“The Attributes of Jesus Christ: Obedient Son,” Ensign, January 2015, 7
Visiting Teaching Message
The Attributes of Jesus Christ: Obedient Son
Prayerfully study this material and seek to know what to share. How will understanding the life and roles of the Savior increase your faith in Him and bless those you watch over through visiting teaching? For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.
Faith, Family, Relief
Following Jesus Christ’s example of obedience increases our faith in Him. “Is it any wonder,” said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “that Christ chooses first and foremost to define himself in relation to his father—that he loved him and obeyed him and submitted to him like the loyal son he was? … Obedience is the first law of heaven.”1
The scriptures teach “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21). Our spiritual growth takes place as we draw close to God through obedience and invite the power of the Savior’s Atonement into our lives.
“As we walk in obedience to the principles and commandments of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “we enjoy a continual flow of blessings promised by God in His covenant with us. Those blessings provide the resources we need to act rather than simply be acted upon as we go through life. … Obedience gives us greater control over our lives, greater capacity to come and go, to work and create.”2
Additional Scriptures
From the Scriptures
“Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person?” asked Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “The clear answer … is no.”3
The parable of the ten virgins is an example of this principle. While all of the virgins took their lamps to “meet the bridegroom,” only five were wise and took oil in their lamps. The other five were foolish because they “took no oil with them.”
Then the cry came at midnight: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” All the virgins trimmed their lamps, but the foolish virgins had no oil. They said to the wise virgins, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.”
The wise virgins answered, “Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go … and buy for yourselves.” And while the foolish virgins were gone, the bridegroom came and the wise virgins went with him and “the door was shut” (Matthew 25:1–13).