What do "Mormons" believe about Jesus Christ? To believe and know

The definition of a belief is a feeling that something or someone exists or that something is true. To know is to understand or have a clear and complete idea. I think that belief comes before knowledge, that we have to believe something is true before we know it is true. Often when I speak of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I talk about our beliefs. I call them beliefs because that seems less heavy-handed. If I say I believe something then you can't tell me I can't feel that something is true. But if I say I know something, you might argue that I can't know or that it's not true. To me knowing is having evidence of truth.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, here are some truths we believe about Jesus Christ.

He is the literal son of God, our Heavenly Father. We are all spirit sons and daughters of God. Jesus Christ is also a spirit son of God. Heavenly Father or God is also the father of Jesus Christ's body. They are two separate beings.

Mary is the mother of Jesus's body. The Holy Ghost came upon Mary and the power of God overshadowed her and she conceived (Luke 1:35).

Jesus was born in a stable under lowly circumstances, the son of God and a mortal woman.

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist even though He was perfect and had not sinned. He was baptized as an example to of us of being obedient to our Heavenly Father.

While Jesus was on the earth, He taught a higher law of loving our neighbor as ourselves. He healed the sick in body and spirit. He was an example of pure love, showing us how to treat each other.

Jesus suffered for all our sins and sadness and sickness. Every one of us. He didn't have to. He was a God. He had no sin. The pain was so great that he asked His Father if there was another way (Matthew 26:39).  In a revelation to Joseph Smith, Jesus reveals the depth of that pain. "For behold, I God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which 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" (Doctrine & Covenants 19:16-19).

Jesus Christ was crucified. He died on a cross, was laid in a sepulcher, and rose three days later. Because He was resurrected, we will all be resurrected.

After His resurrection, He appeared to His apostles. He also visited the people in America. His teachings and visitation are recorded in The Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi, chapters 10-28.

Jesus and Heavenly Father appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820. Later Christ's church was restored through Joseph Smith.

Jesus speaks with prophets today. He continues to lead and direct His church on the earth.

Jesus will come again.

I believe all these truths about Jesus Christ. I have not seen Him with my own eyes, but I believe the scriptures and the modern prophets. What I do know without a doubt is that when I have knelt and prayed for forgiveness, a love I can't describe has washed over me. I know that when I follow Christ's teaching, when I love others and serve, I feel joy. I know that at this Christmas season with the lights, the trees, the giving, and the receiving, my heart swells and I want to live like this all the time. There is more thoughtfulness, more patience, more love. When we remember the baby that was born in a stable and later suffered and died for us, there is peace. Those feelings and the goodness I witness are evidence of truth.

Jesus Christ is the gift given to us from our Heavenly Father. He lives. And each person can come to know for himself that Jesus is real.