister Wright’s message: faith in the real, risen Christ is what makes any place holy, any testimony powerful, and any disciple steady in turbulent times.
Living Apologetics: How to Apply This Today
How can we help others see that discipleship isn’t about vague values—but about anchoring our lives in the real, living Jesus Christ?
Sister Amy A. Wright reminds us that a fictional, casual, or symbolic Christ cannot sustain us in turbulent times. If we want the rising generation to remain steady, we must bear bold, reverent testimony of the glorified and resurrected Jesus Christ. And we must live as if He truly leads His Church today.
This has powerful apologetic value. When critics claim our religion is just rules, or that belief in Christ is outdated or simplistic, we can respond with clarity and conviction:
We don’t follow a philosophy. We follow a Person—resurrected, real, and mighty to save.
Principle in Practice: Two Ways to Apply Apologetic Principles
1⃣ Counter the “Good Without God” Narrative
When someone says, “You don’t need religion to be a good person,” try this:
→ “Being good is important. But Sister Wright reminds us: without Jesus Christ, there is no power to change or reconcile life’s deepest wounds. Christ doesn’t just inspire good people—He transforms broken people.”
2⃣ Teach Kids More Than Values—Teach Christ
In Primary, family study, or youth lessons, avoid reducing gospel lessons to generic kindness or morality.
→ Instead, say: “We’re kind because we follow Jesus. His life isn’t just a story—it’s our example, covenant, and power.”
Conclusion: Standing Steadfast with the Real Christ
Sister Amy A. Wright’s message is a bold and beautiful reminder: we do not follow an abstract ideal—we follow Jesus Christ, resurrected, exalted, and real.
In a world filled with shifting values, symbolic faith, and casual discipleship, our strength comes not from standing in a place—but from standing with a Person. He is the one who transforms our homes into holy places and our testimonies into spiritual protection.
This week’s Come, Follow Me lesson (Doctrine and Covenants 85–87) echoes her call with prophetic clarity: stand ye in holy places, and be not moved (D&C 87:8). Holiness is not just a setting—it’s a way of living, testifying, and pointing others to the living Christ.
Whether you’re teaching your children, defending your faith, or simply trying to hold on through personal storms, Sister Wright’s invitation rings true: make Christ the center, not the backdrop. Let your discipleship be intentional, your testimony of Him specific, and your worship of Him reverent.
Where in your life can you shift from admiring Christ to truly standing with Him?
“If we become casual in our discipleship of Jesus Christ, it could be catastrophic for our children.” — Sister Amy A. Wright
The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.
The post A Real and Holy Jesus appeared first on FAIR.
Continue reading at the original source →