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New First Presidency Member Christofferson Urges BYU Students to “Sacrifice the Lesser for the Greater”

He presented Jesus’ condescension as the model for personal descent into mortality, emphasizing covenant commitment through ongoing repentance.

Overview

  • Delivering his first major address since joining the First Presidency, President D. Todd Christofferson spoke at a BYU devotional in Provo on Dec. 2.
  • He defined “condescension” as Christ’s voluntary descent from divine glory to mortal life to rescue humankind, calling that mission the source of purpose and hope.
  • He taught that individuals also undergo a personal condescension from a premortal state to mortal life and invited students to reflect on that purpose.
  • He said salvation requires entering the covenant path and repenting rather than achieving flawless perfection, quoting Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on Christ making disciples celestial.
  • He urged endurance to the end and said there is “no quota” on sincere repentance, echoing President Dallin H. Oaks’s emphasis on becoming Christlike; 11,189 attended and his grandson offered the opening prayer.