Jesus Christ, Exemplar

The Savior continually invited all to follow Him and to be like Him. In Mark 8:34, he said, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” In John 14:6, he stated “I am the way.” In 3 Nephi 12:48, he invited all to “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” He was perfect, and He invites us to become “perfect.” Also in 3 Nephi 27:27, he issues a similar invitation: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even das I am.” He was the perfect example.

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

The are so many references in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price affirming that Jesus Christ is literally the only Begotten Son of Heavenly Father. Isaiah prophesied that “a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” There are other Old Testament prophecies, but I want to turn to the Bible first and then the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price about the testimonies that Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God. On two occasions in the New Testament, we have recorded the testimony of Heavenly Father that Jesus Christ is His Beloved Son. At the Savior’s baptism, God the Father testified that “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Three of the Gospels record this. On the mount of transfiguration, again God the Father testifies that “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Another of my favorite Bible scriptures about Jesus Christ being the Son of God is in John 20:31. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” The Gospel of John is written that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He is the divine Son of God. Also, in John 3:16 and in John 17, the great intercessory prayer, there is no doubt that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. All the prophets of the Book of Mormon either prophesied of the coming of Jesus Christ as the Son of God or witnessed that he was the Son of God. His appearance in 3 Nephi chapters 11-28 again clearly witness that He is the literal Son of God. In the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith relates his experience of his “first vision.” There God the Father introduces Jesus Christ: “Joseph, this is my Beloved Son, Hear Him!” Joseph Smith’s testimony in the Doctrine and Covenants is testifies again of the divine sonship of our Savior. “ 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! 23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” I would also add my testimony that the Holy Ghost has born undeniable witness to me that Jesus Christ is the “Only Begotten Son of the Father, who is full of grace and truth.”

Jesus Christ, Death of

The death of our Savior by crucifixion was covered previously. Isaiah prophesied in chapter 25, verse 8: “He will swallow up in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah clearly knew and understood that the Savior’s mission was to perform the atoning sacrifice for all. His death was a very important part of the atonement. Without His death, there could be no resurrection for Him or for anyone else. Without the atonement, all who live on the earth would be lost. We could not be resurrected, and we could not be cleansed from all our sins. The Savior redeemed all from physical death. All would be resurrected in that their physical body and the spirit would be reunited forever. He would also redeem those who truly repented of their sins from spiritual death. Since all have sinned and no unclean thing can live in the presence of God, we cannot be in God’s eternal presence unless we are cleansed from all sin. Through the Savior’s atonement and our honest repentance, we can become cleansed from all sin and are worthy to live in the presence of the Father and the Son forever. The apostles of the New Testament, the prophets of the Book of Mormon, and the latter-day prophets, seers, and revelators have all testified that He died and was resurrected, that through His atoning sacrifice all would be resurrected, and that the truly repentant would be able to come and dwell with him forever.

Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of

Jesus Christ was a descendant of King David. In Matthew 1:1, Matthew states that his record is “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” In Revelations 22:16, the Savior states: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” He is a descendant of David. There are two lineages of the Savior given in the New Testament. According to James E Talmage, one of the lineages is of Mary and the other is of Joseph. It is interesting the circumstances into which the Savior was born. Seeing the full picture, we know that His father was Heavenly Father and His mother was Mary. Since the Pharisees and Sadducees did not see or understand the full picture, they thought/knew that he could not be the Messiah. This scripture also applies to them: “for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.” Since they did not receive them, they lost all that they had and did not realize it.

