“The Condescension of God” | D. Todd Christofferson | December 2025 - BYU Speeches

Summary7 min read

Episode Overview

In this BYU Speeches devotional, “The Condescension of God,” given by D. Todd Christofferson (Second Counselor in the First Presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) on December 2, 2025, Elder Christofferson explores the profound doctrine of the condescension of Jesus Christ—His voluntary descent from divinity to mortality—and its significance for each of us. He interweaves scriptural insight, personal reflection, and encouragement, speaking especially to BYU students but extending the message to all who seek to understand Christ, endure in discipleship, and find hope in the Savior’s grace.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Spiritual Momentum at BYU

[00:36–03:07] Christofferson opens by acknowledging BYU’s achievements in athletics and music, emphasizing that these are just part of a larger “spiritual momentum” at the university. He praises university leadership, faculty commitment, and students’ dedication.
Memorable Quote:

“You, our students, are part of this momentum, this spiritual momentum. You’re attending devotionals in record numbers and report a greater commitment to our Savior and His prophet as you leave BYU to serve across the church.” (01:57)

2. The Doctrine of the Condescension of God

[03:07–08:41] Elder Christofferson introduces the scriptural term “condescension of God,” referencing the angel’s question to Nephi in the Book of Mormon and Nephi’s vision of Christ’s birth. He defines condescension as voluntary descent from a higher to a lower position.
Christ’s condescension involved leaving His divine throne to enter mortality, being born in humble circumstances, living as a mortal, and experiencing suffering, temptation, and eventually, crucifixion.
Memorable Quote:

“It is all but impossible to grasp the magnitude of our Savior’s condescension. Imagine a divine being with intelligence and power sufficient to create this earth... Now he lays aside his glory and powers and descends to his creation, his footstool.” (05:39)
Scriptural references highlight Christ’s incremental growth “from grace to grace,” His mortal experiences, and His perfect empathy for human suffering.

3. The Why of Condescension

[08:41–12:18] Christofferson asks whether Christ could have performed the Atonement without experiencing the full scope of mortal life, ultimately concluding that living as a mortal was divinely designed to show, not just tell, the way to God.
Christ’s life offers a model for discipleship: baptism, keeping covenants, enduring suffering, and obedience to God’s will.
Memorable Quote:

“Surely it is by divine design that the Son of God lived a life and performed a ministry that not merely tell us, but show us the way of discipleship, the way to God.” (09:54)

4. Parallels With Our Own Mortal Experience

[12:18–15:54] He draws a parallel between Christ’s condescension and the descent each soul undertakes, leaving the pre-mortal presence of God for mortality (the “second estate”).
Like Christ, we “descend” to mortal experience—learning, suffering, acting in faith and agency, and serving others—so that we can grow and become more like God.
Memorable Quote:

“In a sense, you too are experiencing a personal condescension of your own. Prior to your birth, you lived in a higher state. You lived in the presence of God, your Heavenly Father.” (12:34)

5. Enduring to the End: The Purpose and Challenge

[15:54–21:30] The condescension of Christ required Him to endure unimaginable suffering to the very end—Gethsemane, the cross, and death. Likewise, our mortal sojourn requires us to “endure to the end.”
Scriptural emphasis: Enduring is crucial for salvation—not to merely believe, but to “become what Christ is,” developing Christlike character.
Memorable Quotes:
- “There is nothing we experience that he does not comprehend, that he does not have power to address and redress. He knows, he understands, his love is perfect.” (11:39)
- “For his condescension to achieve its full purpose, Jesus Christ had to endure to the end. It was supremely difficult for him, even the great Jehovah, to complete the unimaginably intense suffering and death required to atone for our sins.” (16:03)
- “Its significance lies in the need not simply to believe in Christ, but to develop the character of Christ if we are to live with him and the Father eternally. It is about what we are becoming.” (17:59)
Quotes President Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Bruce R. McConkie, emphasizing that final judgment focuses on what we have become, not just what we have done.

