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Servants and sons

Footnotes

Reclaiming your severed relationship with God

Christians presumptively refer to themselves as children of God, assuming the continuation of a relationship with him that all have severed and very few have reestablished. You are here to establish a

relationship with God, not to maintain or grow one you already have.1 Every person alive today chose to use the agency God gave them to rebel against him, and in that rebellion severed their title as his children.2

Human nature uniformly opposes God. You were born as an individual with desires so strongly opposed to the character and purpose of God that it is not an embellishment to describe you as his enemy.3 The gospel is an elaborate process designed to remediate and reverse your nature,4 but it is neither quick nor easy.

The gospel provides a means for you to traverse from being an enemy to God to being his servant, friend, and son.5 Each type of relationship with God is characterized by a different level of knowledge about God and obedience to him. A servant is primarily defined by a role or function of obedience to specific commands, a friend by their intimate knowledge of God, and a son by similarity to God6 and their right of inheritance from him. Servants do not need to understand the commandments they receive or the purpose of the master they serve. A friend knows everything he needs to be a son, but has not yet achieved the dedication required to become a son. Friends understand the purpose of the master they serve, and are expected to obey him,7 but their fidelity to God can be intermittent.8 Sons of God search out his will, develop a model of his character, and proactively apply it to advance his purpose. Sons of God always live as they believe Jesus would live in their place.9

Each type of relationship with God differs in the degree of interaction with God. Servants of God interact with God when God reaches out to them. Friends are invited to dwell with God,10 but sometimes choose to leave him.11 Sons of God seek to continuously dwell in his presence.12

How to become a servant of God

God’s servants are those who receive and obey God’s instructions.13 In order to become a servant of God, you need to learn something about God’s will and seek to bring it to pass.

To serve God is to prioritize his interests above your own.14 You cannot serve God if anything else in your life holds a higher priority than his purpose.15 Service to God requires singleness of purpose16 and your full intensity.17

Those who claim to serve God yet do not obey him are not his servants.18 If you disobey God’s instructions or work against his purposes, you are not his servant.19 You can occupy your time in seemingly religious duties, even with fervor and true intent, and still not be a servant of God if you don’t actually obey what God says20 and do what he would rather you do.21

A servant of God is distinguished by their obedience to God, not a title or office held in a church. Church office is not required to serve God, and church office is not an adequate replacement for actually serving him. You can hold a position in a church without serving God.22 An appointment to a church office does not magically confer power or holiness onto the occupant, as it does not force them to adopt the purpose of God or become more like him. Church offices are meant to be occupied by those who are already like Christ,23 not those who hope to one day become like him.24

You are either a servant of God, or a servant of the devil

You are the servant of the master whose will you pursue. It is incorrect to interpret the choices we make as free autonomy. While every person has full autonomy in every choice they make,25 we neither create the options available to us nor the value of each. All choices are not equally good or acceptable in the eyes of God. God has a preference in every decision you make, and your choices determine your allegiance to or rebellion against him.26

In any decision, the best option is the will of God, the will of God is the best option, and all other options are the will of the devil.27 Though some bad choices are worse than others, everything less than what is best achieves the purposes of Satan and works against the purposes of God.

You don’t get to choose whether you are a servant or not, only whom you will serve. Those who do what is best at all times and in all places, as far as they understand, are servants of God. Those who do anything less are the servants of Satan. You cannot serve God and the devil.28 You can’t serve two masters, because serving the interests of one requires prioritizing it over the other.29 You will most desire what you most value.30

Submission to God is the sacrifice of making God’s purpose your singular desire and highest priority. You cannot follow Jesus without fully and exclusively adopting his purpose.31 If you adopt God’s purpose, you are in his kingdom; if you don’t, you can’t be.

You have either forsaken your sins and fully submitted to God, or you remain captivated by the spirit of the devil.32 Those who still allow themselves to think, feel, or do less than the best they know, even on occasion,33 remain servants to the devil.34 All negative feelings in response to greater light and truth reveal rebellion against God.

There is absolutely no good or valid reason to serve Satan.35 No good result can come from serving Satan,36 and everything that seems good will either evaporate in perceived value37 or otherwise erode into something far worse than imagined.38

Growing from servant to friend

The quality of your service to God is a question of how ardently you seek to learn about him and how valiantly you live like him.39 Your qualifications for being a servant of God are completely based on your choices,40 not things you didn’t choose and can’t change or things that other people do or don’t do.41

The more you learn about and live like God, the more you will be able to contribute to God’s purpose. While even the most minimal knowledge about God provides a person with the ability to serve him, the greatest service to God can only be accomplished by those who know him the most and are most like him.

