He looked at me as though I were from a different planet and then blurted, “Doesn’t everyone?”

“Everyone in your world,” I responded. “But there are billions of people on earth who have never even heard of Christ, so that can’t be the only reason. Why else do we believe?”

The young man searched his mind and finally responded, “It’s in the Bible.”

“True,” I agreed. “But is that the only reason we believe in Him?”

By now the young man looked a little uncomfortable. He exclaimed, “It’s history. BC, AD—the whole calendar revolves around Christ.”

“The western calendar does, but is that why we believe?” The young man finally shrugged and gave up. He had provided all the reasons he could, which are the same reasons many Christians give for their belief in the Savior. They believe because their ancestors were Christian or because Jesus is in the Bible and is a part of history. As fundamental as such reasons are, there has to be more.

Many years ago, a movie was made that upset Christians because it portrayed Jesus in a very human and sexual way. People picketed theaters, and the movie was discussed extensively on talk shows. I happened to be listening to one such show when a commentator was interviewing the director of the controversial film. I don’t recall the exact words, but the conversation went something like this:

The commentator said, “I think the reason so many people are upset about your film is because it doesn’t follow what is said in the Bible about Christ’s life.”

“So?” the director responded, “So what? The Bible? That thing has been through so many translations, and almost every time it was translated it was done with political money for political purposes. Who’s to say there is anything reliable left in the Bible? And even if there is, the Bible was not written by Christ. It doesn’t say The Bible by Jesus Christ. It was written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — men who interpreted Christ’s life. Well, if they have the right to interpret Christ’s life, who’s to say that I don’t have the same right? And who’s to say that my interpretation is not better and more accurate than theirs? Who’s to say?”

As the commentator sat there with her mouth hanging open, my friend who was viewing the interview with me leaned over and said, “We are. We are to say.” As Latter-day Saints we are the only Christians on this globe whose testimonies of Christ do not rest on the Bible alone.

We believe in Christ because Joseph Smith saw Christ face to face. We believe because we have the Book of Mormon that stands with the Bible as another testament of the Savior. We believe because of living apostles and prophets and the Spirit which touches our spirits and assures us that we believe in the truth.