Our Savior, Jesus Christ

By David J. Ridges

Best-selling author and master teacher David J. Ridgesprovides this powerful study of the Lord's life and mission to cleanse and heal all mankind. By applying the teachings of this work you will. Draw nearer to the Savior through this simple and beautiful depiction of the Lord's continuing ministry as Creator and Savior of the world
Learn firsthand how the power of the Savior's Atonement will sanctify your life through His divine sacrifice Obtain a tender, personal glimpse of the Savior's eternal love for each of us Discover the depth of the Lord's sacrifice as you read this heartfelt portrayal of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
• Release date: Dec 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781599556994

Book preview

PREFACE

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the central focus of the gospel. It is not merely a part of it, nor is it just a very significant part of it. It is the very essence of the Father's plan for us. It is the means by which we can return to the presence of the Father to live with Him forever. It influences every aspect of daily living. There is absolutely no substitute for it. And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent (Mosiah 3:17).

A correct understanding of the Atonement leads to joy and happiness, progress and satisfaction in this life, in spite of troubles and difficulties encountered along the way. Lack of understanding or misunderstanding of the Atonement can lead many to hold onto the effects of past sins unnecessarily. They miss out on the joy, happiness, and personal progress intended for this life (2 Nephi 2:25). Many confess sins and repent, but still don't allow the healing and cleansing of the Atonement to actually work for them.

This book briefly reviews the Savior's premortal roles as the first-born spirit child of the Father, as the Redeemer chosen in the grand premortal council, as the Creator, and as the God of the Old Testament. Then, His mortal life and ministry will be treated in more detail. The last week of His life will be a major focus as it leads up to His atoning sacrifice and resurrection. Throughout the book, the blessings and influence of the infinite Atonement will be emphasized.

In chapter 15, which deals with the cleansing and healing power of the Atonement, the author will give many examples gleaned from his years as a bishop, stake president, and teacher in the Church Educational System, which illustrate correct understanding as well as misunderstanding of the Atonement, and the effect on individual lives that such perceptions can have.

The Savior's continuing ministry after the resurrection, including His appearance to the Nephites, the appearance with His Father to Joseph Smith, the Restoration, the fact that He is often in our midst, the Second Coming, the Millennium, and His role as our final Judge will also be briefly considered.

It is hoped by the author that this book will help to bring increased understanding and application of the saving principles found in the life and Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ into the lives of those who read and study its contents.

INTRODUCTION

To this end was I born (John 18:37) was the Savior's brief but profound summary of His mortal ministry, culminating with His atoning sacrifice and resurrection. A major goal of this book has been to use scripture and commentary to bring greater understanding and appreciation of the Master's steadfast resolve to carry out the Father's Plan. Chronology, which extends far back into the premortal realm, is used to bring the reader along step by step with the Lord toward the fulfilling of His commitment to be the Redeemer. A sense of drama is felt as the time for the final sacrifice of the Son of God draws closer and closer.

There are several different chronologies which list the events in the Savior's mortal mission in order. They do not always agree with each other. Therefore, for the most part, the chronology used in this work is the one given in the Harmony of the Gospels found in the Bible Dictionary, at the back of the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Version of the Bible. However, on occasion, the order of events given in the Institute of Religion Student Manual for New Testament will be used. The title of that manual is The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, 1979 edition. The division of the Lord's formal mortal ministry into three years, with each of the years beginning and ending at Passover time (New Testament Student Manual, p. 32) will be used as a general guideline.

In the commentary that I give along the way, I almost always use we rather than I in order to avoid drawing inappropriate attention to myself.

This is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am solely responsible for my thoughts and commentary as well as for assembling and arranging its content that comes from other specified sources.

I express special appreciation to my wife, Janette, who has completely supported me and provided invaluable help in this endeavor. I also thank the wonderful and skilled editors and staff at Cedar Fort for their vital help in bringing this work to publication.