Servants become friends through faithful service to God over time. As you learn more about God, you gain the required knowledge about him to become his friend. While all that is required to be a servant of God is to receive and obey at least one instruction from him, a friend of God knows what he is actually like.42

Popular depictions of Jesus portray him as a friend to all. While Jesus invites all people to be his friends, very few accept the invitation. Even his closest friends during his life abandoned him in his time of greatest need,43 in spite of his warning them that they would do so.44

Most supposed friendships are based on mutual perceived benefit, but a true friend cares more about you than they do themselves. You can’t be a friend of Jesus without pursuing his purpose above your own.45 To be a friend of God, you must be consistent in your submission to his purpose.46

Enmity against God is the natural state of man, and only those who fully submit to God overcome this state.47 While our modern language artificially raises the criteria of being an enemy to intentional, constant, and extreme enmity, all you have to do to be an enemy of God is not actively and consistently advance his purpose to your full ability.48 As long as your purpose is different to God’s, you are no friend of God, but his enemy. Those who do not consummately serve the Lord are treated by him as wolves and will be destroyed,49 even if they consider themselves sheep.50

What is a son?

A son of God is one who knows and lives the character of Christ and proactively pursues to implement the Lord’s will in the world.

In the ancient languages, son can mean a male child, but is widely used to denote other relationships, including: an heir, a representative, and one who fulfills the potential or calling of another. Each of these relationships has special meaning in the kingdom of God.

A son has legal claim on everything that is his father’s. While earthly princes inherit their father’s kingdom by being the oldest surviving son, heavenly princes inherit kingdoms by becoming like their king. A throne in God’s kingdom is based on righteousness, established by the character of the person who sits upon it.51

A representative of God is someone who not only has the authority to act in the place of God, but one who knows how and why God would act in his place, and who only does what God would in his place.52

A son can exceed their father by fulfilling the potential or calling that he had. For example, David fulfilled the birthright of his ancestor Judah—a wicked man—and surpassed his father Jesse by becoming king of Israel.

Jesus is a son in all of the above senses, as shown by his roles as the Son of God, Son of David, and Son of Adam or Son of Man.

The Lord is the Son of God. He is the heir, representative, and demonstrator of the Father. Jesus had authority from the Father.53 He knew how the Father would act in his place.54 He only ever did what pleased the Father.55 He only ever sought the will of the Father.56

The Lord is the Son of David.57 Jesus is the king of Israel and Judah, and the fulfillment of everything David could have been.

The Lord is the Son of Adam or Son of Man. Adam was created by God in his physical express image, and was called to live in his express character. Jesus is the fulfillment of the potential of mankind, the demonstration of what Adam was called to be.58

While the Lord’s roles as the Son of David and the Son of Adam are not open to the general public, all of us are called to become sons of God.59 You are called to be the light of the world,60 to be one with the Father, to manifest his will here on earth,61 and to be so much like him that others learn more about him by learning about you.62

How to become a son of God

Sons of God are those who seek, find, and follow God’s example.63 To become a son of God, you have to learn and live the character of God.64 You learn and live the character of God by being a diligent servant65 and faithful friend of God. You learn and live his purpose.66 The more you serve God, the more you can learn about him, and the more you can proactively implement his example.67

Not all teaching about God can come through scripture study and prayer. Limits of understanding, honesty, faith, and other virtues necessitate the ministry of others in helping you learn more about God.

You become a son of God through seeking, recognizing, and learning from those more like Jesus than you.68 God’s kingdom is a vine with many branches, and grafting into it is a matter of finding and adopting the purpose of one who is already there.69 Scriptural examples of this pattern abound. For example, consider how Jonathan and his son Mephibosheth took upon themselves the role of sons of David. Though Jonathan was the heir to the throne of Israel, he adopted the purpose of David, knowing that David was more virtuous than he (see 1 Samuel 20). Jonathan’s disabled son Mephibosheth acted as a son by preferring David’s welfare and presence over his own fortune and reputation (see 2 Samuel 19).

