Following Jesus Christ
Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus is the Savior of the world. As we follow Him, we find greater peace and happiness in life.
Jesus is the Son of God
Our Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take upon Him the sins of everyone who would live on the earth so we could be forgiven. This sacrifice on our behalf was possible because of Jesus’s divinity and His perfect life.
Jesus was a master teacher and a servant to all. But He was infinitely more than that. When He asked the Apostle Peter, “Whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15–16).
Jesus gave us the perfect example to follow
Jesus lived a perfect life to show us the way back to our Heavenly Father. Although He never sinned, Jesus was still baptized to be obedient to God and teach us that baptism is a requirement for everyone.
Jesus is also the perfect example of love. In His life on earth, He cared for the poor, He healed the blind (see John 9:1–7), He welcomed little children (see Matthew 19:13–14), and He even forgave those who crucified Him (see Luke 23:34). His love is endless and available to any who need it.
Jesus forgives and heals a paralytic.
A woman has faith to be healed by touching Jesus’s robe.
Jesus forgives a woman accused of adultery.
Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus from the dead.
Jesus taught us how to live and treat others
At just 12 years old, Jesus was found teaching scholars in the temple (see Luke 2:42–52). They were astonished by how much He knew. Jesus went on to be the greatest teacher who ever lived. He often used parables, or stories, to teach important lessons. These parables were about everyday people and situations, so they were easily understood. His stories still touch our hearts and motivate us to follow Him and serve others today.
The Teachings of Jesus
Jesus said that all faithful people will receive an equal reward in heaven, regardless of how long each person had been faithful (see Matthew 20:1–16).
Jesus taught us the important lesson of forgiveness by asking, “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (see Matthew 18:23–35).
Jesus said that we should love our neighbor, and the parable of the good Samaritan teaches us that our neighbors can be anyone, including strangers or foes (see Luke 10:25–37).
Every person who turns to Christ will receive His loving acceptance, regardless of what he or she has done (see Luke 15:11–32).
When we are lost or lonely and we turn to Him, Jesus will not only welcome us back, but will rejoice as the shepherd saying, “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost” (see Luke 15:1–6).
The Book of Mormon also contains powerful teachings of the Savior. He taught the people how to pray, how to be humble, and how to treat their families.
Jesus suffered and died for our sins
Jesus’s mission in coming to earth was to save us from our sins. He was willing to suffer and sacrifice Himself to pay the price of our mistakes so that we could repent and be forgiven.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus felt the weight of every sin and pain known to humankind. He suffered for every person who has ever lived, bleeding from every pore of His body (see Luke 22:44). He was arrested, spat on, whipped, and crucified on the cross. Even as Jesus was being killed by His own people, He cried out that God might have mercy on them (see Luke 23:34).
As we go through life, we will all make mistakes and do things we regret. But as long as we try to be better and pray to our Heavenly Father for forgiveness, we can become clean again. We are all in debt to the great love of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.