6. Grace, Repentance, and the Savior’s Infinite Mercy

[21:30–23:20] Elder Christofferson stresses that while perfection isn’t required, entering, staying on, and returning to the “covenant path” are. He assures listeners that through repentance and Christ’s grace, we can overcome weaknesses and continue forward.
No quota on repentance—Christ’s forgiveness is as frequent as our sincere efforts.
Memorable Quote:

“As long as we are serious about it, there is no quota. There is no limit on the number of times we can repent, seek forgiveness, and move forward on his path.” (22:38)

7. The Result: Hope, Resurrection, and Joy

[23:20–24:15] Drawing upon the messages of Christmas and Easter, and citing Elder Vaughn G. Keach, Christofferson testifies that Christ’s condescension eliminates the possibility of anything being "eternally tragic".
There are always new beginnings, and joy surpasses pain because the Savior descended, rose, and lives eternally.
Memorable Closing:

“Because of the birth in Bethlehem and what it led to, there is nothing in life that need be eternally tragic. There is a happy ending, there is a rising after the falling. There is life, and there is love always... It is the joy of the stable, but much more important, it is the joy of the empty tomb forever.” (23:41)
He invites all to reflect on the Savior’s condescension and respond by following Him faithfully, ultimately invoking a blessing of peace and testifying of Christ’s divinity.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

“What a tremendous time it is to be a student at BYU... There is a real momentum happening, and I hope you can feel it.” (00:36)
“Do you know that between them, President Reese and Academic Vice President Justin Collings interview every prospective faculty member... This is a tremendous investment by the leadership of this university.” (01:23)
“The birth [of Christ] manifested the supreme love of God for all his children, a love that the Book of Mormon calls the most joyous to the soul.” (02:40)
“Condescension means to descend voluntarily from a higher rank or dignity to a lower level or status.” (04:43)
“He thus became the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, who by his atoning blood would reconcile us to God and lead us back into his presence.” (04:15)
“He descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in and through all things the light of truth.” (10:51)
“You too are experiencing a personal condescension of your own. Prior to your birth, you lived in a higher state... So it is for you.” (12:34–14:05)
“Remember that for his condescension to achieve its full purpose, Jesus Christ had to endure to the end.” (15:58)
“Our final judgment will measure what we have become and even more importantly, what we have shown we can yet become.” (17:59)
“We are fully justified in joyously celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is this tender beginning that eventually led to his atonement, which in turn leads to the new beginnings in our lives and faithfulness to the end of our lives.” (21:53)
“There is a happy ending, there is a rising after the falling. There is life, and there is love always...It is the joy of the stable, but much more important, it is the joy of the empty tomb forever.” (23:41)

Important Segments & Timestamps

00:36: Opening remarks about BYU’s momentum
03:07: Introduction of the doctrine of the condescension of God
04:43: Definition of “condescension” and its spiritual implications
05:39: The magnitude of Christ’s condescension
08:41: The necessity of Christ experiencing mortality
12:18: Parallels between Christ’s descent and our mortal experience
15:58: The need to endure to the end
17:59: Focus on becoming, not just acting
21:30: Role of grace, repentance, and Christ’s ongoing mercy
23:20: Assurance of hope, new beginnings, and Christ’s ultimate victory
24:00: Final testimony and blessing

Closing Summary

Christofferson’s address is a deep reflection on the meaning and implications of Christ’s condescension—a love so profound that it brings hope to every soul. He connects this doctrine directly to the daily and lifelong journey of each listener: faithfulness, growth, perseverance, and reliance on the Savior’s mercy. He ends with a heartfelt testimony of Christ’s divinity and an invocation of His peace.

This summary provides an accessible overview for those who haven’t listened to the full episode, capturing its key doctrine, memorable moments, and the inviting tone of Elder Christofferson’s message.

