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Roles of Jesus Christ

“Roles of Jesus Christ,” Doctrinal Study (2022)

“Roles of Jesus Christ,” Doctrinal Study

Roles of Jesus Christ

He loves us and invites us to follow Him

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He lived a perfect life and showed us the example we should follow. He is our Good Shepherd, our Savior, and our Redeemer. Through His Atonement, He provided the only way we can inherit eternal life. Because of Him, we will be resurrected. Because of Him, we can repent of our sins and become clean so that we can return to Heavenly Father.

But His power is not only available to us after we die; we can access it now. He can help us deal with the temptations, trials, and struggles we face every day. As we have faith in Him and follow His example, we will feel His strengthening power.

If you’d like to study some of Jesus Christ’s roles more deeply, consider the suggestions below.

We can follow the Good Shepherd

Jesus Christ carrying lamb

A true shepherd loves each of his sheep and knows them by name. He walks in front of them and leads them to safety. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd because He knows and loves each of us. He will go before us and keep us safe. He invites us to follow Him.

When we are unsure where to turn or what steps to take in our life, we can follow the path He has set. This path includes obeying the commandments and making and keeping sacred covenants. It includes striving to be better each day, recognizing when we fall short, and repenting when necessary. And through His atoning sacrifice, He has made it all possible.

Think about

Read the Gospel Topic “Jesus Christ Invited Us to Become like Him.” Look for ways you can follow Jesus Christ’s example. You may want to set a goal to make one change in your life that will bring you closer to the Savior.

Learning about Jesus

To help children understand what a shepherd does, consider this activity. You could lead them through a series of obstacles, such as climbing over a large rock, crawling under a fence, or walking around a puddle. Talk with them about how they stayed safe as they followed in your footsteps. Ask them to think about what Jesus Christ has shown them how to do (such as pray, be baptized, and follow Heavenly Father’s commandments), and talk about how following in Jesus Christ’s footsteps will keep them safe. You could also watch the video “Who Is Jesus?” together. Ask the children what they think about Jesus. You might want to record their responses.

We can have faith in Jesus’s role as our Savior

woman standing in field

During the premortal Council in Heaven, Jesus offered to be our Savior. 1 We knew that life would be difficult, that we would make mistakes, and that without our Savior, we would not be able to return to live with God. But we trusted Jesus completely. We knew He would fulfill His divine mission. And He did.

He taught, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” 2 We can believe in Him, trust in Him, and have faith that He will continue to bless us. The more we come to know Him, the stronger our faith will become.

If you want to learn more

Gospel Topics, “Atonement of Jesus Christ,” “Faith in Jesus Christ”

Think about

Watch “Excerpts from ‘The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles’” and listen for some of the roles Jesus Christ has. Consider searching the scriptures for more information about one of these roles. For example, you might want to look in the “Jesus Christ” entry in the Guide to the Scriptures.

He will help us carry our burdens

Jesus Christ helping kneeling woman

Jesus Christ is our Savior now, not just in our life after death. He took upon Himself our pains and sicknesses so “that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.” 3 Even when no one else understands our challenges and pain, He knows perfectly how we feel and how to bless and comfort us. He has said:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 4

His invitation to become yoked with Him is an invitation to let Him help us carry our burdens. When we share our burden with Him, we can feel His love, His strength, and His power. His capacity to bear the burden with us is infinite. As we continue to learn about Him, follow Him, and trust Him, we will eventually receive all that Heavenly Father can bless us with. We will become “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” 5

Think about

Watch “Jesus Christ Is the Way.” As you see how Christ healed the woman in the video, think about how He has healed you. Consider sharing your feelings with a family member or friend or record them in your journal.

If you want to learn more