What if you had someone who was always there for you? What if you had someone who was so strong he could tear the earth in two, yet so gentle that little children crawled into his lap? What if you had someone who loved you so much that he would perish just to save you? What if you had someone who promised you worlds without end, and could actually give them to you? What if you had someone who was perfect in every way?
Guess what -- you do. His name is Jesus Christ, although he also goes by many other names. You may have heard Him called the Savior, the Messiah, Immanuel, the Only Begotten Son, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, or the Lord. Not only does he fit the characteristics above, but He's a king (1 Timothy 6:15), He's creative (Moses 2:1), and He's a good listener and gives great advice (D&C 8:2-3). He can help you out in times of trial and will make sure you never experience more than you can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will forgive you even the largest sin if you but repent (D&C 58:42). Sounds like a pretty wonderful guy, huh? Two billion people in the world share that high esteem. He loves every one of us.

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..." - Hebrews 9:28
Come on, admit - you're not perfect. You've messed up more than a couple times in your life. Unfortunately, Heavenly Father "cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (Alma 45:16). Alma taught that we cannot be saved in our sins (Alma 11:34). So what can we do? Does that mean we're out of luck?
Well, Heavenly Father loves us all, and to toss us down here and eternally condemn us when we mess up doesn't exactly fit in with that idea. He's merciful. Unfortunately, mercy and justice can't always coexist. Here's an example. Let's say your four-year-old brother (or son, depending on how old you are) is playing baseball in the backyard. Unfortunately, he hits the ball a bit hard and it breaks your neighbor's window. The neighbor comes out and demands payment for that broken window. Well, what can little brother do? He doesn't have any money - he's only four. Yet the window still needs to be paid for. What to do?
Well, if there were just those two, then nothing could be solved. You could have mercy or justice, but not both. However, you're a loving sibling (or parent), so you step in and say you'll pay for it. Now, little brother is going to owe you one, whether it be a monetary payment or some favor. But he didn't have to pay the neighbor, and the neighbor got her money. Mercy and justice were both served.
This is similar to heavenly dilemmas. "What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God." (Alma 42:25). So what could God do? Just like the example above, a mediator stepped in.

"And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also." - Alma 42:15

But wait, there's more!

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die...." - John 11:25-26
Not only did Christ die to save us from our sins (as if that wasn't enough), He brought with HIm the promise of eternal life. One of the most famous verses in the Bible says:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

He is risen! He is risen! He hath opened heaven's gate.
We are free from sin's dark prison
Risen to a holier state.
And a brighter Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." - 2 Nephi 25:26
The Savior is so many other things: teacher, brother, friend, companion, Messiah, messenger, servant, Lord. It is impossible to detail allthings in a single essay like this. Books and books have been written about Him. If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to pick up the two best books ever written about Him: the New Testament in the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. (If you don't want to read the Book of Mormon online and would prefer it to be sent to your house, click here.) If you have already read those, go get Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. You will not regret it.
I testify to you that Jesus is the Christ, that He is the Savior of the world and also the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father. I say these things in His name, amen.

This page was written by Beth Siler on November 1, 1999. Please do not use without permission. Hymn playing: #134 "I Believe in Christ." Pictures from ldsyouth.com.
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