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Welcome to the Recent Speeches podcast presented by BYU Speeches featuring inspiring new devotionals and forums given each week on BYU campus. Be sure to check out our other podcasts by searching BYU Speeches wherever you get your podcasts or by visiting Speeches BYU Edu Podcasts.
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This devotional address entitled the Condescension of God was was given on December 2nd of 2025 by D. Todd Christofferson, then a second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
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What a tremendous time it is to be a student at byu. Of course, our athletic teams are performing at a high level in their respective sports and represent the university with exemplary sportsmanship and integrity. But this is only part of a much broader spiritual momentum spreading across the university. I need to pause and add a word of appreciation for our choral and music programs here. We just had a sterling example of the definition they give to a standard of excellence and all the other aspects and endeavors of this school. We see this in your remarkable president and his Becoming BYU initiative. Do you know that between them, President Reese and Academic Vice President Justin Collings interview every prospective faculty member who's hired on this campus and that requires over 150 interviews each year. This is a tremendous investment by the leadership of this university and shows their commitment to finding the most qualified people to teach the students on this campus. We commend your faculty who model teaching that is both intellectually enlarging and spiritually strengthening. Of course, you, our students, are part of this momentum, this spiritual momentum. You're attending devotionals in record numbers and report a greater commitment to our Savior and His prophet as you leave BYU to serve across the church. It's been a few years since Kathy and I were students here. We wish we could re enroll and join you in this remarkable season in the history of this great university. As mentioned, we love byu, we love President and Sister Reese and we love you. There is a real momentum happening and I hope you can feel it at Christmas. With hymns and praise and gifts, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ some 2000 years ago. We celebrate his birth because it was the beginning of a life and mission that hold ultimate and eternal significance for all of us. This birth manifested the supreme love of God for all his children, a love that the Book of Mormon calls the most joyous to the soul. Centuries before it happened, the prophet Nephi was granted a vision of the Savior's birth and ministry, death and resurrection. During this magnificent vision, an angel posed this question to knowest thou the condescension of God? Nephi was uncertain, and to explain the meaning and significance of that term. The condescension of God the angel showed Nephi the virgin who would become the mother of the Son of God after the manner of the flesh. And then a scene of this pure young woman bearing the Christ child in her arms. Nephi then understood that the Son of God would come to earth to rescue fallen man in the grand premortal heavenly council. When the Father asked who would offer his life to redeem mankind, redemption being the most crucial element of God's plan for the happiness and glory of his children, this firstborn among spirits declared, here am I. Send me. He thus became the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, who by his atoning blood would reconcile us to God and lead us back into his presence. Condescension means to descend voluntarily from a higher rank or dignity to a lower level or status. The great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the premortal Jesus Christ, voluntarily condescended to leave his divine throne above and live in a mortal state on the very earth that under the direction of the Father, he had created. For all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. It is all but impossible to grasp the magnitude of our Savior's condescension. Imagine a divine being with intelligence and power sufficient to create this earth, a planet capable of sustaining billions of our Father's children and many other creatures over many thousands of years. Now he lays aside his glory and powers and descends to his creation his footstool. As a helpless babe born in a humble stable with a manger used to feed animals as his cradle, he experiences what all of us experience, growing over time in consciousness and capacity, developing from infancy to childhood to youth to adulthood as the only begotten Son of God, God being the Father not only of His Spirit, but also of his body. Jesus learning is more rapid and advanced than anything even the brightest of us have ever experienced. Yet it is for him, as for us, not instantaneous. The Scriptures record that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace and continued from grace to grace until he received the fulness. In this state of condescension, Jesus of Nazareth experiences hunger and deprivation, fatigue and pain, persecution and rejection. In Isaiah's words, he is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. On one occasion, Jesus laments, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests. But the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head, so he lays in the very dust that is the least of his creations. In the end, he is led, crucified and slain, the flesh becoming subject even of unto death. And