— David J. Ridges

Chapter 1

THE FIRSTBORN

OF THE FATHER

If we were able to go back in time, way back, unimaginably far back, long before we, ourselves, were born as spirit children of heavenly parents (The Family: A Proclamation to the World) in premortality, we would come to the time in which our Father in Heaven was a mortal man, living on an earth similar to the one on which we live, working out His salvation, just as we are now doing on this earth which He has provided for us. He successfully finished up His mortal life and received His exaltation. Joseph Smith taught:

God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by his power, was to make himself visible,—I say, if you were to see him today, you would see him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked and conversed with him, as one man talks and communes with another. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church—Joseph Smith, p. 40 [the Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society study course for 2008]; see also TPJS, p. 345)

These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did; and I will show it from the Bible. (TPJS, p. 345–46)

Based on the doctrine taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith, quoted above, an article in the 1971 New Era explained again the simple and beautiful doctrine that our Heavenly Father went through the same plan of salvation that we are now privileged to be going through on our earth. The following is a brief excerpt from that article:

Long before our God began his creations, he dwelt on a mortal world like ours… He, with many of his brethren, was obedient to the principles of the eternal gospel [and] they obtained a resurrection and an exaltation on an eternal, celestial world [Brigham young in Journal of Discourses, Vol. 14, p. 71]. Then they gained… godhood… creating worlds of their own for their own posterity—and on and on. (Nielsen, People on Other Worlds, par. 41)

THE FIRSTBORN SPIRIT CHILD

Knowing that each of us is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents (Proclamation on the Family), we can sense that if we were somehow privileged to see that far back to that far distant period of eternity, we would see the joy on their faces and share the sweet feelings in their hearts as they held their own firstborn spirit child in their arms. This son was to become our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and was literally the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15).

President Joseph F. Smith taught that Jesus Christ was indeed the first of the spirit children born to Heavenly Father.

Among the spirit children of Elohim, the first-born was and is Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, to whom all others are juniors. (Improvement Era, Vol. 19, p. 940; see also Gospel Doctrine, p. 70)

Gordon B. Hinckley likewise bore witness that Jesus Christ was the Firstborn of the Father.

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the eternal, living God. I believe in him as the Firstborn of the Father and the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. I believe in him as an individual, separate and distinct from his Father. I believe in the declaration of John, who opened his gospel with this majestic utterance. (Faith: The Essence of True Religion, 23)

The Savior refers to Himself as the Firstborn.

21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn. (D&C 93:21)

Thus, it is clear from the scriptures and the teachings of modern prophets that the Savior was the first spirit child born to our Father in Heaven, after the Father attained His own exaltation.

THE FIRSTBEGOTTEN

Christ is also referred to as the Firstbegotten, which is a term that means the first child born to a particular parent.

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten [in other words, the Father's firstborn spirit child] into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:1, 2, 6)

Have you noticed in the scriptures that another term for exaltation is church of the Firstborn? This is another way of saying the Church of Jesus Christ, and in this setting, it means those who receive all that the Savior offers, in other words, exaltation. We see this in section 76, verses 54, 67, and 94 of the Doctrine and Covenants. We will include these three verses among several other verses of section 76 which show that the context of church of the Firstborn is that of exaltation, in other words, the highest degree in the celestial kingdom.

54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.

55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—

67 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn. (D&C 76:54–55, 67)

The next part of this revelation reminds us that it is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can be made perfect. Just men, in verse 69, next, are those who have done their best to live the gospel with exactness.

69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. (D&C 76:69)

The last three verses quoted here clearly show that exaltation is what is being discussed by the Lord in this portion of section 76.

70 These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.

94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the First-born; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known [in other words, they are gods, and have all the power that God has], having received of his fulness and of his grace;

95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion. (D&C 76:70, 94–95)

ELDER BROTHER

Yet another reminder that Jesus Christ is literally the first spirit child born to our Heavenly Father is found in the teachings of Church leaders, past and present, as they refer to the Savior as our Elder Brother.

