Whose will was Jesus doing?
Mosiah 15:7
“Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.”
Dissection of the Verse Through Our Question
“Whose will was Jesus doing?”
The Core Answer
Jesus was doing the Father’s will, not His own.
Mosiah 15:7 shows that every part of His suffering, obedience, and sacrifice was an act of total alignment with the Father’s purpose.
1. “Crucified”
The Father’s Will Reaches Its Deepest Descent
The second movement of the verse—“crucified”—reveals the most sobering truth of Christ’s submission:
He did not merely walk a hard path; He walked the path the Father appointed, even when that path descended into death itself.
To anchor this section, we select one scripture each from the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price—the most poignant, representative, and doctrinally weight‑bearing passages from the entire Topical Guide list.
Each chosen verse becomes a pillar for the principle:
Topical Guide: Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Scriptures taken from the Topical Guide list
Old Testament — Psalm 22:16
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”
This is the clearest prophetic anticipation of the crucifixion in the Old Testament.
It establishes that the suffering of Christ was foreknown, foreordained, and foretold long before Rome invented crucifixion.
Why this matters for the study:
It shows that the Father’s plan always included the cross. Christ was not overtaken by tragedy—He fulfilled prophecy.
Principle for application:
God’s purposes for us are older than our pain.
When we walk through suffering, we walk through something God already foresaw and can redeem.
New Testament — John 12:32
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
Christ interprets His own crucifixion as the moment of divine drawing—His suffering becomes the magnet of mercy.
Why this matters for the study:
It reframes crucifixion not as defeat but as the Father’s appointed means of gathering all His children.
Principle for application:
Our deepest obedience becomes God’s greatest instrument of gathering.
Families, children, and communities are drawn to Christ through our willingness to be “lifted up” in sacrifice, patience, and covenant loyalty.
Book of Mormon — 2 Nephi 25:13
“Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.”
This verse pairs crucifixion with resurrection, showing the cross as the hinge of the Father’s redemptive plan.
Why this matters for the study:
It keeps crucifixion from being isolated as tragedy.
It is the turning point—the moment where the Father’s will and Christ’s obedience converge to break death.
Principle for application:
Every crucifying moment in discipleship contains resurrection potential.
Families grow, fellowships heal, and communities transform when we endure with faith in the promised rising.
Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 45:52
“Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.”
In the last days, Christ identifies Himself not by title, miracle, or throne—but by crucifixion.
Why this matters for the study:
It shows that the crucifixion is not merely an event in His past; it is His eternal identity as Redeemer.
Principle for application:
We know Christ best when we know His wounds.
Families and communities become celestial when they learn to recognize Christ in suffering, sacrifice, and covenant loyalty.
Pearl of Great Price — Moses 7:55
“And the Lord said unto Enoch: Look, and he looked and beheld the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, after the manner of men;”
Enoch sees the crucifixion from heaven’s perspective—God weeps, angels mourn, and the cosmos trembles.
Why this matters for the study:
It reveals the cosmic weight of the crucifixion.
The Father’s will was not cold; it was costly.
Heaven felt the wound.
Principle for application:
Our suffering is never unnoticed in heaven.
When we walk the path the Father appoints, even when it hurts, heaven walks with us.
Why These Five Are the Most Important for This Section
These passages were chosen because together they form a complete doctrinal arc:
- Prophecy (Psalm 22:16) — The Father foretold the path.
- Purpose (John 12:32) — The Father designed the path to gather His children.
- Plan (2 Nephi 25:13) — The Father paired crucifixion with resurrection.
- Identity (D&C 45:52) — The Father reveals Christ through crucifixion.
- Cosmic Witness (Moses 7:55) — The Father suffers with the Son.
Together they show that crucifixion is not an accident, not a tragedy, not a political execution—
it is the center of the Father’s will and the center of Christ’s obedience.
Principles for Celestial Spiritual Growth
For Self — Personal Discipleship
- Obedience will sometimes feel like crucifixion.
- God’s will may lead us into sacrifice, not comfort.
- Resurrection always follows covenant endurance.
For Family — Covenant Fatherhood & Motherhood
- Parents model Christ when they bear burdens for their children.
- Families grow celestial through shared sacrifice, not ease.
- The cross teaches us to love when it costs us something.
For Fellowship — Christlike Community
- We lift one another as Christ was lifted up.
- We gather the weary, the wounded, the wandering.
- Fellowship is forged in shared suffering and shared hope.
For Community — Redemptive Influence
- Communities are healed by cruciform love—love that gives, absorbs, forgives.
- The cross becomes our pattern for justice, mercy, and reconciliation.
- We become instruments of gathering when we live sacrificially.
Why the Rest of the Topical Guide Passages Still Matter
Every remaining scripture in the Topical Guide contributes to the full tapestry of crucifixion doctrine:
- Prophetic Witnesses (Zech. 12:10; Isa. 53:12) show the cross was foreseen.
- Historical Accounts (Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19) anchor the event in real time.
- Apostolic Preaching (Acts 2; Acts 4; 1 Cor. 1–2) shows the early Church centered everything on the cross.
- Warnings & Exhortations (Heb. 6:6; Gal. 6:14) teach us not to betray or trivialize Christ’s sacrifice.
- Restoration Witnesses (D&C 20; 21; 35; 76; 138) reaffirm the crucifixion as the heart of the gospel in the last days.
- Book of Mormon Prophecies (1 Ne. 11; 2 Ne. 10; 2 Ne. 25) testify that the cross was known to ancient prophets on the American continent.
