Gospel Principles
Unit 1: Our Premortal Life with God
Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader And Savior 
Comments and Resources

'President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: 
   "The plan of salvation, or code of laws, which is known as the gospel of Jesus Christ, was adopted in the heavens, before the foundation of the world was laid.  It was appointed there that Adam, our father, should come to this earth and stand at the head of the whole human family...."
    "It was also necessary because of Adam's transgressions for the Only Begotten Son of the Father to come to redeem the world from Adam's fall.  This also was a part of the plan chosen before the earth was made, for Jesus is called the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world." (Doctrines of Salvation 1:121)	   

"Jesus Christ is the heir of this kingdom - the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, and holds the keys over all this world" (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 51). 

"The gospel teaches that Christ is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the World. No true follower is satisfied to accept him merely as a great Reformer, the ideal Teacher, or even as the one perfect Man.  The Man of Galilee is not figuratively, but literally, the Son of the living God" (David O. McKay,  Gospel Ideals, p. 46).

During the study of this topic, we will learn that how Jesus was foreordained to be the Savior and the role that the Savior played in the premortal life.

Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 3.
Jesus the Christ, chapter 2, 11

Scriptures :
2 Nephi 31 <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/31> 
Nephi tells why Christ was baptized Men must follow Christ, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end to be saved Repentance and baptism are the gate to the strait and narrow path Eternal life comes to those who keep the commandments after baptism. Between 559 and 545 B.C. 

3 Nephi 11 <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/11>
The Father testifies of his Beloved Son Christ appears and proclaims his atonement The people feel the wound marks in his hands and feet and side They cry Hosanna He sets forth the mode and manner of baptism The spirit of contention is of the devil Christ's doctrine is that men should believe and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. [A.D. 34] 
Jesus Christ did show himself unto the people of Nephi, as the multitude were gathered together in the land Bountiful, and did minister unto them; and on this wise did he show himself unto them. Comprising chapters 11 to 26 inclusive. 

D&C 93:1-22
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; 
  2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; 
  3 And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one 
  4 The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men. 
  5 I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest. 
  6 And John saw and bore record of the fulness of my glory, and the fulness of John's record is hereafter to be revealed. 
  7 And he bore record, saying: I saw his glory, that he was in the beginning, before the world was; 
  8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation 
  9 The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men. 
  10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him. 
  11 And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. 
  12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; 
  13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; 
  14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first. 
  15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son. 
  16 And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; 
  17 And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him. 
  18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John. 
  19 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. 
  20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace. 
  21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; 
  22 And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn. 

Luke 1,2
Chapter 1 
Gabriel promises Zacharias that Elisabeth shall bear a son, whom they shall name John He also tells Mary she shall be the mother of the Son of God Mary visits Elisabeth and utters a Psalm of praise John the Baptist is born Zacharias prophesies of John's mission. 
Chapter 2 <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/luke/2>
Angelic ministrants herald the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem He is circumcised, and Simeon and Anna prophesy of his mission At twelve years he is about his Father's business. 

John 10,17
Chapter 10 
Jesus is the good Shepherd He gained power over death from his Father He promises to visit his other sheep He proclaims: "I am the Son of God."
Chapter 17 
Jesus offers the great intercessory prayer He is glorified by gaining eternal life He prays for his apostles and all the saints How the Father and Son are one. 

Articles of Faith 1:1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 

Topical Guide: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/contents> 
               Commandments of God 
               Jesus Christ 
               Jesus Christ, Antemortal Existence of.
               Jesus Christ, Atonement through
               Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship
               Jesus Christ, Firstborn
               Jesus Christ, Mediator
               Jesus Christ, Mission of
               Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son
               Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father
               Jesus Christ, Son of Man
                      
Bible Dictionary: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/contents>
                  Jehovah
				  Christ
                  Christ, Names of
                  Jesus 
                  Son of God 
                  Son of Man 

Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader And Savior 
Concept 1: A Savior and Leader Was Needed

When the plan for our salvation was presented to us in the spirit world, we were so happy that we shouted for joy (Job 38:7 "7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?").

We understood that we would have to leave our heavenly home for a time. We would not live in the presence of our heavenly parents. While we were away from them, all of us would sin and some of us would lose our way. Our Heavenly Father knew and loved each one of us. He knew we would need help, so he planned a way to help us.

We needed a Savior to pay for our sins and teach us how to return to our Heavenly Father. Our Father said, "Whom shall I send?" (Abraham 3:27). Two of our brothers offered to help. Our oldest brother, Jesus Christ, who was then called Jehovah, said, "Here am I, send me" (Abraham 3:27).

Jesus was willing to come to the earth, give his life for us, and take upon himself our sins. He, like our Heavenly Father, wanted us to choose whether we would obey Heavenly Father's commandments. He knew we must be free to choose in order to prove ourselves worthy of exaltation. Jesus said, "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever" (Moses 4:2).

Satan, who was called Lucifer, also came, 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" (Moses 4:1). Satan wanted to force us all to do his will. Under his plan, we would not be allowed to choose. He would take away the freedom of choice that our Father had given us. Satan wanted to have all the honor for our salvation.

Discussion

Who is our leader and Savior?
Who besides Jesus wanted to be our leader?

Concept 2: Jesus Christ Became Our Chosen Leader and Savior

After hearing both sons speak, Heavenly Father said, "I will send the first" (Abraham 3:27).

Jesus Christ was chosen and ordained to be our Savior. Many Scriptures  tell about this. One scripture tells us that long before Jesus was born, he appeared to the brother of Jared, a Book of Mormon prophet, and said: "Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. . . . In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name" (Ether 3:14).

When Jesus lived on earth, he taught: "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. . . . And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:38, 40).

Discussion

Tell something about Jesus.


Concept 3: The War in Heaven

Because our Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior, Satan became angry and rebelled. There was war in heaven. Satan and his followers fought against Jesus and his followers.

In this great rebellion, Satan and all the spirits who followed him were sent away from the presence of God and cast down from heaven. One-third of the spirits in heaven were punished for following Satan: they were denied the right to receive mortal bodies.

Because we are here on earth and have mortal bodies, we know that we chose to follow Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Satan and his followers are also on the earth, but as spirits. They have not forgotten who we are, and they are around us daily, tempting us and enticing us to do things that are not pleasing to our Heavenly Father. In our premortal life, we chose the right. We must continue to choose the right here on earth. Only by following Jesus can we return to our heavenly home.

Discussion

How do we know that we chose to follow Jesus?

Concept 4: We Have the Savior's Teachings to Follow

From the beginning, Jesus Christ has revealed the gospel, which tells us what we must do to return to our Heavenly Father. At the appointed time he came to earth himself. He taught the plan of salvation and exaltation by his word and by the way he lived. He established his Church and his priesthood on the earth. He took our sins upon himself.

By following the Lord's teachings, we can return to live with him and our heavenly parents in the celestial kingdom. He was chosen to be our Savior when we all attended the great council with our heavenly parents. When he became our Savior, he did his part to help us return to our heavenly home. It is now up to each of us to do our part and become worthy of exaltation.

Discussion

What are some of the things we must do to follow Jesus?

Bear testimony of the Savior.


Additional Scriptures 

Moses 4:1-4 (Council in Heaven)
Abraham 3:22-28 (Council in Heaven)
D&C 76:24-29 (War in Heaven)
Revelation 12:7-9 (War in Heaven)
Isaiah 14:12-15 (why Lucifer was cast out)
2 Nephi 9:6-26; 3 Nephi 27:13-20 (purpose of the Atonement)



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Moroni 10:4-5
"4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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