“The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd,” Liahona, Oct. 2000, 11
The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd
In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established,” the Lord and His prophets have taught throughout the ages (2 Cor. 13:1).
Thus stand the Bible, a record of Jesus Christ’s ministry in the Holy Land, and the Book of Mormon, a record of His ministry in ancient America—both testaments of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Focusing on these two scriptural witnesses, the Church has produced a 70-millimeter film, The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd. The film presents the message that Jesus is our Savior and the cornerstone of our theology.
In the film, Christ’s mortal ministry is told while fictional characters, living in the Americas at the time of Christ, ponder events of His life. Though the New World characters are fictional, they capture the essence of the testimonies of the people described in the Book of Mormon.
The paths to Christ taken by the New World fictional characters become representative of our own or our families’ journeys. Some of us are like the fictional Helam, who even in the face of opposition never loses his faith in Christ. Others are like Helam’s son, Jacob, who abandons his faith for the things of the world yet finds it reborn after a period of struggle. Still others are like Leneah, who, though she is raised without belief in the Savior, hears the Lord’s prophet and believes.
Through scenes of the Savior’s ministry and the lives of these fictional persons, we discover that it is through our own obedience to the Lord that we come to treasure Christ’s suffering for us and rely on His Atonement. Our souls rejoice that He is the Savior of the world and that through Him all mankind may be saved.
Photography by Welden C. Andersen and Craig Dimond
Above: In Testaments, a prophet in the New World foretells the birth of the Savior.
In Testaments, the fictional Helam, as a young boy (center), sees the star signaling Christ’s birth and then listens as a prophet teaches him and others of the Savior.
“Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him” (Mark 1:9–10).
“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren. … And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:18–19).
Left: “Jesus … said … the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. … He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose” (Matt. 9:23–25).
Above: In Testaments, the fictional Helam (seated) listens as his son, Jacob, questions him about the prophecies of the Savior’s coming.
Far left: “There was delivered unto [Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth] the book of the prophet [Isaiah]. … And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:17, 21; see also Isa. 61:1–3).
Below: “As [Jesus] was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man … cried, saying, Jesus … have mercy on me. … And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 18:35, 38–39, 42).
Above: In Testaments, the fictional Jacob prays to know if God exists, and he prepares to receive a testimony of Jesus Christ.
Below: “[Jesus] cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes. … Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:43–44).
“And they brought young children to [Jesus]. … And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:13, 16).
Above right: “And there came a leper to [Jesus], … saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, … saith unto him, I will; be thou clean” (Mark 1:40–41).
Above: In Testaments, the fictional Leneah feasts “upon the words of Christ” and believes (2 Ne. 32:3).
Below: In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36).
As “Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping,” Jesus appeared and “saith unto her, Mary” (John 20:11, 16).
Above: In Testaments, viewers are reminded of the true healing power of Christ (see 3 Ne. 17:6–10) as they see Jesus bless the fictional Helam.
Below: Jesus ordained 12 men to lead His people in the Americas and then said to His followers, “Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water” (3 Ne. 12:1).
“The multitude went forth, … and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands … and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come” (3 Ne. 11:15).