Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior (GP 3)

Gospel Principles Lesson 3

When our Heavenly Father presented to us His plan for our salvation, we shouted for joy. (See Job 38:7)

There were essential Steps in the Plan:

1. We'd have to leave God's presence and come to earth so that we could learn to walk by faith, and so that we could be tried and tested and learn to be obedient.

2. We would receive a mortal body, of flesh and blood, which would make us more like our Heavenly Parents. But our bodies would be subject to infirmities and ultimately to death. We would also be subject to temptations that would test our faith and obedience.

3. Our Father would give us the gift of agency, or the right to choose to follow His commandments or not. Either way, we would then be subject to the consequences of our choices.

4. Because our Father knew that none of us, except One, could follow Him perfectly; He knew that we'd all sin and make mistakes; He agreed to supply a Savior for us, who could make us clean and free from sin and who would overcome the effects of both sin and death on our behalf, and He'd be able to lead us back into our Heavenly Father's presence.

So because we needed a Savior to pay for our sins and teach us the way to return to our Heavenly Father, Our Father asked us, "Whom shall I send." Jesus answered, "Here am I, send me." (See Abraham 3:27) 

Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to submit to all that Heavenly Father asked of Him. He was willing to be born in humble circumstances and to give His life for all mankind. He was willing to follow the Father's plan which would allow all of us freedom to choose our own paths or to follow Him. He would do all this because He loved His Father and wanted to please Him and bring honor to His name. (See Moses 4:2) "Father thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever," is what Jesus said. 

Another son named Lucifer, or Satan, wanted all the glory for himself. He wanted to destroy the agency that God had given to men. He wanted to force all of us to live in harmony with God's laws. And he wanted all the glory for restoring God's children to Him. (See Moses 4:1-4) 

His plan would not work. No one can be forced to become perfect. To progress we needed to have agency, or the freedom to choose. God chose Jesus to be our Savior because Jesus wanted to follow God's perfect Plan; and when God rejected Satan's plan, Satan rebelled against God and against Jesus, who was God's Chosen One.

We know that Jesus was chosen by God and foreordained by Him to be our Savior. Jesus told the brother of Jared about his mission as our Savior in Ether 3:14. He also taught the Jewish people, during his mortal ministry, that He was the Son of God. (See John 6:38-40)

Satan did not rebel alone. Because of his anger and jealousy, Satan waged war against Jesus and his followers. A third part of the host of heaven was cast out of God's presence along with Satan. (See Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:4, 7-9) They will never have the opportunity to receive mortal bodies and to progress. This was their choice. Now they try to thwart our progression as well.

How do we know that we followed Jesus and accepted our Heavenly Father's Plan? We know this because we are here on earth with mortal bodies. Knowing that we chose this Plan while in God's presence can help to increase our faith in following His Plan while we are here in mortality. Only through following Jesus can we return to our Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father has not left us alone. He has provided a Savior, Jesus Christ, for us. Jesus also was tried and tested in a mortal body, but he gave no heed to temptation. He taught us the Plan of Salvation and Exaltation. He established His Church while He was here in mortality; He gave the Priesthood authority to His disciples. He took upon Himself the weight of all of our sins and burdens; and He died for us. Because he was resurrected, everybody every born into mortality will one day be resurrected. 

The Church and Priesthood have been restored again to the earth. If we follow the teachings of Jesus and keep His commandments, we will inherit the Celestial Kingdom, the place where our Father lives. Jesus has paid the price. It is now up to us to do our part, to become and to remain worthy to live with God again, and to ultimately receive exaltation in our Heavenly Father's Kingdom.