Sons of God love everything that is from and like God, including teachings and people that those who love him less would find offensive.70 Sons of God seek out, recognize, and respond to God’s invitations to improve, whether those invitations come by his words, the words of his servants, or life itself.71

Becoming an only begotten son through becoming a beloved son

While the phrase “only begotten” is used literally in some scriptural instances,72 it is also used to mean the best of more than one son, specifically the son most like the father. For example, Paul referred to Isaac as Abraham’s “only begotten son,” but Isaac was neither Abraham’s only nor first son.73 While whatever portion of the Lord’s title as the Only Begotten comes from before his birth is beyond our reach in this life, all of us can and should reach to become his “only begotten son”—or person most like him—in every sphere in which we inhabit, up to the limit of our abilities.74

Becoming more like God requires you to learn more about how God is. What inhibits learning more about God isn’t just a lack of obedience to what you understand or desire to learn more, but also your reaction to new truth. You can’t learn much more about God than your already know without being confronted with ideas and people that are much better than those already in your life. The natural reaction to things of much greater value is to feel worse about what you presently value, including your present beliefs, your present associates, or even yourself. Many respond to this bad feeling by turning away from greater good.75

If you want to get to know God, you have to learn to seek, receive, and apply correction.76 Those who receive the most correction from God limit him least in duration, intensity, and topic. They are willing to be corrected in any way, on any topic, by any person or situation. They desire it more than others, respond to it better than others, and share what they learn more often with others.

The process of getting to know God is called being loved by him. Just as Jesus “loved” the rich young ruler by showing him that he was less righteous than he thought,77 you are loved by God as you seek, receive, and apply his correction. God chastens those who he loves.78 Those who are most loved are those who have accepted the greatest correction from God. One who abides in the love of God is one who has received chastisement from God and responded by implementing the suggested improvements while seeking for more.

The more of God’s love you receive in the form of correction, the more of God’s love you will receive in the form of affection and blessing. While God is willing to love all of his children equally, God does not value all of his children equally.79 God does not value those who profess to believe in him or say that they love him above those who do not.80 Rather, he values those who are more similar to him above those who are less similar to him.81

Those who seek, receive, and apply the most correction from God are known as “beloved sons.” The Greek word translated as “beloved” in the New Testament is agapétos (Strong’s 27) is a measure of reconciliation to God and worthiness of eternal life. Agape is the highest form of love, the kind that God has. It is not something God has for others except through their similitude toward him. His love for sinners consists of paying the price for them to receive forgiveness on condition of forsaking their sin,82 but he hates those who refuse to repent.83

You become most like Jesus by receiving the most correction from Jesus. John was “beloved” by Jesus84 because he was the person most like Jesus during the Lord’s ministry. John did not become the person most like Jesus by birth or accident. He became most like Jesus through seeking, receiving, and applying the most correction from him.

The Lord became a “beloved son” through continually living in full alignment with the Father as the Father taught him better ways of being. According to John, Jesus was filled with “grace and truth” (John 1:14) one step at a time, learning more about the Father as he continued living in full alignment with what he was taught about him. The Lord did not receive a fulness of how the Father is at first, but received it through incrementally learning and living more like the Father,85 becoming “the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

God provided us a record of this process specifically because we are all capable of following it.86 This is the unified message of God’s servants throughout time: become as God is by following his example, living for the benefit of others, just as God would in your place.87

The power and authority of servants, friends, and sons

All of God’s power and authority comes from similitude to him. Wherever there is a difference in similarity, there must be a difference in power and authority. Servants, friends, and sons of God all possess power and authority from God to the extent that they know and are like him.

The power and authority of a servant comes from the commands of God. They are on the errand of the Lord, having been told what to say88 and what to do.89 The Lord’s command is the Lord’s authority, and the Lord’s command is the authority of his servants. The presence of the power of God demonstrates the presence of his authority.90 Without demonstration of the Lord’s power, presumed servants prove to have no authority, and are mistaken or lying about having received his commands.91

The work of God’s servants is to help others become more like God. They do not tell people what they want to hear.92 What they have to say shows people their hidden sin—flaws they ignore, flaws they minimize, and flaws they don’t yet know about. They warn people of the consequences of their present actions93 and point out to them a better way.94

We are commanded to do many good things of our own volition, and you can only do this to the extent you know and live the character of God.95 The power and authority of those who only possess stated instructions is limited to the fulfillment of those instructions. To the extent that you correctly understand the purpose of God, your power and authority expands to meet its accomplishment.96

Friends of God know him better than his servants, and therefore possess greater power and authority. Sons know God better than his friends, and therefore possess greater power and authority.

What about daughters of God?

The scriptures refer to both sons and daughters of God.97 The Greek term translated as son ( huios, Strong’s 5207) is actually neuter, and could be translated as “son,” “daughter,” or “sons and daughters,” depending on the context of its use. Most of what is written in this chapter about sons of God also applies to his daughters. However, there are some important distinctions.