An example of this is found in the teachings of Apostle James E. Talmage (1862–1933).

There is no impropriety, therefore, in speaking of Jesus Christ as the Elder Brother of the rest of human kind. That He is by spiritual birth Brother to the rest of us is indicated in Hebrews: Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17). Let it not be forgotten, however, that He is essentially greater than any and all others, by reason (1) of His seniority as the oldest or firstborn; (2) of His unique status in the flesh as the offspring of a mortal mother and of an immortal, or resurrected and glorified, Father; (3) of His selection and foreordination as the one and only Redeemer and Savior of the race; and (4) of His transcendent sinlessness. (Articles of Faith, p. 426)

Over the course of premortal eons of time, our Heavenly Father has had untold additional spirit sons as well as spirit daughters born to Him. This includes us. In Acts, the Apostle Paul uses a unique word to refer to us, which separates and differentiates us from the general creations of the Lord.

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. (Acts 17:28–29)

As you can see, Paul teaches that we are the Father's off-spring. In Hebrews 12:9, Paul teaches that God is the father of spirits. Thus, we are all literal spirit brothers and sisters of Christ, with Him being the firstborn of all of us as spirit children of the Father. A statement by the First Presidency in the early 1900s confirms that we were literally born to heavenly parents as spirit children.

Man, as a spirit, was begotten [conceived] and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth. (The First Presidency, Heber J. Grant and counselors, The Mormon View of Evolution)

In summary, Jesus Christ was literally the firstborn spirit child of our Heavenly Father and is thus referred to in the scriptures and in the teachings of the Church as the Firstborn and the Firstbegotten of the Father. Thus, He is indeed our oldest brother, our Elder Brother.

Chapter 2

CHOSEN TO BE THE REDEEMER

IN THE PREMORTAL COUNCIL

THE GRAND PREMORTAL COUNCIL

Each of us is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents (Proclamation on the Family, para. 2). As premortal spirits, living with our heavenly parents for eons of time, we were taught the gospel and schooled in all the things that would prepare us for the time when we would be sent to earth to continue our progression toward becoming like our Father. This progression would include receiving a mortal physical body so that we could eventually have a resurrected body of flesh and bone, and indeed, a glorified, exalted, resurrected body like Father's (D&C 130:22), if we proved worthy. When it was finally announced that our time to be sent to an earth had arrived, we were overjoyed!

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4–7)

At a certain stage of our premortal progression, the Grand Council was convened during which Jesus was chosen to be the Savior. We all attended. Joseph Smith taught that we all participated in this council and sanctioned the plan of salvation and the choice of Jesus to be the Redeemer.

We were all present and saw the Savior chosen and appointed, and the plan of salvation made and we sanctioned it. (Words of Joseph Smith, p. 60)

From another statement of Joseph Smith, we are taught that we, as members of this grand premortal council, voted for the Savior. As we read the Prophet's words, we also come to understand that there was considerable tension and drama during this council when Satan rebelled.

The contention in heaven was—Jesus said there would be certain souls that would not be saved; and the devil said he would save them all, and laid his plans before the grand council, who gave their vote in favor of Jesus Christ. So the devil rose up in rebellion against God, and was cast down, with all who put up their heads for him. (HC Vol. 6, p. 314)

As the scene unfolded in which the Firstborn of the Father was chosen to be our Redeemer, we no doubt watched with deep emotion and rapt attention as Satan tried to undermine the Father's plan and take on the role of savior. Perhaps we were startled as he demanded the glory and honor for himself, rather than giving it to the Father. The end result of Lucifer's attempt to change the plan was that he was cast out. Moses described this part of the council:

1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. (Moses 4:1–4)

