We lived in heaven before we came to earth. We lived with our Heavenly Father. We were his spirit children. We had spirit bodies. We loved Heavenly Father. He loved us. He wanted us to be like him.

TPJS, p. 354

Heavenly Father had a plan. It was the plan of salvation. People who followed this plan would become like Heavenly Father. The plan said we had to come to earth. We had to get bodies of flesh and blood. We had to be tested. We had to show if we would obey God’s commandments.

Abraham 3:24–25; MD, p. 520

We would go back to Heavenly Father if we obeyed him. But we would need help to go back. We would have to have our sins taken away. We would need resurrected bodies. But we could not take away our own sins. We could not resurrect our own bodies. We needed a Savior. A Savior does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. A Savior would take away our sins. A Savior would help us to be resurrected.

2 Nephi 2:5–9; MD, p. 513

Heavenly Father chose Jesus to be our Savior. Jesus loved Heavenly Father. He loved us. He wanted to be our Savior. Jesus would come to earth to save us. He would show us how to be righteous. He would suffer to take away people’s sins. He would die and be resurrected. Then we could be resurrected too.

Moses 4:1–2; 2 Nephi 2:8–10

Satan also wanted to be chosen. But Satan did not love Heavenly Father. He did not love us. He wanted to change Heavenly Father’s plan. He wanted Heavenly Father’s power.

Moses 4:1–4

Some of the spirits followed Satan. They did not obey God. God was very sad. He sent Satan and the spirits who followed Satan out of heaven. Satan is the devil. He and his spirits tempt us. They tell us to sin.

Moses 4:3–4

Heavenly Father told Jesus to make an earth for us. Jesus made the earth. He put plants and animals on it. He made the sun, the moon, and the stars. At last we could come to earth. We could have bodies of flesh and blood.

Hebrews 1:2; Abraham 4

Many people came to live on earth. Some of them were righteous. They obeyed God’s commandments. Some people did not obey God. They were wicked.

MD, pp. 157–58

Prophets taught the people about Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. They told the people about Jesus. He would come to earth to save the people.

Jacob 7:11; 2 Nephi 25:23–27

The prophets said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. He would be the Son of God. His mother would be a good and beautiful woman. Her name would be Mary.

Micah 5:2; Mosiah 15:3; Isaiah 7:14; 1 Nephi 11:18–21

The prophets said many people would not know Jesus was the Savior. He would look like other people. He would not be rich. Many people would hate him.

Isaiah 53:2–3

Prophets also told about John the Baptist. He would come before Jesus. He would tell the people about Jesus. He would baptize Jesus.

Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3; 1 Nephi 10:7–10; 1 Nephi 11:27

Jesus would be very kind. He would do many miracles. He would suffer for the sins of all people who would repent.

Mosiah 3:5–8

Jesus Christ would be our Savior. He would be crucified. He would die on a cross.

Mosiah 15:7–9; Numbers 21:6–9; John 3:14

After three days Jesus would be resurrected. His spirit would come back into his body. Because Jesus died and was resurrected, we will be resurrected too.

Isaiah 25:8; 2 Nephi 2:8

The New Testament is the story of Jesus and his Apostles. They lived in Israel. People who lived in Israel were called Israelites or Jews. The Romans had captured Israel. The Roman king was the king of Israel.