D&C 76:22 “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!”
Study Insights
D&C Section 76:22 — That He Lives! (February 1832)
In a quiet farmhouse in Hiram, Ohio, during February 1832, the heavens opened to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in a moment that would become a cornerstone of Latter-day Saint testimony. Amid a sweeping vision now canonized as Doctrine and Covenants Section 76, verse 22 emerges as a lightning bolt of conviction and clarity: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!”
This declaration is more than just a statement—it is a thunderous affirmation of the central truth of Christianity and the Restoration: Jesus Christ lives. Not metaphorically, not symbolically, but literally, bodily, eternally. For Latter-day Saints, D&C 76:22 is often quoted as a capstone testimony—short in length, profound in power. It encapsulates the heart of what the restored gospel teaches: that Jesus Christ is not a figure of the past, but a living, glorified Savior who reigns at the right hand of God the Father.
The verse is particularly moving because of its context. Joseph and Sidney were not merely expressing belief; they were bearing witness of what they had just seen. In the vision, they beheld the majesty and glory of the Son of God. They saw Him standing on the right hand of God. Their words are not the result of philosophical musing or secondhand stories. They are the testimony of direct experience. That makes this verse uniquely powerful—prophetic and personal.
What makes this verse even more remarkable is how it connects to every follower of Christ. While most of us have not seen Him with our natural eyes, we are invited to receive a personal witness through the Spirit. The phrase “this is the testimony, last of all” does not suggest finality or exclusivity; rather, it builds upon the testimonies of ancient apostles, prophets, and saints throughout time. Joseph and Sidney join a great chorus of voices—from Peter and John to Alma and Moroni—all proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ. But in this dispensation, they raise that voice anew with renewed clarity and divine authority.
For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, D&C 76:22 is often memorized, quoted in testimonies, and shared in moments of spiritual significance. It has become a verbal banner of belief, a seven-word creed that pierces through doubt and speaks directly to the soul. It is a reminder that, above all doctrines and ordinances, the gospel begins and ends with the living Christ.
In an age often dominated by skepticism and uncertainty, this single verse offers profound certainty. The power of D&C 76:22 is not only in what it says, but in how it makes you feel: lifted, affirmed, connected to divine truth. “That he lives!”—those words are an invitation to believe, a challenge to act, and a promise that we are not alone. The resurrected Christ stands as the foundation of our faith, the source of our hope, and the future of our eternal joy.