John the Revelator (the Apostle John) was shown a vision of this grand council in heaven. His account of this premortal gathering of spirits is the most complete anywhere in the scriptures and is an entire chapter dedicated to this topic (Revelation 5). As you read his record of what he saw, you will see that he became deeply involved emotionally and wept much (verse 4) during this vision, until he saw the Savior step forward and say, Here am I, send me (Abraham 3:27). We will use Revelation 5:1–9 for our purposes here, and add some commentary for clarification:

1 And I saw in the right hand [the covenant-making hand] of him [the Father; see 5:7] that sat on the throne a book [containing the Father's plan; also a specific mission for Jesus] written within [on the inside] and on the backside [in other words, the plan was complete, no need for or room for additions or changes to it], sealed with seven seals [containing information about the seven thousand years of the earth's temporal existence; see D&C 77:7].

2 And I saw a strong angel [one high in authority] proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof [who can carry out the Father's plan of salvation, including the Atonement, for us]?

3 And no man [no common man] in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon [there was no one to carry out the Father's plan and perform the Atonement; this was a dramatic moment in the vision (a very effective teaching technique) which created the need to know in John's mind].

4 And I [John] wept much [John has become deeply emotionally involved in the vision], because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon [none of God's spirit children was even close to being worthy or able to carry out the Father's plan or perform the Atonement].

5 And one of the elders [mentioned in Revelation 4:4] saith unto me, Weep not: behold [look!], the Lion of the tribe of Juda [Christ], the Root of David [Christ], hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. [Jesus Christ can do it!]

6 And I beheld [I looked], and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders [mentioned in Revelation 4:4], stood a Lamb [Christ] as it had been slain [symbolic of Christ's atoning blood, shed for us], having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

The JST (Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible) changes seven horns to twelve horns. In this case, twelve is symbolic of the twelve Apostles, and horn symbolizes power.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having twelve horns and twelve eyes, which are the twelve servants of God, sent forth into all the earth. (JST, Revelation 5:6)

Next, we see the Savior accept the mission to be the Redeemer, during this grand premortal council in which we all participated.

7 And he [Christ] came and took the book [accepted the calling] out of the right hand [covenant hand] of him [Elohim] that sat upon the throne [in other words, Jesus Christ made a covenant with the Father to be the Redeemer].

Next, John beautifully describes all of heaven praising Christ for His willingness to perform the Atonement and be our Redeemer, thus carrying out the Father's plan for us.

8 And when he [Christ] had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps [harps symbolize being in the presence of God in biblical culture], and golden vials [containers] full of odours [incense; symbolic of prayers which rise up to God], which are the prayers of saints.

The phrase they sung a new song, in verse 9, next, is a scriptural phrase which means, in effect, that they could now rejoice over something that they could not rejoice about before. In other words, they can now sing praises to our Redeemer, whereas they couldn't before He was chosen. They can now rejoice about blessings of the Atonement that are now available which were not available before.

9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou [Christ] art worthy to take the book [the mission to be the Savior and work out the Father's plan for us; see verse 1], and to open the seals thereof [and to carry out the work planned for each of the thousand-year periods of the earth's temporal history; see D&C 77:6]: for thou wast slain [speaking of the Atonement as if it were already accomplished], and hast redeemed us to God [brought us back to the Father] by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation [the gospel covenants are for all peoples of the world].

In summary, we attended and participated in the premortal council in heaven during which Jesus was chosen to be the Redeemer. When it was announced that our time to come to earth had arrived, we shouted for joy (Job 38:7). We saw Satan cast out with those who followed him, after he rebelled (Moses 4:3) and led the opposition during the War in Heaven (Revelation 12:7–9). We wept with the rest of the heavenly hosts over losing him (D&C 76:26).

Chapter 3

THE ATONEMENT WORKED

BEFORE IT WAS PERFORMED

Over four hundred years before Christ was born, Enos was astonished by the wonderful cleansing power of the Atonement in his own life, and by how fast his guilt was taken away.

