What is a son?

Footnotes

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.¹⁰

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.¹¹

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.¹² He knew how the Father would act in his place.¹³ He only ever did what pleased the Father.¹⁴ He only ever sought the will of the Father.¹⁵

The Lord is the Son of David.¹²⁰² 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.¹²⁰³

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.¹²⁰⁴ You are called to be the light of the world,¹²⁰⁵ to be one with the Father, to manifest his will here on earth,¹²⁰⁶ and to be so much like him that others learn more about him by learning about you.¹²⁰⁷

Footnotes

1. 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) ↩
2. And they all forsook him, and fled. (Mark 14:50) ↩
3. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? (John 6:67) ↩
4. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:30) ↩
5. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:14) ↩
6. See Mosiah 3:19, previously quoted. ↩
7. 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) ↩
8. 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) ↩
9. 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) ↩
10. 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) ↩
11. 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) ↩
12. 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) ↩
13. 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) ↩
14. 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) ↩
15. 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) ↩

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