“The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ. For instance, Christ is ‘the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world’ (D&C 93:2; see John 1:9). The light of Christ fills the ‘immensity of space’ and is the means by which Christ is able to be ‘in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things.’ It ‘giveth life to all things’ and is ‘the law by which all things are governed.’ It is also ‘the light that quickeneth’ man’s understanding (see D&C 88:6–13, 41). In this manner, the light of Christ is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from wrong (Moro. 7:12–19).
“The light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of the Holy Ghost, for the light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost” (Bible Dictionary, “Light of Christ”).
“The Light of Christ is that divine power or influence that emanates from God through Jesus Christ. It gives light and life to all things. It prompts all rational individuals throughout the earth to distinguish truth from error, right from wrong. It activates your conscience” (“Peace of Conscience and Peace of Mind,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 15).
The Apostle John stated that his purpose for writing this book was to persuade others to believe in Jesus Christ. Throughout his Gospel, John used several names or titles to help readers both understand and identify Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God. For example, in John 1, Jesus is referred to as “the Word” and as the “Lamb of God.”
Jesus is the Word of God because He is the expression or representative of the Father to the world; He declares the Father’s words; He is the messenger of salvation [see D&C 93:8]; He is the perfect example of how to live the word of God; He gives the words of eternal life; and His words give life.
Jesus is the Lamb of God because just as the blood of Passover lambs saved Israel from death and brought deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the title “Lamb of God” indicated that Jesus would shed His blood to save His people and deliver them from sin. (See also Topical Guide, “Jesus Christ, Lamb of God.”)
The Gospel of John records various names or titles that can help readers understand the divinity of Jesus Christ. Some titles are implied while others are overtly identified with “I am the …” Some examples include Jesus being identified as the Giver of Living Water (see John 4:10–14) and Jesus saying “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35); “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12); “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11); “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25); “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6); and “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).
“The Jewish leaders asked John if he was ‘Elias’ (the Greek name for the Hebrew ‘Elijah’), who was prophesied to someday return (see Malachi 4:5–6). In the Joseph Smith Translation, the Lord revealed a more complete account of John’s response to the Jewish leaders, which conveys John’s knowledge of his own mission as one who came to prepare the way for the Messiah. To their queries, John ‘confessed, and denied not that he was Elias; but confessed, saying; I am not the Christ’ (Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:21 [in the Bible appendix]).
“John understood, as the priests and Levites apparently did not, that there are various meanings for the name-title Elias (see Bible Dictionary, ‘Elias’; Guide to the Scriptures, ‘Elias’; scriptures.lds.org). John was an Elias, which means a forerunner of the Messiah, but he was not the Elias, who is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. John was also not Elijah the prophet, whose name in Greek is Elias. …
“When John denied that he was Elijah, the Jewish leaders asked him, ‘Art thou that prophet?’ (John 1:21). Their question likely had reference to the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15: ‘The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.’ However, by asking John if he was ‘that prophet’ after John had already denied that he was the Christ, these Jews showed that they did not understand the messianic nature of Moses’s prophecy. Many of the Jews in Jesus’s day anticipated the coming of a prophet who would be like unto Moses but who was not the Messiah. This is evident when many in Jerusalem later proclaimed that Jesus Christ was ‘the Prophet,’ while others declared that He was ‘the Christ’ (John 7:40–41; see also 6:14)” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 201–2).
“When you give your heart to inviting people to come unto Christ, your heart will be changed. … By helping others come unto Him, you will find that you have come unto Him yourself” (“Come unto Christ,” Ensign,Mar. 2008, 49).
“The Savior taught us how to share the gospel. I like the story of Andrew, who asked, ‘Master, where dwellest thou?’ [John 1:38]. Jesus could have responded with the location of where He lived. But instead He said to Andrew, ‘Come and see’ [John 1:39]. I like to think that the Savior was saying, ‘Come and see not only where I live but how I live. Come and see who I am. Come and feel the Spirit.’ …
“To those who show an interest in our conversations, we can follow the Savior’s example by inviting them to ‘come and see.’ Some will accept our invitation, and others will not. We all know someone who has been invited several times before accepting an invitation to ‘come and see.’ Let’s also think about those who once were with us but who now we rarely see, inviting them to come back and see once more” (“It’s a Miracle,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 79).
“It seems that the essence of our mortal journey and the answers to the most significant questions in life are distilled down to these two very brief elements in the opening scenes of the Savior’s earthly ministry. One element is the question put to every one of us on this earth: ‘What seek ye? What do you want?’ The second is His response to our answer, whatever that answer is. Whoever we are and whatever we reply, His response is always the same: ‘Come,’ He says lovingly. ‘Come, follow me.’ Wherever you are going, first come and see what I do, see where and how I spend my time. Learn of me, walk with me, talk with me, believe. Listen to me pray. In turn you will find answers to your own prayers. God will bring rest to your souls” (“He Hath Filled the Hungry with Good Things,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 65).