Saturday, April 27, 2013

John 1:1-14; 17:1-5. The Premortal and Mortal Savior

One connection between these two scriptures that I love is knowing that we are all born with the Light of Christ within us, and if we develop that light throughout our life, follow Christ and keep His commandments, we can come to truly know Him and gain Eternal Life. Then we will receive a fulness of His light and glory and all that he has promised us!

Things we learn of the Pre-Mortal Savior:
  • He is the Firstborn of the Father (John 1:1)
  • He was a god before He came down to this earth (John 1:1)
  • He created all things (John 1:3)
  • He was foreordained to be the Savior of the world (John 17:4)
  • He was full of glory (John 17:5)
Things we learn of the Mortal Savior:
  • He dwelt in the flesh by the will of God (John 1:13 - 14)
  • He had power over the flesh (John 17:2)
  • He was the Only Begotten of the Father and maintained authority as the Son of God (John 17:1-2)
  • He accomplished the work that He was sent to do (John 17:4)
  • He was not received by His own (John 1:10-11)
Names of the Savior:
  • Christ: means "the Anointed One" or "Messiah". I love the simple definition given by the Bible Dictionary https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/christ?lang=eng&letter=c
  • Messiah: means "the Anointed One" or "Christ". It also represents the King and Deliverer who was expected to come
  • Jehovah: means "Self-Existent" or "The Eternal" or "I Am". Jehovah was the name used in the Old Testament. It is the covenant or proper name for the God of Israel (Bible Dict). We also know that Jehovah is the premortal Jesus Christ and came to earth being born of Mary (Bible Dict).
  • Immanuel: means "God with us". This name signifies that Christ as God will be born into mortality of a virgin. He will be among His people to save and redeem them!
  • The Word: The Father operated and worked through Jesus Christ to fulfill His words. Thus Jesus became The Word, or as we learn in Moses 1:32, "the word of my power". 
I love my Savior! I don't even come close to understanding everything that He did, the power that He has, or everything that He will do. But, I do know that He loves me. He loves everyone. He is a part of our everyday lives! It is through His atonement that I know I can return to Him again and be with Him and with my family forever. I love His gospel and His commandments. I hope that I can more fully come closer to Him as I learn more about Him! 

Friday, April 26, 2013

During General Conference a few weeks ago the thought came that I should start a blog. So here it is! It will be a review of my weekly scripture study and the things I learned. For these first few weeks it will be based out of the New Testament since I am in a New Testament class right now at school. I love the scriptures! They have been so powerful in my life and such an influence for good. I love what they teach! And I know that they are true. I know that when we obey the teachings and the principles in the scriptures our lives will be blessed. As we study them we will feel the influence of the Spirit more strongly, and we can be led by our Heavenly Father to those we can bless and uplift!