Jesus Life
Jesus‘ life and ministry show us the doctrines of the true gospel, the way we should conduct ourselves, how to worship God the Father, the organization of the true church, that miracles and signs follow faith, and that the love of God provides a way that all men can be saved.
Doctrines of the true Gospel
Jesus based His doctrinal teaching on the two great commandments: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy might, mind, and strength (and Him only shalt thou serve); and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The Law of Moses was a schoolmaster law meant to bring Israel to the feet of the Messiah. All of its rites were symbolic of the Savior to come. In that way, it was the floor of the gospel. Christ came to fulfill the purpose of that foundation by building upon it the glorious gospel in its wholeness. The wholeness of the gospel includes the power of redemption, the power to save mankind. Moses taught the Israelites that the Lord wanted them all to be prophets. Jesus taught that men have the capacity to feel God’s love, and to have His commandments written in their hearts. The ancient Israelites lived by the law. Christ wanted them to live by the Holy Spirit.
Christ’s basic doctrine was repentance and rebirth. He called upon men to lay their sins upon the altar and rely on His own blood atonement to provide redemption and salvation. His central message was fulfilled when He suffered the sorrows of all men in Gethsemane, and when He gave up His life on the cross at Calvary. His resurrection guaranteed that all mankind will be resurrected, both the righteous and the wicked. His sacrifice guaranteed that all who repent in His name can be exalted.
How We Should Conduct Ourselves
Christ taught by example that serving our fellow men out of love is more important than the letter of the law—He healed on the Sabbath. He taught that the leader of all is the servant of all—He washed the feet of the Apostles. He taught the true nature of forgiveness—He forgave those who crucified Him even as they were in the act. He taught that all of us are children of God—He dined with sinners and publicans. He taught that we have need of baptism and repentance—though perfect and sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He taught us to turn our desires toward things of the Spirit instead of things of the world—He invited the rich young man to sell his possessions, take up his cross, and follow the Savior.
By emulating the Savior, we can lead godly lives and become more like Christ. In doing so, we reflect His image in our countenances.
How to Worship God the Father
Christ rebuked the priests, both of the Pharisees and the Saducees, for their hypocrisy. They represented the church, but led wicked lives. They were worldly, intolerant, and sometimes downright dishonest. The first way to worship the Father is to purify one’s motives and behavior, and to be true to the commandments of God in thought and action. Christ was absolutely obedient, doing only His Father’s will.
Christ always showed reverence towards His Heavenly Father. Christ instructed us how to approach the Father in reverence, respect, and awe. Christ taught us to pray over our fields, our families, indeed all our doings, but to in all things manifest gratitude to the Father.
The Organization of the True Church
Christ organized His Church with twelve apostles and gave them authority to act in His name. They had authority to heal, to organize, to teach doctrine. Whatever they bound on earth was bound in heaven. After Christ’s crucifixion, the apostles received revelation from Christ on further Church organization. They called quorums of seventies to assist in the work.
The only modern church so organized is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church is organized identically to the ancient Church, and it receives authority and power from Jesus Christ through its prophet and apostles, all of whom are recipients of constant revelation from heaven.
Christ visited the Book of Mormon peoples on the American continent as the resurrected Lord, and He organized His Church after the same pattern:
And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am (3 Nephi 12:1).
And there were great and marvelous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that they did heal the sick, and raise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear; and all manner of miracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus (4 Nephi 1:5).
Miracles and Signs Follow Faith
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsey, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee (Matthew 9:2).
Faith was always a prerequisite to receive the healing power of the Savior. Said Moroni, the last Book of Mormon prophet:
…for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made (Moroni 7:37, 38).
The Love of God Provides a Way for all Men to be Saved
O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart (3 Nephi 10:6).
How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not (Doctrine and Covenants 43:25)!
Christ’s strongest desire is to save each one of His children. He is no respecter of persons; He is the Savior of all. His bowels are filled with compassion always for us. He literally begs us to come unto Him, to lay our burdens at His feet, to find peace in a troubled world, and to do those things which will help us to join Him in eternity.