Each of the gospel writers opens their account of the life of Jesus in a different way:
- Matthew traces the genealogy of Joseph to King David, emphasizing the Savior’s royal heritage.
- Mark jumps straight into the action, describing the ministry of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus.
- Luke starts with a series of miracles: the appearance of the angel to Zacharias, Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and appearances of angels to Mary and Joseph.
- John, in contrast, paints on a much larger canvas. He opens by emphasizing the Savior’s premortal divinity and His role as our source of light, grace, and truth.
In an 1833 revelation to Joseph Smith (Doctrine and Covenants 93), the Savior builds on phrases and imagery from John 1:1-16. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the original passages from John with the expanded treatment of each major theme in the revelation. I’ve also included some commentary on each passage, with related Book of Mormon references, which show that the additional insights in section 93 are also scripturally-based.
| John 1 | D&C 93 | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | 8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation | Jesus is called “the Word” because He is “the messenger of salvation” to us. (See also Mosiah 15:18-19.) |
| 2 The same was in the beginning with God. | 21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn. 23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father. 29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. | Jesus was with God in the beginning. So were we, but He was the Firstborn. (See also 3 Nephi 9:15.) |
| 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. | 10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him. | Jesus created all things, including the worlds and including us. (See also Mosiah 3:8.) |
| 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. | 9 The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men. | He is our life and our light, because He is the Creator and the Redeemer. (See also Mosiah 16:9; 3 Nephi 11:11.) |
| 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. | 31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. | Receiving His light is a choice. (See also 3 Nephi 9:16-17.) |
| 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. | 2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; | He offers His light to everyone. (See also Moroni 7:16.) |
| 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. | 4 The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men. 11 And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. | Even though Jesus was divine, He came to earth, living in a mortal body—a tabernacle of flesh. (See also Mosiah 3:5; Alma 7:8.) |
| 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. | 12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace; 13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; 14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first. 20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace. | He received of the fulness of His Father by growing from grace to grace. We can receive of His fulness in the same way. (See also Helaman 12:24.) |
In section 93, the Savior not only explains the meaning of John’s preface; He also pulls us into the story. He was with the Father in the beginning—and so were we. He created all things, including us. He offers light and life to every one of us, and from Him we can “receive grace for grace,” until we receive “of His fulness.”
Today, I will be grateful for the expanded understanding of the Savior provided by John, by Book of Mormon prophets, and by modern revelation. I will especially remember His premortal divinity, His willingness to become flesh and live among us, and His light and life, which enable us to receive grace for grace.
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