November 6, 2025, 3:43 PM MST
Members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may be familiar with the hymn “This Is the Christ,” which appears in the church’s film “Testaments: One Flock, One Shepherd,” which was shown at Temple Square’s Legacy Theater for more than five years.
They may also have heard the Temple Square Tabernacle Choir perform an arrangement of the song during General Conference “Music and the Spoken Word” or on a recorded album.
The hymn is now included in the Church’s new worldwide hymnbook, Hymns — For Home and Church. The lyrics were written by the late President James E. Faust with assistance from Jan Pinborough, and the music was composed by Michael F. Moody.
President Faust passed away in August 2007. He has served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency since 1995, as an Apostle since 1978, and as a General Authority before that.
Moody told Church News how the hymn came about, starting with the fact that President Faustus is his cousin who was once exiled.
“I was employed at church headquarters starting in 1972, so I saw him frequently,” Moody wrote. “Out of respect for his position, I always called him ‘Elder Faust,’ and he replied, ‘Call me Jim.'”
For years, the then-elder Faust had told Moody he wanted to write songs together. “We were honored by the idea, but we didn’t do anything about it,” Moody said.
For decades, Moody and his songwriting partners have created an annual Christmas song to send to family and friends. In 1995, he finally felt it was time to try singing with President Faust.
“When I asked him about the lyrics, he handed me a piece of paper with the ideas he wanted to express in this song,” Moody said.
Since the song had not been written in the form of lyrics or poetry, Moody asked Pinborough, who was then on the church’s music committee, if he could help him create a text based on President Faust’s ideas. She came up with the title and verse of “This Is the Christ.”
Moody took the document to President Faust, who read it and said, “I won’t change a word.”
1. They heard a voice, and it was a very gentle voice.
It penetrated them and shook their souls.
They saw him coming, a man dressed in white,
A Savior who suffered for them.
They felt wounds in their hands and sides;
And each can testify, “This is Christ.”
This is Christ, the holy Son of God…
Our Savior, Lord, Savior of mankind.
This is Christ, the healer of our souls.
Who has redeemed us with divine love?
2. I read his words, the words he prayed.
Carrying the burden of sorrow in Gethsemane.
I feel God’s love, the price He paid.
How many drops of blood have been shed for me?
Shout out for joy with the saints of old
I too can testify, “This is Christ.”
This is Christ, the holy Son of God…
Our Savior, Lord, Savior of mankind.
This is Christ, the healer of our souls.
Who has redeemed us with divine love?
Listen to the song here.
words grow
During the 1995 Christmas season, the Moodys performed the song for President Faust and his wife, Sister Ruth Faust, in the church administration building. Moody said the song was well-received by the Fausts and staff members who were at the scene. Having done that, he considered the project complete.
However, the song gained attention and grew by being in the right place at the right time. For example, one night that same December, the Moodys were visiting family in Provo, Utah. Neighbor Ron Saari also came caroling with the BYU Singers. Moody had just printed a copy of his song to send for Christmas.
“As the carolers were getting ready to leave, I plucked up the courage to hand out copies of the song and they graciously sang it. The song later found its way into the BYU Singers’ repertoire and was included on their 1997 album ‘We Sing of Christ,'” Moody said.
When the Church produced The Testament: One Fold and One Shepherd in 2000, Merrill Jensen created choir and orchestral arrangements for the film, which were recorded by the Tabernacle Choir and sung as part of the presentation after the film concluded.
In 2003, Barlow Bradford created a new arrangement for recording by the Tabernacle Choir, and the lyrics and music were published in the Liahona in December 2006 in many languages.
On August 14, 2007, Moody attended President Faust’s funeral, where the song was sung.
“When he heard the Tabernacle Choir sing ‘The Is the Christ,’ he realized that his desire to compose the song was to add the power of music to express his testimony as a special witness of the Savior,” he said.
chorus lyrics
When Moody was composing the music for “This Is the Christ”, he felt the chorus needed to be repeated musically. My wife, Maria Moody, suggested that I look up Elder Faust’s general conference address and find some phrases about the Savior to use in the chorus.
Below is the phrase.
“My sure knowledge is that Jesus is our divine Savior and Redeemer, the Son of God the Father” (from April 1995 general conference, “Heirs of the Kingdom of God”).
“Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and the Savior of the world.…We pray that our Savior will heal our souls…” (From October 1988 General Conference, “The Supreme Gift of the Atonement”).
“Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world and the Redeemer of mankind” (from October 1984 general conference, “Works of God”).
“I would like to conclude here by testifying of Christ and of Jesus as God’s Savior” (from April 1979 General Conference, “Refiner’s Fire”).
“I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” (From “Response to the Call,” October 1978 general conference).
“I have the sure knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is our divine Savior…Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of God, and the Son of God” (October 1976 General Conference, “A Personal Relationship with the Savior”).