6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

7 And I said: Lord, how is it done? (Enos 1:6–7)

About 740 BC, Isaiah was overwhelmed by his inadequacies and imperfections when he saw Jehovah (the premortal Christ) in vision and was called by Him to serve as a prophet to wicked Israel. Initially, Isaiah was undone (verse 5), in other words, completely overwhelmed. He was worried about his unclean lips (verse 5), which meant imperfections, sins, inadequacies, and so forth, in his language and culture. However, when the strengthening and enabling power of the Atonement had worked for him, he was ready to serve (verse 8).

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar [symbolic of the Atonement]:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this [the Atonement] hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:1, 5–8)

How is it that the Atonement of Christ could work before it was performed by the Savior, at the end of His mortal ministry? The answer lies in the fact that it was an infinite Atonement. The scriptures and the teachings of modern prophets speak of this. For example:

7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. (2 Nephi 9:7)

16 And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things. (2 Nephi 25:16)

Joseph Fielding Smith taught that an infinite Atonement was essential in order for the Father's plan to work for us.

Adam could not atone for his transgression. An infinite atonement was required and only Christ was in a position to fulfil this requirement. (Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 3, p. 207)

Being infinite, the Atonement worked for the salvation of individuals, even before it was performed by the Savior on our earth. Adam was comforted by the Lord regarding his transgression in the Garden.

53 Behold I have forgiven thee thy transgression in the Garden of Eden. (Moses 6:53)

The Lord instructed Adam to teach his children concerning the Atonement (Moses 6:57–58), and explained what he was to teach them.

59 Ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory. (Moses 6:59)

Noah taught the first principles of the gospel to the people in his day, before the Flood, thus inviting them to access the blessings of the Atonement of Christ, just as their ancestors had done.

24 Believe and repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, that ye may have all things made manifest. (Moses 8:24)

Over seven hundred years before the Savior was born, Isaiah taught the wicked people of his day (described in Isaiah 1:1–17) that they could repent and be forgiven. He used beautiful symbolism to emphasize the cleansing power of the Atonement.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

The Book of Mormon gives many examples of the power of the Atonement to cleanse and heal, before it was actually accomplished by the Savior on this earth. Alma the Elder (Mosiah 18:1), Alma the younger (Alma 36:18–26), the sons of Mosiah, and a host of others, who lived before the mortal mission of Jesus Christ, were forgiven of their sins long before the Savior suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross.

DID THE ATONEMENT WORK FOR US IN PREMORTALITY?

We might also ask the question as to whether or not the Atonement worked for us in premortality. The answer is, yes. The following quote from Revelation, dealing with the War in Heaven, refers to the Atonement in premortality as well as mortality. We will include a few explanatory notes within the verses.

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they [the righteous premortal spirits] overcame him [overcame Satan and his evil teachings and ways] by the blood of the Lamb [the Atonement of Christ], and by the word of their testimony; and they [righteous mortals] loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:7–11)

Referring to premortality, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught that the Atonement worked for us there. He said:

We could remember that even in the Grand Council of Heaven [in the premortal realm] He loved us and was wonderfully strong, that we triumphed even there by the power of Christ and our faith in the blood of the Lamb. (Holland, This Do in Remembrance of Me, par. 22)

A question which logically arises during this discussion is whether or not we could sin and repent when we were spirits during our premortal life. The answer is, yes. We were given agency there (D&C 29:36), and, obviously, if we were not given the privilege of choosing, we would not have had real agency. But we did have agency and we could choose. Therefore, we did make mistakes, and, in order to change our ways, we needed the Atonement of Jesus Christ with its accompanying gift of repentance and forgiveness in order to progress. This is clearly taught in the New Testament Student Manual used by the Institutes of Religion of the Church.

