In Doctrine and Covenants 88, the Lord refers to the Savior as:
He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:6
This echoes a parenthetical aside in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians:
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:9-10
The heart of the passage is a sense of wonder that “God himself” (Mosiah 15:1) would willingly “descend from His throne divine” to rescue us. (See “I Stand All Amazed,” Hymns, no. 193.) But there’s more to it: Jesus both ascended and descended in order to “fill all things,” or in other words to enable His light to be “in and through all things.” By participating in our mortal experience, He became more visible to us and more active in our lives. We perceive Him more clearly and trust Him more deeply because we know He has been here.
As Alma taught, Jesus took upon Himself our infirmities, “that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:12). I don’t know what it means for the omniscient Creator of the universe to understand us better after His mortal experience, but I do believe that we feel more understood when we know someone has experienced something comparable to what we’re going through.
That’s why His disciples are willing not only to ascend with Him but to descend with Him as well. We go into people’s homes. We serve alongside other people in humble ways. We listen to people’s stories. We cry with them. We rejoice with them. We can empathize with them because we spend time with them and see how the world looks through their eyes.
We also “descend” by willingly enduring the trials of life. As Joseph Smith sat in a cold prison cell in Liberty, Missouri, the Lord asked him this searching question: “The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” (Doctrine and Covenants 122:8). Disciples of Christ follow in His footsteps, and His mortal journey included hardship and unfathomable suffering.
This insight gives new meaning to the angel’s question to Nephi: “Knowest thou the condescension of God?” (1 Nephi 11:16). Nephi still had a lot to learn about the Savior’s birth, mortal ministry, and crucifixion. We might ask ourselves a version of the same question: Do you understand and appreciate the Savior’s condescension because of the ascents and descents you have made as you follow Him?
Today, I will be grateful for both the highs and the lows of discipleship. I will strive to follow the example of the Savior, who not only ascended to heaven but also descended below all things so that He could be an uplifting force in all of our lives.
This is beautiful. I had never considered this lovely idea before of the Savior’s ascent and descent being an example for our mortal lives. In my daily highs and lows I will consider my Exemplar.
I cannot help but note the Savior’s obedience to the Father “in all things” to descend lower than the lowest so that he might be empathetic to our suffering experiences and declare, “I know, have known, and feel and have felt your challenges. But I am always here—I have your back. Always!”
Matt 11:28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
That’s a great point: the Savior’s unequalled descent is connected with His obedience to His Father. Our descents are also often motivated by humble obedience. Thank you for sharing!