1. Jesus Christ, the Son of God Chapter 4
Introduction 6. Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and us
and is our advocate with the Father (see 1 Timothy
To know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the 2:5; D&C 45:3–5; JST, 1 John 2:1; Moroni 7:28).
living God, is imperative for all who desire eternal 7. The Son of God is our true and righteous judge
life (see John 17:3). This knowledge comes by the (see Psalm 9:7–8; 2 Timothy 4:8; John 5:22, 27, 30;
power of the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith taught, Acts 10:40–42).
“No man can know that Jesus is the Lord, but by 8. The Father’s will is carried out to perfection by
the Holy Ghost” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph the Son (see John 4:34; 5:30; 5:19; Matthew 26:39,
Smith, 223). 42; 3 Nephi 11:11).
9. Although Jesus is the Son of God, He is sometimes
Doctrinal Outline called the Father (see Mosiah 15:1–8, 11; Isaiah 9:6;
Mosiah 5:7; Helaman 14:12; Ether 3:14).
A. Jesus Christ is literally the son of God the 10.Jesus Christ is the rock upon which we must
Eternal Father. build our foundation in order to overcome the
1. Jesus Christ is the firstborn spirit son of God (see temptations of Satan (see Helaman 5:12; Psalm
D&C 93:21; Colossians 1:13–15; Hebrews 1:5–6). 18:2; 1 Nephi 15:15).
2. Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God in the
flesh (see JST, John 1:1, 13–14; 1 Nephi 11:14–22; Supporting Statements
Jacob 4:5, 11; Alma 5:48; D&C 20:21; 76:22–24).
B. Jesus Christ is a being of glory, might, and A. Jesus Christ is literally the son of God the
majesty. Eternal Father.
1. Jesus Christ has a resurrected body of flesh and
■ “Among the spirit children of Elohim, the first-
bones (see D&C 130:22; Luke 24:36–39; 3 Nephi born was and is Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, to whom
11:12–15). all others are juniors” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel
Doctrine, 70).
2. Jesus Christ possesses all power in heaven and
■ “That Child to be born of Mary was begotten
on earth (see D&C 93:17; 100:1; Matthew 28:18;
1 Peter 3:21–22). of Elohim, the Eternal Father, not in violation of
natural law but in accordance with a higher
3. Jesus Christ possesses a fulness of the perfection,
attributes, and glory of the Father (see 3 Nephi manifestation thereof; and, the offspring from that
12:48; D&C 38:1–3; Colossians 1:19; 2:9–10; D&C association of supreme sanctity, celestial Sireship,
93:4, 12–17). and pure though mortal maternity, was of right to
be called the ‘Son of the Highest.’” (James E.
4. Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the
world (see D&C 88:5–13; 93:2, 9; John 1:4; 8:12; Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 81).
■ “We believe absolutely that Jesus Christ is the
3 Nephi 9:18).
Son of God, begotten of God, the first-born in the
C. As the Son of God, Jesus fills many roles spirit and the only begotten in the flesh; that He is
essential to our salvation. the Son of God just as much as you and I are the
1. Jesus created the worlds under the direction of sons of our fathers” (Heber J. Grant, “Analysis of
God the Eternal Father (see 3 Nephi 9:15; Hebrews the Articles of Faith,” Millennial Star, 5 Jan. 1922, 2).
1:1–3; Helaman 14:12; Moses 1:33; Ephesians 3:9; ■ “There cannot be any doubt in the heart of a
D&C 93:10).
Latter-day Saint regarding Jesus Christ’s being
2. Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God of the Old the Son of the living God, because God Himself
Testament (see Isaiah 12:2; 1 Nephi 19:10; D&C introduced Him to Joseph Smith. . . .
110:1–4; JST, Exodus 6:1–3; Abraham 2:7–8).
“Any individual who does not acknowledge
3. The Savior came to earth and set a perfect Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Redeemer of
example for us to follow (see 1 Peter 2:21; the world, has no business to be associated with
2 Nephi 31:7, 9–10; 3 Nephi 18:16; 27:21, 27). the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”
4. Only through Jesus Christ can we be saved (see (Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, 23–24).
Acts 4:12; Mosiah 3:17; 5:8). B. Jesus Christ is a being of glory, might, and
5. Through the Atonement, the Savior provided majesty.
redemption from physical and spiritual death (see ■ “Jesus Christ is the heir of this Kingdom—the
Alma 11:40–43; 34:8–10; 2 Nephi 9:6–13, 26; D&C
Only Begotten of the Father according to the flesh,
18:11–12; 19:16; Helaman 14:15–18; 1 Corinthians
15:19–23).
