In the School of The Prophets taught in Kirtland, Theology was considered a science (see Lectures on Faith, lecture one, the first question and answer at the end of the lecture). In the preceding discussions on Living By Every Word the Lord is revealing the science of how things work in our world.
In my opinion, one of the most important revelations on the nature of man and his potential is D&C 93.
In this revelation the Savior is presented as a perfect model of the Father.
D&C 93:3-5
3 And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one--
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.
5 I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest.
The Savior is presented as being in the beginning before the world was.
D&C 93:7-8
7 And he bore record, saying: I saw his glory, that he was in the beginning, before the world was;
8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation--
Now we are told that Christ was the light and the Spirit of truth. That Spirit of truth came and dwelt in the flesh among men.
D&C 93:9-11
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.
10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him.
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.
Christ came through the veil and had to grow from grace to grace until he obtained the fullness of the Father.
D&C 93:12-14
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.
The fullness is explained as being the fullness of the glory of the Father and all power both in heaven and on earth.
D&C 93:16-17
16 And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; 17 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.
Now this revelation takes an important turn. The focused is changed from being on the Savior to being focused on us, God's children here on earth. It must be remembered when this revelation was given the doctrine of pre-earth life for man had not been clearly taught in the Church at this point in it's history.
D&C 93:18-19
18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John.
19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fullness.
So the whole purpose of this revelation is to help us understand how to worship and to know what we worship. So far we know we are worshiping a God who sent his Son to be a perfect model of the Father. We now know how to worship. That worship involves following the Son to receive a fullness of the Father.
The problem with that concept is that the early saints had no idea about their pre-earth life and their nature in that pre-earth life. Of course this revelation will now address those concerns.
D&C 93:20-23
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. 21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;
22 And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn.
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
What an earth shattering revelation. Man did not begin at birth but was in the beginning with the Father just as the Savior was. And just like the Savior, man was the Spirit of truth. Therefore, any objections that man might have as to why he could not be like the Savior is wiped away with this revelation. Even to the point where man can become a Firstborn by being born again by being begotten through the Savior and become partakers of the church of the Firstborn.
This revelation now explains that man has the capacity to receive all truth and to be glorified in truth and know all things. Also, not only was man the Spirit of truth but he was the light of truth. The revelation continues - the intelligence or the light of truth is uncreated. Therefore, there is an eternal nature of man.
D&C 93:28-29
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
This revelation is one of the most powerful expositions on the nature of man that exists. It paves the way for man to see himself in a new light with greater beginnings and a magnificent end. These are some of the doctrines that should distill upon our souls as the dews of heaven.
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