This article was inspired by “Stand Forever” Episode 30, “The Truth—Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?” by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge, an emeritus General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, produced by Scripture Central. We encourage you to watch the full episode.

Watch: “Stand Forever” Ep. 30 | The Truth—Is Jesus Christ the Son of God? | Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge

Some questions are interesting. A few are life-changing. “Is Jesus Christ really the Son of God?” belongs in the second group.

If you are looking into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may be surprised at how much this one question matters to its members. In his “Stand Forever” series, Elder Corbridge calls it one of the most important questions anyone can ask, second only to whether there is a God who is our Father. Everything else about the Church—its scriptures, its prophets, its temples—rests on the answer.

This article walks through the kinds of witnesses Elder Corbridge highlights in Episode 30, adds some scripture so you can read them for yourself, and ends with a simple way to find your own answer.

Why This Question Comes First

Latter-day Saints believe the deepest problem in life is that we are separated from God, our Heavenly Father. We feel it as confusion, as darkness, as grief when someone we love dies. Elder Corbridge describes Jesus Christ as the bridge across that gap. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

If that is true, then nothing is more practical than knowing it. It’s not an abstract debate. It’s about whether there is real hope, real forgiveness, and a real way home.

Witness One: The Prophets Who Saw Him Coming

Long before Jesus was born, Hebrew prophets wrote about a coming Messiah. Their writings describe a descendant of David, born in Bethlehem, who would heal the brokenhearted, be rejected by His own people, be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, have His hands and feet pierced, and have none of His bones broken.

The Gospel writers noticed. When John described the soldiers at the cross, he explained that they did not break Jesus’s legs, and connected it to an ancient prophecy: “A bone of him shall not be broken” (John 19:36).

In the episode, Elder Corbridge walks through a long list of these prophecies and argues that only one person in history fits all of them. He puts it vividly:

“To deny Christ in light of what has been written is to stand in the clear light of day and say the sun does not shine.”

The Book of Mormon makes the same point. A prophet named Alma asked a crowd of honest seekers, “I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?” (Alma 33:14). That isn’t an accusation. It’s an invitation to open the book and look.

Witness Two: The Father’s Own Voice

The Bible teaches that important truths are confirmed by more than one witness. Elder Corbridge points to three: God the Father, Jesus’s own words, and Jesus’s works.

At Jesus’s baptism, Matthew records, “lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Elder Corbridge notes that no other person in history has been introduced that way.

Jesus also spoke plainly about who He was. And His works backed up His words. He healed the blind, calmed storms, fed thousands, and raised the dead. Even Nicodemus, a respected religious leader who came to Jesus quietly at night, admitted, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2). The apostle John added that if everything Jesus did were written down, “even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25).

Witness Three: A Life Freely Given

One of the most moving parts of the episode is Elder Corbridge’s reflection on Pontius Pilate. Pilate, the Roman governor, reminded Jesus that he had power to crucify Him or release Him. Jesus answered calmly: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11).

Earlier, Jesus had taught, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18). Elder Corbridge sums it up in a few words: “His life was not taken. He gave it.”

That matters for you and me. Latter-day Saints believe Jesus chose to suffer for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross—not because He was trapped, but because He loves us. Pilate had all the power the world could offer, Elder Corbridge observes, and yet history remembers him mainly for the moment he stood before Jesus. Meanwhile, the quiet carpenter from Nazareth has become the most influential life ever lived.

Witness Four: The Empty Tomb and Those Who Saw Him

Jesus said He would rise again, and His followers testified that He did. Paul wrote that the risen Christ “was seen of above five hundred brethren at once” (1 Corinthians 15:6). Women at the tomb, apostles behind locked doors, two disciples walking to Emmaus—again and again, ordinary people saw Him alive.

Elder Corbridge asks a fair question: why would so many people, many of whom suffered for their testimony, hold to a story they knew was false? What would they gain?

Latter-day Saints add one more witness. The Book of Mormon records that after His Resurrection, Jesus visited people in the ancient Americas and invited them, one by one, to feel the wounds in His hands and feet. The Church also teaches that the risen Lord appeared to Joseph Smith in modern times. Those are big claims, and you are welcome to examine them carefully—that’s what this series of articles is for.

How You Can Know for Yourself

Evidence and reason can open a door. Elder Corbridge is clear that they are an important part of learning truth, and he explores other ways of knowing in later episodes. But Latter-day Saints believe the surest witness comes from God Himself.

The Book of Mormon closes with a promise: if you ask God, “the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ,” with “a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4).

President Russell M. Nelson, who led the Church before President Dallin H. Oaks, taught that one of the best places to find the Savior is in His word. “Where can we go to hear Him?” he asked. “We can go to the scriptures. They teach us about Jesus Christ and His gospel” (“Hear Him,” April 2020 general conference).

So here is a gentle suggestion. Pick one Gospel—John is a lovely place to start—and read a chapter a day. Before you read, pray a simple prayer: “Father, if Jesus is Thy Son, help me to know. In the name of your son, Amen.” Then pay attention to what you feel. Peace, clarity, a quiet warmth, a desire to be kinder—those are often how God speaks.

An Invitation

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be glad to talk with you about Jesus Christ—in person or online, at no cost and with no pressure. You can reach out at ComeUntoChrist, or request a free copy of the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, delivered to your door. Bring your questions. He welcomes them.

For Readers Who Want to Go Deeper

Primary scriptures for this theme include Matthew 3:13–17; John 3:1–17; John 10:11–18; John 19:1–37; John 21:24–25; 1 Corinthians 15:1–8; Alma 33; 3 Nephi 11; and Moroni 10:3–5.

Watch the rest of Elder Corbridge’s Stand Forever series on Scripture Central, especially Episode 29 (“Is There a God Who Is Our Father?”) and Episode 31 (“Was Joseph Smith a Prophet?”), which come just before and after this one.

A tool we recommend: Scripture Notes is a Latter-day Saint scripture study site and app for searching the scriptures, keeping notes by verse, and finding patterns faster—built to help you get more revelation in less time. We support their work; if you’re going deeper on these passages, it’s worth a look.

Independence note: Witness the Signs is an independent project and is not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Church. Content here reflects our own study and opinions; for official doctrine and materials, visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Video credit: “Stand Forever” Episode 30, “The Truth—Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?” presented by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge, emeritus General Authority Seventy, and produced by Scripture Central. Watch it at youtube.com/watch?v=E62LTgwYP0M. Short quotations are used for commentary; all rights belong to their owners.

The “Stand Forever” video belongs to Scripture Central. Witness the Signs is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Scripture Central.