We were given laws and agency, and commandments to have faith and repent from the wrongs that we could do there [in our premortal life]. (The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, p. 336)

Man could and did in many instances, sin before he was born. (Smith, The Way to Perfection, p. 44, in The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, p. 336)

Thus, we, as spirit children of God, before we came to earth, had been taught the Father's plan for us to become like Him, as represented in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We had been given agency, and therefore could make choices. With this knowledge and agency, we could make mistakes, repent, and therefore could progress. The Atonement of Christ, as mentioned in the quotes above, worked for us there and enabled us to make progress, just as it does here on earth. Some progressed to the point of being counted among the noble and great ones (Abraham 3:22). In many significant ways, our education toward exaltation during our premortal probationary period was quite similar to what it is here on earth, with a major exception—we did not have physical mortal bodies there. We have been well prepared for this mortal existence by the things we learned in our pre-earth life.

DOES THE ATONEMENT WoRK FOR OTHER WORLDS ALSO?

One more question before we continue to the next chapter. Does the Savior's Atonement work for the other worlds He has created and will yet create for the Father? The answer is yes. When Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were shown the three degrees of glory in vision, they included the answer to this question in what they recorded. Note that in verse 24, referring to all the worlds created by the Savior for the Father and the inhabitants on them, the phrase begotten sons and daughters unto God means exaltation.

20 And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness;

21 And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.

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. (D&C 76:20–24)

In summary, the Savior's Atonement has already been blessing us individually for eons of time. And now it continues to bless us during our lives here on earth as it holds forth the invitation to each of us to be cleansed and healed of our sins and return to live with our Father in Heaven, and continue on to become like Him as exalted beings, in other words, as gods (D&C 132:19–20).

Chapter 4

THE CREATOR

Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, our Savior, was also the Creator. Under the direction of the Father, He created the earth. This is clearly taught in the scriptures. During a marvelous vision and instruction session with the premortal Jesus Christ, who was generally known in the Old Testament as Jehovah, Moses (who was being prepared to go back to Egypt and lead the children of Israel out of bondage) asked the Savior about the earth and how it came to be. In response, the Savior spoke directly for His Father (a process called divine investiture), explaining to Moses that the phrase word of my power is another term for the Son of God, and that the Son was the Creator. Jesus spoke of the things He had created on this earth and quoted His Father, saying:

32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.

33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. (Moses 1:32–33)

John taught the same doctrine, that Jesus was the Creator, also using Word to refer to the Son of God.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1–3)

The JST version of the above three verses gives additional clarification to what John taught about the Savior as the Creator of the earth. Here, we see another meaning of Word, namely, the gospel.

1 In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made which was made. (JST, John 1:1–3)

THE FATHER TOOK OVER WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CREATE MAN

It is interesting to note, as we read the account of the Creation in the scriptures, that Jesus directed the creation of all things, except for the creation of man. When it came time to create Adam and Eve, there was a change in creators. The Father then took over. We will quote from the Institute of Religion Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual where this is explained.

We know that Jehovah-Christ, assisted by many of the noble and great ones (Abr. 3:22), of whom Michael is but the illustration, did in fact create the earth and all forms of plant and animal life on the face thereof. But when it came to placing man on earth, there was a change in Creators. That is, the Father himself became personally involved. All things were created by the Son, using the power delegated by the Father, except man. In the spirit and again in the flesh, man was created by the Father. There was no delegation of authority where the crowning creature of creation was concerned. (McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p. 62, in the Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, chapter 7)

Let's watch this illustrated in the genesis account of the Creation. you may wish to read verses 1–25 in Genesis, chapter 1, on your own, which details the creation work of Christ. Keep in mind that, in these verses, God means Jehovah, or the premortal Jesus Christ. We will pick it up here with verse 26 where you will see Heavenly Father become directly involved, as He says, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. One of the reasons that this is such an important observation is that we are not creations of God, in the same sense that plants, animals, fish, birds, mountains, streams, and so forth are creations. Rather, we are the Father's offspring (Acts 17:28–29), His literal spirit sons and daughters. As such, we have the potential to become like Him, whereas, none of His creations have that potential.

26 And God said, Let