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion of

There are many prophecies about the death and crucifixion of the Savior from the Old Testament: they pierced my hands and my feet, Ps. 22:16; poured out his soul unto death, Isa. 53:12 (Mosiah 14:12); they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, Zech. 12:10 (John 19:37); and what are these wounds in thine hands, Zech. 13:6. In Matthew 26:2, the Savior foretold his disciples that he would be crucified. The Sanhedrin plotted his death and convinced Pilate to have the Savior crucified. They were so blind and caught up in themselves and their positions that they missed who the Savior truly was. On the cross the Savior said seven things. First, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Again the Savior extends his mercy to all. Second, “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise (spirit world, JST). This was spoken to one of the malefactors, who was crucified with Him. Third, he spoke to his mother, “Woman behold thy son”; and to John the Beloved, he said “Behold they mother!” He was concerned for his mother until the end. John the Beloved was to care for her. Fourth, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” As the atonement came to a close, Heavenly Father had to withdraw himself so that the Savior could complete the atonement by Himself. Fifth, “I thirst.” Sixth, “It is finished.” He knew that His Father had accepted His sacrifice. Seventh, “Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit.” He bowed His head and voluntarily gave up His life. He had the power to die. There are numerous references, testimonies, and witnesses of his crucifixion in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, as well as some in the Doctrine and Covenants. In the D&C, he clearly states that he was “crucified for the sins of the world (D&C 35:2).” His crucifixion was a very necessary part of His atoning sacrifice. His atoning sacrifice is the single most important event in the history of the world.

Jesus Christ, Creator

Jesus Christ created the earth and man under the direction of Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father was the director for the creation and Jesus Christ is the one who carried out the creation according to the Father’s plans. The physical bodies of man were created here on the earth by Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father created the spiritual bodies of each person. The Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price all testify and witness that Jesus Christ is the physical creator of this earth. One of the clearest scriptures that Jesus Christ is the creator is found in John 1:3. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any things made that was made.” In Hebrews 1:2, the Apostle Paul states “by whom also e made the worlds.” In Mosiah 5:15, it clearly states that Jesus Christ “created all things, in heaven and in the earth.” Also in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price additional witnesses are found. From Moses 2:1 Heavenly Father states “by mine Only Begotten I created theses things.”

Jesus Christ, Condescension of

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, came down to earth to perform the infinite atonement. As part of that atonement, he descended below all things. His condescension shows his total and complete humility to the will of the Father and his perfectness. The completeness of his condescension is described in Alma 7:11-13. “11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.” His condescension included suffering pains, afflictions, and temptations of every kind; all pains and sicknesses; death, infirmities, and all sins. The Savior loved us so much to do all these things. He knows who to succor us in all situations, because he has experienced all situations. Every experience that man may experience, He has experienced. We need to look to Him with a perfect brightness of hope and mercy.

Jesus Christ, Birth of

The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was prophesied in the Old Testament, twice in Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6), and in Micah we learn that He shall be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The birth of the Savior is recorded in Matthew (2:1), Luke (1:31), and John (1:14). Paul talks of the birth of the Savior in Romans 1:3 and Galatians 4:4. The Book of Mormon is also very specific that the Savior will be born in the Old World, Jerusalem. Nephi sees in vision the birth of the Savior (1 Nephi 11:18). Nephi, Alma and Helaman all talk of the signs of the birth of the Savior (2 Nephi 26:3, Alma 7:10, and Helaman 14:4). In our day, the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Doctrine and Covenants talks about the birth of the Savior (20:1, 76:41, and 93:4). The birth of the Savior was prophesied, and well documented. The best part is that we can find out from our Heavenly Father the truthfulness of the prophesies and records if we will ask Him in prayer. He will manifest the truth of this doctrine by the gift of the Holy Ghost to each individual.

Jesus Christ, Betrayal of

The betrayal of Jesus Christ was known and prophesied of at least two millennia before the event. It was prophesied in Psalms 22:16 and Psalms 41:9. The prophet Zechariah also prophesied about the Savior’s betrayal in Zechariah 11:12 and 13:6. The betrayal of Jesus was foretold by the Savior himself on several occasions in Matthew 10:4, 17:22, 26:45, 29:18 and John 13:21. The betrayal is well documented in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and also in 1 Nephi 19:10.

Jesus Christ, Baptism of

The baptism of the Savior is recorded in Matt. 3:13; Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21; and 1 Nephi 11:27. It is clear that he was baptized by immersion; for the remission of sins, which he did not need, since he was perfect; but was required so that He “could fulfill all righteousness.” There is no doubt that he was baptized and that baptism is an essential ordinance of salvation. It is gate that starts us of the road to return and live with our Heavenly Father.