Jehovah and His Premortal Ministry ~ Lesson 3

Elder Alexander B. Morrison “Long ago, before the earth on which we now dwell came into existence, God our Father…established a plan. [That] plan provided the perfect way for all of God’s children to receive immortality and gain eternal life.” (“Life—the Gift Each Is Given,” Ensign, Dec. 1998, 15–16). Elder Alexander B. Morrison

Never has anyone offered so much to so many in so few words as when Jesus said, ‘Here am I, send me.’ (Abraham 3:27) Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Scriptures Revelation 12:7-11 Moses 4:3 Abraham 3:15-25 Doctrine & Covenants 138:55-56

Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to salvation.

In intelligence and performance, [Jesus Christ] far surpasses the individual and the composite capacities and achievements of all who have lived, live now, and will yet live! (Abraham 3:27) Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Jesus Christ possessed merits that no other child of Heavenly Father could possibly have. He was a God, Jehovah, before His birth in Bethlehem. His Father not only gave Him His spirit body, but Jesus was His Only Begotten Son in the flesh. Our Master lived a perfect, sinless life… He was and is perfect in every attribute…. His mercy pays our debt to justice when we repent and obey Him.

Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine. For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and adversities to be experienced, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed. Just because we were chosen ‘there and then,’ surely does not mean we can be indifferent ‘here and now.’… In fact, adequacy in the first estate may merely have ensured a stern, second estate with more duties and no immunities! Elder Neal A. Maxwell

At the first organization in heaven we were all present and saw the Savior chosen and appointed and the plan of salvation made, and we sanctioned it. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith)

God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 210).

Think of it: in our premortal state we chose to follow the Savior Jesus Christ! And because we did, we were allowed to come to earth. I testify that by making the same choice to follow the Savior now, while we are here on earth, we will obtain an even greater blessing in the eternities. But let it be known: we must continue to choose to follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life. Elder Robert D. Hales

What do you learn from Elder Hales’s statement about our choices in this life? What do you think Elder Hales meant by the phrase “eternity is at stake”?

What are some attitudes and actions that indicate someone is choosing to follow Jesus Christ? How does one who has set Jesus Christ as the center of his testimony think, feel, and behave?

 President David O. McKay: The highest of all ideals are the teachings and particularly the life of Jesus of Nazareth, and that man is most truly great who is most Christlike. What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be. No person can study this divine personality, can accept his teachings, without himself becoming conscious of an uplifting and refining influence within himself…

Elder D. Todd Christofferson People should be able to see in us something of Jesus Christ. The way we act, speak, look, and even think will reflect Him and His ways. …Although we were not present with Him in His ministry, as we search the scriptures, we see Jesus and what He said and did. And as we emulate that pattern, we bear witness of Him.” (“Becoming a Witness of Christ,” Ensign, Mar. 2008, 60). Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Next week: Jehovah Created the Earth Lesson 4

Being subject to law, and having their agency, all the spirits of men, while yet in the Eternal Presence, developed aptitudes, talents, capacities, and abilities of every sort, kind, and degree. During the long expanse of life which then was, an infinite variety of talents and abilities came into being. … “The Lord endowed us all with agency; he gave us laws that would enable us to advance and progress and become like him; and he counseled and exhorted us to pursue the course leading to glory and exaltation. He himself was the embodiment and personification of all good things. Every desirable characteristic and trait dwelt in him in its eternal fulness. All of his obedient children started to become like him in one way or another. There was as great a variety and degree of talent and ability among us there as there is among us here. Some excelled in one way, others in another. The Firstborn excelled all of us in all things.