Jesus. Second member of the Godhead. He was the literal firstborn son of God in the Preexistence where he was known as Jehovah and worked his way to perfection. He became a God in the Preexistence prior to experiencing mortality. H

President Joseph F. Smith said, “Even Christ himself was not perfect at first; he received not a fulness at first, but he received grace for grace, and he continued to receive more and more until he received a fulness” (Gospel Doctrine, 1986, p. 68. See also Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, p. 153). This took place after the resurrection, as Apostle Russell M. Nelson told a general conference audience: “That Jesus attained eternal perfection following his resurrection is confirmed in the Book of Mormon. It records the visit of the resurrected Lord to the people of ancient America. There he repeated the important injunction previously cited but with one very significant addition. He said, ‘I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.’ This time he listed himself along with his Father as a perfected personage. Previously he had not” (Perfection Pending,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 1995, p. 87).

In Christianity, Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16) and the creator of all things, including Lucifer (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus stands in equal authority with the Father since He is the true God (Philippians 2:6).

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