“Learn of me and listen to my words” is a well-known LDS injunction (memorable to me because of a Young Women’s song we sang) from the D&C. The “Learn of me” part is Biblical 👍
Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart”
Anyhow, this injunction from God to learn about Christ came to mind today. Because I literally remember thinking, “How am I supposed to learn more about Jesus? The scriptures only say so much. I know he died for my sins, but what else can I discover about him? We’re not told about his personal life or childhood or youth. I think the basic, essential thing to know about him we already know….”
But now I’m struck with the severe irony of this, as that I look back on this concept of LDS people learning about Jesus.
Cuz there were a couple big doozies I could have learned about him 😂
(1) He was in the Beginning, before anything was created. (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-2, Colossians 1:17)
Before “Heavenly Father” had “spirit children,” the Son, the Word, Jesus, already existed. Because He is eternal! He has always existed. That’s definitely something I could have learned about Him, and all I needed to do was pick up my Bible.
(2) He had glory before the world existed. (John 17:5, Hebrews 13:8)
He didn’t progress to obtain glory. He wasn’t perfected after His resurrection like I was taught. He was already completely God. It’s right there in holy scripture.
(3) He created all things. (Colossians 1:16, John 1:3, Hebrews 1:3)
Mormons believe Jesus “helped” make the Earth (as did premortal Adam), as a sort of apprentice God. But this is more. Jesus created all things. He upholds the very “universe by the word of His power”—Wow! He is outside time, space, and matter. There was absolutely nothing “Heavenly Father” could have created prior to Jesus existing, because Jesus created all things. I could have learned this. All I needed to do was pick up my Bible.
(4) He, with triune God, is the one and only God. (Deut 4:35-39, Isaiah 44:8, Isaiah 44:5-6, Isaiah 46:9, 1 Kings 8:60, Mark 12:29-30, Galatians 3:20)
No one is above Him. There were not previous Gods before Him (if He had a Heavenly Grandfather or uncle, etc., He would have known them, right? But Isaiah 44:8 says the triune God knows nobody else like Him). And there will be no Gods after Him.
We could get into all the things I could have learned about the atonement — the price fully paid — and grace, the full unqualified for gift, but these are just the points on His nature.
Clearly there is SO MUCH I could have learned about Jesus!! All I needed to do was unzip my cute scripture carrier and pull out that Bible.
Of course it would have helped if it were in the actual language that I speak, so I could understand more than just the handful of cartoon videos based on the most popular Bible stories.
But if a Mormon wanted to actually follow the directions given in D&C 19:23, and really learn of Christ, they would soon be excommunicated. You’re not actually allowed to know He is God and to worship Him. You’re not allowed to believe and say that He was from the beginning of all creation and that He created all things.
So, besides all the works and performances, there’s another LDS command that’s impossible to obey! 🤷♀️
All I Possess 