Him Who Has All Power

Lehi declared to Jacob, “There is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise” (2 Nephi 2:8). Elder Richard G. Scott described what these merits are: “Jesus Christ possessed merits that no other being could possibly have. He was a God, Jehovah, before His birth in Bethlehem. His beloved Father not only gave Him His spirit body, but Jesus was His Only Begotten Son in the flesh. Our Master lived a perfect, sinless life and therefore was free from the demands of justice. He is perfect in every attribute, including love, compassion, patience, obedience, forgiveness, and humility.” So we can rely on His merits because He was chosen in the premortal world by the Father before His birth, He lived a sinless life, His mortal Father was God, and He was perfect in all attributes. We should never ask, “Does He have the power to help me?” because, as He declared after His resurrection, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).  

            That the Savior has all power is made clear in modern revelation. He declared to Martin Harris, “I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world. I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—Retaining all power” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:1-3). In another revelation the Savior introduced Himself this way: “Behold, and hearken unto the voice of him who has all power, who is from everlasting to everlasting, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end” (Doctrine and Covenants 61:1). He wanted them to understand that He had all power and could help and forgive and show mercy to them. John bore record of the Savior in these words: “And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:16-17). The Savior’s power came from His Father, and He received a fulness from the Father. Later to Joseph and Sidney the Savior comforted them concerning their families with these words: “Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends Sidney and Joseph, your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power” (Doctrine and Covenants 100:1). I love how here He used this to reassure them in a very specific request; they wanted their families to be watched over, and He affirmed that He had all power and so naturally He could help them in particular. We can be confident that whatever our specific struggles or concerns are, He indeed has all power and will do “as seemeth Him good” to assist us. I love the emphasis that the Savior put on His willingness to help us in these words of Isaiah: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness…. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:10, 13-14). Three times in the same chapter He asserted that He would help us. He should be our first and greatest source of help when we face the difficulties of this life. Elder Scott summarized, “True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ascent in the journey of life.”