Doctrine & Covenants Lesson 2: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World"

INTRODUCTION:

If the major purpose of all scripture is to bear testimony of Christ, (and I believe it is) then the D&C makes a remarkable contribution to that testimony.  With few exceptions, everything the D&C teaches us about the Savior is taught in the actual words of the Savior.  Almost all scriptures is in some way about Christ.  But the D&C is by Christ.  The words are his words.  The voice is his voice.  Most of the information in the Doctrine and Covenants is given in the first person singular by the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Much of the information in the following lesson is taken from a paper prepared by Robert J.  Matthews for the CES Symposium held at BYU in August of 1989.

1.  THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS TESTIFIES OF CHRIST.

Turn to the "Explanatory Introduction" and note the final sentence of the eighth paragraph:

The D&C contains at least 66 names and titles for the Savior.  They are terms the Lord uses to identify himself in these revelations. They are used in all their forms to teach us about his character and reliability and love and power.  As you read, watch for these names and titles and consider what they tell you about you Redeemer. 

2.  JESUS CHRIST “SUFFERED THE PAINS OF ALL MEN, THAT ALL MEN MIGHT REPENT AND COME UNTO HIM.”

These revelations bear a pure and powerful first generation testimony of the mission and the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

There is not a single word, not even a hint, that he is lacking in anything, either in knowledge, or in power, or in mercy or in love; not in character, nor in intellectual ability. . . . These revelations are forthright declarations, from the Lord himself, most of them in first person language, telling of his mission, how he is and what he means to us.  (“What the Doctrine and Covenants Says about Jesus Christ”; Robert J.  Matthews, CES Symposium, BYU, August 16,17, 1989.)

Review some of these references and consider some of the things the Lord has told us about himself.  In D&C 93:19 we learn why the Lord has told us these things: "I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness."

1. 93:21
2. 93:11
3. 93:15
4. 38:3; 76:24; 93:9-10
5. 43:34; 88:42-63
6. 38:1
7. 95:7
8. 88:42
9. 133:26
10. 20:22
11. 62:1
12. 45:8
13. 29:12
14. 76:69
15. 18:21-24
16. 50:29

D&C 20:17-28 outlines many points of the plan of salvation, with an emphasis on the central importance of the atonement.
D&C 18:10,23-25 tells of the great worth of souls.

D&C 19:1-5 tells who Christ is and that he will judge us.

D&C 19:16-20, 23-24 describes the pain suffered by the Savior in Gethsemane.

D&C 29:40-48 explains the relationship between the fall of Adam and the Atonement

D&C 43:3-10 shows how the shedding of his blood enabled the Savior to become our advocate with the Father.  It also shows that his gospel is a messenger.

D&C 43:17-20, 27, 29-35 tells of the Second Coming and related events

D&C 76:20-24 is a wonderful testimony of the Savior: that he lives and is the Savior not only of this world but others also.

There is so much of this in the D&C, all of it worthy of time and evaluation.  But I do not have the time and space for more.  As you read, let the words of Christ and his Spirit teach you of him.

3. THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE SAVIOR'S ROLE AND ATTRIBUTES.

One of the sweetest characteristics of the Doctrine and Covenants is the record it provides of a great number of promises made by the Lord to his followers.  These are not necessarily the promises inherent in the plan of Salvation: rather they are the simple affirmations of commitment made by one who said,

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.  (D&C 1:38)

These promises are so pervasive (there must be hundreds of them) and so simple that they will go unnoticed unless you are paying attention as you read.  I encourage you to watch for them and to mark and ponder them.  As you do so, remember another of his repeated declaratons: “Therefore, what I say unto one I say unto all . . .”  (D&C 82:5; see also 61:18; 61:36; 92:1; 93:49; 25:16, etc.)

Here are a few of his promises for you to consider:

D&C 6:7
D&C 6:20
D&C 11:12-14
D&C 19:23, 38-41
D&C 38:39-40
D&C 39:7-10,23
D&C 6:12
D&C 12:10

CONCLUSION

Along with its other remarkable contributions, the D&C tells us many things which we would not otherwise know, or understand without the clarifying contributions of this record.  A few examples follow:

• Jesus appeared to Adam and others at Adam-ondi-Ahman.  (107:54-55)
• Jesus is the Savior of other worlds.  (88:42-63)
• He saves animals and other forms of life (29:23-25; 77:2,3; 101:23,24)
• The earth will become a celestial world (88:17-19, 25, 26)
• Christ will partake of the sacrament on the earth again with the righteous of all dispensations (27:4)
• Jesus visited the spirit world but did not go among the wicked (138)
• Jesus looked upon the “wide expanse of heaven and all the seraphic hosts of heaven before the world was made.”  (38:1,2)
• The Light of Christ fills all of space and lightens our eyes and our understanding. (88:7-13)
• He commanded the construction of temples for the salvation of the living and the dead.  (124)

With what wondering awe ought we to give thanks in our prayers for this book—this latter-day testament of Christ!