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2. Chapter 4
and holds the keys over all this world” (Smith, that pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as
Teachings, 323). a God, as the Lord Omnipotent, while yet in his
■ “The Savior did not have a fulness at first, but pre-existent state. As such he became, under the
after he received his body and the resurrection all Father, the Creator of this earth and of worlds
power was given unto him both in heaven and in without number; and he was then chosen to work
earth. Although he was a God, even the Son of out the infinite and eternal atonement, to come
God, with power and authority to create this earth to this particular earth as the literal Son of the
and other earths, yet there were some things Father, and to put the whole plan of redemption,
lacking which he did not receive until after his salvation, and exaltation in operation.
resurrection. In other words he had not received “Through him the gospel, all saving truths,
the fulness until he got a resurrected body” (Joseph and every edifying principle have been revealed
Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:33). in all ages. He is the Eternal Jehovah, the
■ “Both the Father and the Son, being promised Messiah, the Redeemer and Savior, the
omnipotent Gods, are designated by the name- Way, the Truth, and the Life. By him immortality
titles, Almighty (Gen. 49:25; Rev. 1:8; 2 Ne. 23:6; and eternal life become realities, and through his
Hela. 10:11; D. & C. 84:96; 121:33), Almighty God grace and goodness salvation is possible for all
(Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 1 Ne. 17:48; D. & C. 20:21; 87:6; who will believe and obey” (McConkie, Mormon
88:106), Lord Almighty (D. & C. 84:118; 2 Cor. 6:18), Doctrine, 129).
and Lord God Almighty (Rev. 4:8; 11:17; 21:22; ■ “Christ is the Father in the sense that he is the
D. & C. 109:77; 121:4; 1 Ne. 1:14; 2 Ne. 9:46). These Creator, the Maker, the Organizer of the heavens
designations signify that these holy beings have and of the earth, and all things that in them are. . . .
all power and unlimited might. A deep sense of “He is the Father of all those who are born
reverence is implicit in the use of each name-title” again. . . .
(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 30). “He is the Father by what has aptly been
C. As the Son of God, Jesus fills many roles termed divine investiture of authority. That is,
essential to our salvation. since he is one with the Father in all of the
■ “Whether descriptively designated as Creator, attributes of perfection, and since he exercises
Only Begotten Son, Prince of Peace, Advocate, the power and authority of the Father, it follows
Mediator, Son of God, Savior, Messiah, Author and that everything he says or does is and would be
Finisher of Salvation, King of Kings—I witness exactly and precisely what the Father would say
that Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven and do under the same circumstances.
whereby one can be saved! (See D&C 18:23.) “Accordingly, the Father puts his own name
“I testify that He is utterly incomparable in on the Son and authorizes him to speak in the first
what He is, what He knows, what He has person as though he were the Father” (McConkie,
accomplished, and what He has experienced. Yet, Mormon Doctrine, 130).
movingly, He calls us His friends. (See John 15:15.)
“We can trust, worship, and even adore Him
without any reservation! As the only Perfect Person
to sojourn on this planet, there is none like Him!
(See Isa. 46:9.)
“In intelligence and performance, He far
surpasses the individual and the composite
capacities and achievements of all who have lived,
live now, and will yet live! (See Abr. 3:19.)
“He rejoices in our genuine goodness and
achievement, but any assessment of where we
stand in relation to Him tells us that we do not
stand at all! We kneel!” (Neal A. Maxwell, in
Conference Report, Oct. 1981, 9; or Ensign, Nov.
1981, 8).
■ “Who, among all the Saints in these last days
can consider himself as good as our Lord? Who is
as perfect? Who is as pure? Who is as holy as He
was? Are they to be found? He never transgressed
or broke a commandment or law of heaven—no
deceit was in His mouth, neither was guile found
in His heart” (Smith, Teachings, 67).
■ “As far as man is concerned, all things center in
Christ. He is the Firstborn of the Father. By
obedience and devotion to the truth he attained
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