why this incomprehensible condescension? Could not Jesus have performed his infinite atonement, so fundamentally crucial to our immortality and eternal life, without also having to experience mortality from birth to adulthood? Could he have simply come as a man rather than a babe and still have accomplished his atoning mission? I cannot say. But surely it is by divine design that the Son of God lived a life and performed a ministry that not merely tell us, but show us the way of discipleship, the way to God. Beginning with his own baptism, witnessing unto the Father that He would be obedient to him in keeping his commandments, he not only taught, but demonstrated what it means to walk the covenant path throughout his life, culminating in his suffering and death on the cross. He descended below all things in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in and through all things the light of truth. And so we have an High Priest, which we have not. A high Priest that cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted, like as we are. Yet without sin there is nothing we experience that he does not comprehend, that he does not have power to address and redress. He knows, he understands his love is perfect with his resurrection. Just as he descended below all things, Jesus has now overcome and risen above all things. He has put all enemies under his feet, the last enemy being death. Now he sits on the right hand of God to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men. Jesus condescension. His willingness to live in this fallen world and show us the meaning of his gospel in day to day life is truly an act of genuine love. He indeed has shown us his more excellent way. He is the way. And we should study his life and model his discipleship. His condescension, culminating in his atonement, gives hope, direction and purpose to our lives. In a sense, you too are experiencing a personal condescension of your own. Prior to your birth, you lived in a higher state. You lived in the presence of God, your Heavenly Father. His plan to help you achieve your highest and happiest destiny entailed your voluntary condescension or descent from that first estate to a lower second estate. Your birth was a spiritual death, removing you from the presence of God. Now, just as Jesus, you're passing through a mortal experience in a fallen world. Jesus condescended to experience life in a physical body with all its miraculous powers, but with its ailments and pains as well. The same is true for you. He condescended to experience temptation and overcome sin. So did you. He condescended to learn to exercise agency by faith and to submit in all things to the will of the Father. As the Scripture says, though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. So it is for you. Jesus condescended to serve and minister to his brothers and sisters, and so did you. Above all the Savior voluntarily condescended to leave his throne on high to rescue mankind from sin and death. You are here first to apply his divine gift of repentance in your life and by his grace overcome sin and death, and second, to bring others to Christ to receive the same gift of repentance and eternal life. Jesus was faithful in his second estate and has received a fulness of glory. As you keep your second estate through your faith in him and with his atoning grace, your destiny is also that fulness as a joint heir with Christ. Remember that for his condescension to achieve its full purpose, Jesus Christ had to endure to the end. It was supremely difficult for him, even the great Jehovah, to complete the unimaginably intense suffering and death required to atone for our sins and overcome both spiritual and physical death. Mark records that in the process, the Savior was sore, amazed, even astonished at the suffering. Multiple times he begged the Father to take that bitter cup from him. If there were any other way to accomplish what only he could could accomplish at that moment, eternity, our eternity, hung in the balance. There was no other way. Despite the grief this tender parent must have felt for his suffering son, his beloved Son, the Father could not, consistent with the great plan of redemption, grant his plea. He could only send an angel to strengthen him. In the end, the submissive Savior declared, not my will, but Thine be done. Jesus drank that excruciatingly bitter cup to the last drop to the end of this hour, when the great Redeemer defeated all evil, he later reflected, this suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain and to bleed at every pore and to suffer both body and spirit. And would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink. Nevertheless, glory be to the Father and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. He endured to the end. For our condescension to achieve its full purpose in our lives, you and I also must endure to the end. This truth is expressed repeatedly throughout the Scriptures. Here are three examples from just one chapter in two. And I heard a voice from the Father saying, yea, the words of my beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. And now I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end in following the example of the Son of the living God, ye cannot be saved. