D&C 76 Jesus Christ Savior of Worlds

Although the understanding that Jesus Christ is the Savior of infinite worlds may not be that critical to the salvation of seminary students, this topic is discussed in the scriptures and we did touch on it briefly in class.  If for no other reason that to emphasize the greatness of Jesus Christ, these quotes and verses in holy writ give us greater understanding of the Son of God.

D&C 76  And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!  23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.  (Doctrine and Covenants 76:23-24.)

In his poetic rendering of this verse the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote:

I beheld round the throne, holy angels and hosts,

And sanctified beings from worlds that have been,

In holiness worsipping God and the Lamb,

Forever and ever, amen and amen!

(Times and Seasons, 4:82)

The reference to sanctified beings in this text seems to refer to the faithful children of Heavenly Father of other worlds who, in their resurrected state, continue to worship the Father and the Son.  It could be reasoned that if Christ was their creator of other worlds he of necessity must be their Redeemer as well.  We do not need to rely on reason, however.  Section 76 plainly outlines that through Jesus Christ the inhabitants of those worlds “are begotten (born again) sons and daughters unto God” (verse 24).  In his poem A Vision, the Prophet said:

By him, of him, and through him, the worlds were all made,

Even all that career in the heavens so broad,

Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last,

Are sav’d by the very same Savior of ours;

And, of course, are begotten God’s daughters and sons,

By the very same truths, and the very same pow’rs.

(Times and Seasons, 4:83)

Moses 1  And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.  34 And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many.  35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.  36 And it came to pass that Moses spake unto the Lord, saying: Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content.  37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.  38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come, and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.  39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  (Moses 1:34-39.)

Discussing this idea, Elder Bruce R. McConkie had this to say:

Further, the gospel is in operation in all the worlds created by the Father and the Son.  Their work and their glory, in all the infinite creations that their hands have made, is to bring to pass immortality and eternal life for the children of the Father.  Through the atonement of Christ, the inhabitants of all these worlds have power to become his sons and daughters, to become joint-heirs with him of all the glory of his Father’s kingdom, to be adopted into the family of the Father, which is to say that the inhabitants of all worlds are [thus] begotten sons and daughters unto God. (D&C 76:24) (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p. 286)

President Marion G. Romney stated thus:

Except for his mortal ministry accomplished on this earth, his service and relationship to other worlds and their inhabitants are the same as his service and relationship to this earth and its inhabitants. (Marion G. Romney, Jesus Christ: Lord of the Universe, IE 1968 Nov. :46)