Son of Man

In his recent conference talk, Elder Christofferson spoke about the title “Son of Man” that is frequently used in the scriptures for the Savior.  He said, “Enoch counseled us, ‘Teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ.’ As a boy, I wondered why in the New Testament Jesus is often referred to (and even refers to Himself) as the Son of Man when He is really the Son of God, but Enoch’s statement makes it clear that these references are actually a recognition of His divinity and holiness—He is the Son of Man of Holiness, God the Father.”  The title “Man of Holiness” is used for God in one other place in the Pearl of Great Price, also in the story of Enoch: “Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also” (Moses 7:35).  

I like this title for the Father because it both points to the fact that God the Father is like us—a man—as well as the fact that He is perfectly holy as well.  It’s interesting to me that the Savior often spoke of Himself as the Son of Man, thus bringing attention to the Father when referring to Himself.  He told His peers, “The Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified,” and when He asked His disciples their opinion on who He was, He used the phrase in this way: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matt. 26:2, 16:13).   Even in asking them that question He was giving them at least part of the answer by reminding them that He was God’s Son.  That was surely one of His favorite names for Himself for it helped emphasize His important mission as God’s son.  The Lord used the title often in the Doctrine and Covenants, usually to describe the last days and Second Coming.  For example, in one revelation we read, “The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?”  Another verse tells us of the “And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man” (D&C 45:39).  Yet another states, “These things are the things that ye must look for; and, speaking after the manner of the Lord, they are now nigh at hand, and in a time to come” (D&C 63:53).  Many other passages in addition to these show Christ’s desire to be called the Son of Man and they underscore His humility and deference to the Father.  Perhaps He wants us to know that He will come under the direction of Father when he does return—and we might consider His use of the term Son of Man as a reminder to us that we also are all sons of the Man of Holiness.