Women and men both become children of God through finding and establishing a relationship with a man who is already a son of God. If you are a man, this is done through finding a man more like the Lord than you are and becoming his “son” by adopting his purpose. If you are a woman, this is ideally done through finding a man more like the Lord than you are and adopting his purpose by becoming his wife.

Many women are already married when they learn about the magnitude of consequences that follow from their choice of man to marry, and some wish they had chosen someone else. For those already married, the Lord has been very clear: treat your husband how you would treat the Lord,98 no matter how he treats you,99 and the Lord will reward you accordingly.100

The benefits that marriage provides to women in drawing nearer to God do not preclude their ability to do so outside of marriage. However, there is no relationship a woman can have that is likely to provide the same benefits of marriage. Marriage is the only relationship in a woman’s life where someone sees her how she really is, and her husband is meant to provide the most valuable feedback she can ever receive.101 Furthermore, marriage is meant to provide a woman with a lifeline of greater reason through her husband, backed by a sufficient backlog of evidence of his wisdom and his love for her that cannot be replicated in any other way. Finally, the experience of bearing, birthing, and raising children is designed by God to teach a woman more about him, herself, and godly love than anything else she can do. All of God’s children have access to him through the same sacrifice of heed and diligence, but women have advantages available to them in marriage that are not available to them without it.

