The Love Made Manifest by the Father and the Son

We rightfully speak of the great love that our Savior Jesus Christ showed when He offered His life as a sacrifice for all the world.  Moroni put it this way when he spoke to the Savior, “And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightiest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity” (Ether 12:33-34).  Nephi testified in a similar manner, saying, “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him” (2 Nephi 26:24).  In our dispensation the Savior declared to Orson Pratt, that He was “Jesus Christ your Redeemer… who so loved the world that he gave his own life” (Doctrine and Covenants 34:1-3).  In mortality, the Savior declared to His apostles shortly before He voluntarily gave up His life, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  No one took His life from Him, but He voluntary gave it up for us, and He did it out of love for His Father and for us.

               The Savior’s sacrifice in which He showed so much love for each of us also was evidence of the love of the Father.  President Joseph F. Smith, in writing about the Savior’s atonement, spoke of “the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:3).  The coming of the Savior for His mission on earth was a sign of love on the part of the Father and the Son as well.  Jesus referred to this love that His Father had in sending Him when He said, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  It is important to note that this is speaking of the love of the Father in particular as it relates to making the offering of His Son.  John later emphasized the Father’s love again when He wrote in one of his epistles, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).  Again, here the message was about the Father’s love as it relates to giving His Son as a sacrifice.  We know God loves us particularly because He was willing to send His Son to die for our sins.  The Son’s offering was infinite and eternal and cannot be overstated; and the Father likewise made a real offering in which He showed His love for all of us as He gave of His beloved Son.