NT#44 The Epistles of John

In John 17:3, the Savior says eternal life is to know God.

In what sense is it necessary to know God to have eternal life?

Elder M. Russell Ballard has said: “Life eternal is predicated upon our own individual, personal knowledge of our Father in Heaven and His Holy Son. Simply knowing about them is not enough. We must have personal, spiritual experiences . . . through seeking them in the same intense, single-minded way that a hungry person seeks food.” (See April 1996 Conference Report; New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 185.) 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “It is one thing to know about God and another to know him…. To know God is to think what he thinks, to feel what he feels … and to do what he does.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary [DNTC], 1:762; quoted in New Testament Student Manual.)

1 John 2:3-4) Why do we need to keep the commandments to know God?

1 John 2:5-6) How are love and keeping the commandments related?

The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “[We] have got to learn how to be Gods . . . the same as all Gods have done before” (April 1844 Conference Report [CR]).

Elder Lorenzo Snow said: “[H]eavenly Father has [attained] exaltation … and He points us out the same path; and … says, ‘Walk ye up and come in possession of the same glory and happiness that I possess’” (Journal of Discourses 5:313).

President Brigham Young, “The principles of truth and goodness, and of eternal lives … are from eternity to eternity … have ever existed and always will exist in all the eternities” ” (Journal of Discourses 11:234-235).

In 1 John 4:8, 16, what word did John use to describe God?

Why is that appropriate?

President Monson has said: “Our Heavenly Father’s plan contains the ultimate expressions of true love.” (Apr 1993 CR; New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 183.)

President Ezra Taft Benson said “Everything [the Savior ever] did was prompted by His unselfish love for us” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, 94).

What expression of the Savior’s love does John cite in 1 John 3:16?

What can we learn from the following verses about how to show our love for God?

John 14:15)             

1 John 2:15)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “This world … belongs to Satan. He created it; he is its father and its god.… The earth itself is the Lord's, and He is its ruler; but the world (the corrupt society on earth) is under the rule of him who is the god of this world.” (See Mormon Doctrine, 324; see also Brigham Young, JD 9:246; Elder John Taylor, The Government of God, 85.)

1 John 3:17; 4:20; 5:2)

In summary, Elder Bruce R. McConkie said “[1] love is the foundation upon which all personal righteousness rests; [2] all the purposes and plans of Deity are based on his infinite and eternal love; and [3] if men [and women] will personify that love in their lives, they will become like the Lord himself and have eternal life with him.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary 3:371).