Footnotes

  • 1. Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state. (Alma 42:10) ↩
  • 2. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) ...because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. (2 Nephi 9:6) ↩
  • 3. For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19) ↩
  • 4. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2) ↩
  • 5. The last section of this chapter addresses daughters of God. ↩
  • 6. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. (Ephesians 5:1, NLT) ↩
  • 7. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14) ↩
  • 8. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless (Matthew 22:12) ↩
  • 9. Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen. (Moses 6:68) These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4) ↩
  • 10. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour (John 1:39) ↩
  • 11. Jesus called his disciples his friends, yet all of them “forsook him, and fled” in his time of need (see Mark 14:50). ↩
  • 12. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:35-36) ↩
  • 13. Some scriptures figuratively refer to those who unknowingly advance his purposes as his servants (see, for example, references to Nebuchadnezzar as God’s servant in Jeremiah 25:9). In this chapter, only those who willingly and intentionally serve God are discussed. ↩
  • 14. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (Luke 17:7-8) ↩
  • 15. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24) And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. (Mark 3:24-26) ↩
  • 16. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. (Ephesians 6:5-7) ↩
  • 17. ...love the Lord your God...walk in all his ways...cleave unto him, and...serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Joshua 22:5) Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. (Colossians 3:22-23) ↩
  • 18. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21) ↩
  • 19. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. (Isaiah 1:2-3) ↩
  • 20. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46) [The Lord said] go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. (1 Samuel 15:18-24) ↩
  • 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23) ↩
  • 22. A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name.... (Malachi 1:6, NKJV) ↩
  • 23. And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. (Alma 13:3) And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them. (Moroni 3:4) ↩
  • 24. After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. (1 Kings 13:33) ↩
  • 25. And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will. (Alma 42:7) ↩
  • 26. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other. (2 Nephi 2:16) ↩
  • 27. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16) ↩
  • 28. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. (Romans 6:20) ↩
  • 29. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24) ↩
  • 30. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21) ↩
  • 31. And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out. (2 Nephi 25:29) ↩
  • 32. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34) ↩
  • 33. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (2 Peter 2:19) ↩
  • 34. I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil? (Alma 5:20) ↩
  • 35. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. (Moroni 7:17) ↩
  • 36. Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing. (Alma 34:39) ↩
  • 37. And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell. (Alma 30:60) ↩
  • 38. For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge. (Mosiah 2:33) ↩
  • 39. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. (D&C 4:2-6) ↩
  • 40. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28) And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned. (Alma 32:23) For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. (2 Nephi 26:33) Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. (2 Nephi 26:25) ↩
  • 41. Some of the most diligent and holy servants of God labored for a lifetime with very little response in the people they taught. ↩
  • 42. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15) ↩
  • 43. And they all forsook him, and fled. (Mark 14:50) ↩
  • 44. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? (John 6:67) ↩
  • 45. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:30) ↩
  • 46. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:14) ↩
  • 47. See Mosiah 3:19, previously quoted. ↩
  • 48. Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church. (D&C 10:67-68) ↩
  • 49. For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him. And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed. (Alma 5:59-60) ↩
  • 50. I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you....And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed among his flocks, but will drive him away, and cast him out. I say unto you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called. (Mosiah 5:12, 14) ↩
  • 51. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. (Proverbs 16:12) And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. (Isaiah 16:5) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7, NKJV) ↩
  • 52. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. (John 8:39) Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will. (Helaman 10:4-5) ↩
  • 53. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17) He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. (John 3:31) ↩
  • 54. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. (John 8:26) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:10-11) ↩
  • 55. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29) ↩
  • 56. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30) Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19) ↩
  • 57. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. (Matthew 9:27) And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (Matthew 21:9) ↩
  • 58. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47) ↩
  • 59. ...what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am. (3 Nephi 27:27) ↩
  • 60. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14) ↩
  • 61. And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one—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. I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest. (D&C 93:2-5) ↩
  • 62. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) ↩
  • 63. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14) And it came to pass that when Satan had departed from the presence of Moses, that Moses lifted up his eyes unto heaven, being filled with the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the Son (Moses 1:24) ↩
  • 64. And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh.... (3 Nephi 9:17) I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one. (D&C 35:2) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I Am, even Jesus Christ—The light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not; The same which came in the meridian of time unto mine own, and mine own received me not; But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to become my sons. And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me. (D&C 39:1-5) I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life. And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. Wherefore, come ye unto it, and with him that cometh I will reason as with men in days of old, and I will show unto you my strong reasoning. (D&C 45:8-10) He who has become like God’s Son is a son of God, and will inherit the kingdom of God, and he who has not become like God’s son is not a son of God, and will not inherit the kingdom of God. I have written these things to you who know and live according to the character of the Son of God, that you might understand the eternal life you have and that you might continue to obtain and live according to the character of Jesus Christ, by which you have it. (1 John 5:12-13, Author’s Reflection) ↩
  • 65. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. (Proverbs 17:2) ↩
  • 66. And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. (Mosiah 5:7-8) ↩
  • 67. For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (Mosiah 5:13) ↩
  • 68. Consider John’s reaction to and comments about Jesus: “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me.” (Matthew 3:14) “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.” (John 3:29-31) ↩
  • 69. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:1-7) ↩
  • 70. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (John 8:42) ↩
  • 71. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:7-8) ↩
  • 72. The widow’s only son in Luke 7:12, Jairus’ only daughter in Luke 8:42, and the man’s only son in Luke 9:38. ↩
  • 73. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. (Hebrews 11:17) ↩
  • 74. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) ↩
  • 75. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed. (1 Nephi 8:25) ↩
  • 76. My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (Proverbs 3:11-12) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11) And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer. (D&C 105:6) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19) ↩
  • 77. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21) ↩
  • 78. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6) ↩
  • 79. Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God.... (1 Nephi 17:35) ↩
  • 80. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Matthew 21:28-31) ↩
  • 81. Because you are precious and revered in my eyes, and because I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. (Isaiah 43:4, Gileadi Translation) ↩
  • 82. We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) ↩
  • 83. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. (Psalm 5:5-6) For the Most High himself also hates sinners and will inflict punishment on the ungodly. (Sirach 12:6) ↩
  • 84. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John 13:23) When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (John 19:26) ↩
  • 85. 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. And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first. 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. (D&C 93:11-15) ↩
  • 86. 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. 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. And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn; And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn. (D&C 93:19-22) ↩
  • 87. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; (Ephesians 5:1, AMP) ↩
  • 88. Jesus commanded the Nephite twelve to “declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.” (3 Nephi 11:41) He told Abraham, “I show these things unto thee before ye go into Egypt, that ye may declare all these words.” (Abraham 3:15) Enoch saw a vision where “the Lord spake with me, and gave me commandment” to speak specific words to specific people. (Moses 6:42) Nephi son of Helaman “declare[d] unto them the word of the Lord which had been spoken unto him.” (Helaman 10:12) King Benjamin’s famous speech was an exposition of “the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord” the night before. (Mosiah 4:1) ↩
  • 89. ...as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence (John 14:31) ↩
  • 90. That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers.... (Isaiah 44:26) ↩
  • 91. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16) ↩
  • 92. I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah....from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. (Jeremiah 23:14-15) ↩
  • 93. [False prophets] say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. (Jeremiah 23:17) ↩
  • 94. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. (Jeremiah 23:22) ↩
  • 95. For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned. (D&C 58:26-29) ↩
  • 96. And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done. (1 Nephi 17:50) ↩
  • 97. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters (Ether 3:14) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 43:6) ↩
  • 98. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:22) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5:24) ↩
  • 99. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (1 Peter 3:1) ↩
  • 100. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8) ↩
  • 101. This is the meaning of the symbolism of a veil that is removed during many wedding ceremonies. ↩
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