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father, ye shall have eternal life. What is the peculiar significance of of enduring to the end? Its significance lies in the need not simply to believe in Christ, but to develop the character of Christ if we are to live with him and the Father eternally. It is about what we are becoming. It is not just about boxes we check or points we collect for doing good. Salvation is not a matter of good works alone. Neither is it a matter of Divine grace alone. Works and grace matter because of their role in what we are becoming. And it is in what we are becoming that we keep our second estate and qualify to have glory added upon our heads forever and ever. Some years ago, President Dallin H. Oaks pointed out that the final judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil actswhat we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughtswhat we have become. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the Gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. Therefore, for those of us who have received the gospel of Jesus Christ in this mortal estate and have entered upon his covenant path, the question at the end of life will be, are we still on that path of discipleship? Are we still on the course that demonstrates both our desire and our capacity to abide the law of a celestial kingdom and to abide a celestial glory? Our final judgment will measure what we have become and even more importantly, what we have shown we can yet become. Clearly, perfection is not required for salvation. What matters is that we enter on the covenant path and remain on the covenant path to the end, and that if we have deviated from that path at any point, that we returned to it, that we were faithful to the end, and at the end, your suffering and mine and the sacrifices that may be required of us in the process of remaining faithful to the end will not in any degree approach what the Savior endured. But however great or small the challenge. Just as Jesus we can count on the Father's help, His angels and His Holy Spirit, and in addition, we have the infinite grace of Christ to forgive and sanctify us from sin. In this past October General Conference, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained, we know that our efforts alone cannot make us celestial, but they can make us loyal and committed to Jesus the Christ, and he can make us celestial. The Lord Himself affirms that no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God. Therefore nothing entereth into his rest, save it be those who have washed their garments in My blood because of their faith in the repentance of all their sins and their faithfulness unto the end. Now this is the Repent all ye ends of the earth and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in years past, observed that if we are on the straight and narrow path as we go out of this life, our probation is ended, our test in mortality is finished, and we are assured of being able to continue on that path to its conclusion. There is no such thing, he said, as falling off the strait and narrow path in the life to come. Now is the time and the day of your salvation. So if you are working zealously in this life, though you haven't fully overcome the world and you haven't done all you hoped you might do, you are still going to be saved. Though you may have a very great distance yet to go after death, you will be able to continue pressing forward to eternal life. We are fully justified in joyously celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is this tender beginning that eventually led to his atonement, which in turn leads to the new beginnings in our lives and faithfulness to the end of our lives. As Elder Patrick Kieran recently observed, repentance opens the door to our new beginnings. Fresh Starts, Second Chances Christ's gift of repentance allows us to begin anew and continue forward each day to progress from grace to grace, to confidently sacrifice the lesser for the greater to overcome, and with him gain immortality and eternal life. Jesus assures us that as often as my people repent, will I forgive them their trespasses against me? In other words, as long as we are serious about it, there is no quota. There is no limit on the number of times we can repent, seek forgiveness, and move forward on his path. Remember Paul's reassuring. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Our beloved brother, Elder Vaughn G. Keach of the 70, who died too young almost eight years ago, reminded us of the fruits of the Lord's condescension in these Life will always have its valleys and peaks. Everyone will have moments of great peace and happiness in times of great challenge. At times life will be richly joyful. At other times it will be terribly painful. But because of the birth in Bethlehem and what it led to, there is nothing in life that need be eternally tragic. There is a happy ending, there is a rising after the falling. There is life, and there is love always. There are new births and rebirths and resurrection to eternal life. It is the joy of the stable, but much more important, it is the joy of the empty tomb forever. As you celebrate Christmas and Easter each year, I invite you to reflect on the mortal life and mission of Jesus Christ, his condescension to save you. I invite you to think of your own condescension, its purpose, and how you too, having descended into a fallen world, may with good cheer rise above and overcome the world with Christ. I plead with you to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus faithfully to the end. I testify that Jesus was born of Mary, that he lived on earth, that he now lives the God of our redemption, wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father, I invoke his blessings and peace upon you at this happy season. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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