These passages are not redundant—they are choral.
Each voice adds depth, clarity, and resonance to the doctrine of Christ crucified.
Closing Summary for This Section
Christ’s crucifixion is the ultimate expression of His obedience to the Father.
He did not resist the path.
He did not negotiate the terms.
He did not seek escape.
He submitted.
He trusted.
He obeyed.
And because He obeyed unto death, the Father raised Him unto life.
For us, the cross becomes both pattern and promise:
- Pattern: We follow Christ by accepting the Father’s will even when it wounds.
- Promise: Every crucifying moment in discipleship will be answered by resurrection.
This is the heart of celestial growth—for individuals, families, fellowships, and communities.
2. “The flesh becoming subject even unto death”
His humanity bowed to the Father
The verse now moves from what happened to Jesus to what Jesus did within Himself.
He did not merely endure crucifixion.
He subjected His flesh—His mortality, His vulnerability, His capacity to suffer—to the Father’s will.
He did not resist.
He did not negotiate.
He did not preserve Himself.
He yielded His humanity to the Father.
This is the deepest layer of obedience:
Not outward compliance, but inward surrender.
Supporting Scripture — Isaiah 53:10
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”
Why Isaiah 53:10 fits this section
- It shows that the suffering of Christ was not random—it was the Father’s will.
- It reveals that Christ’s submission was not passive—He accepted the Father’s will even when it required grief, bruising, and death.
- It teaches that the Father’s plan required the Son’s voluntary yielding, not forced compliance.
- It exposes the inner cost of obedience: Christ’s flesh bowed fully to the Father.
Why Isaiah 53:10 fits the entire study
Your study is about becoming like Christ by doing the Father’s will.
Isaiah 53:10 is the scriptural center of that truth:
- Christ’s obedience was not merely external—it was internal transformation.
- He aligned His desires, His will, His flesh, His emotions, and His mortality with the Father.
- He shows us that celestial growth requires the submission of the inner person, not just outward behavior.
Isaiah 53:10 is the doctrinal hinge between:
- Christ’s path (led, crucified, slain)
- and
- Christ’s posture (His flesh becoming subject)
It is the verse that explains why He could walk the path:
Because His heart, mind, and flesh were already yielded.
Principles for Celestial Spiritual Growth
Below are the principles Isaiah 53:10 establishes for self, family, fellowship, and community.
For Self — Yielding the Inner Life
Christ shows that obedience is not merely doing what God asks—it is becoming the kind of person who wants what God wants.
- The flesh must bow before the spirit.
- Desires must be reshaped, not merely restrained.
- True discipleship requires surrender of impulses, fears, and self‑preservation.
- God transforms us when we yield, not when we resist.
This is the path to celestial identity.
For Family — Sanctified Relationships
Families become celestial when each member learns to subject their natural impulses to divine love.
- Parents model Christ when they yield their frustrations, fears, and pride to God.
- Children learn obedience by watching surrendered hearts, not forced compliance.
- Marriage becomes holy when both partners yield their flesh—ego, defensiveness, impatience—to the Father.
A family that yields becomes a family God can shape.
For Fellowship — A Community of Yielded Hearts
Fellowship becomes Christlike when individuals stop insisting on their own way.
- Unity grows where self‑will dies.
- Contention dissolves when the flesh is subject to the Spirit.
- Service becomes joyful when we yield our preferences to the needs of others.
A yielded fellowship becomes a Zion fellowship.
For Community — Redemptive Presence
Communities are healed not by force, but by people who embody Christ’s surrendered posture.
- A yielded heart becomes a vessel of peace.
- A community influenced by surrendered disciples becomes safer, softer, and more just.
- Christlike submission creates space for reconciliation, mercy, and healing.
A community shaped by yielded disciples becomes a community touched by heaven.
Why Isaiah 53:10 is essential to the entire study
Your study is tracing the arc of Christ’s obedience:
- He allowed Himself to be led.
- He accepted crucifixion.
- He subjected His flesh.
Isaiah 53:10 explains the inner engine behind all three.
Without Isaiah 53:10:
- Christ’s obedience could look like tragedy.
- His suffering could look like victimhood.
- His death could look like defeat.
But Isaiah 53:10 reveals the truth:
Christ’s obedience was chosen, deliberate, and rooted in perfect submission to the Father.
This is the pattern for celestial growth:
- We yield our flesh.
- We align our desires.
- We submit our inner life.
- We become like Christ.
And in doing so, we become capable of walking the path the Father appoints.
Closing Summary for This Section
Christ’s submission was not merely outward—it was inward.
His flesh, His desires, His impulses, His fears, His mortality—all were brought into perfect alignment with the Father’s will.
Isaiah 53:10 reveals the heart of this submission.
It shows us that the Father’s will is not always easy, but it is always redemptive.
And it teaches us that celestial growth requires the same inward yielding.
For individuals, families, fellowships, and communities, the path to celestial life is the same:
Yield the flesh.
Submit the heart.
Align the will.
Walk with Christ.
3. “The will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father”
His will was absorbed into the Father’s
This is the heart of the verse.
The Son’s will was not merely set aside—it was swallowed up.
This is deeper than obedience.
This is unity.
This is covenantal oneness.
This is the Son saying:
“What the Father wants is what I want.”
Not reluctantly.
Not under compulsion.
But freely, lovingly, perfectly.
For us, this is the pattern:
We are invited to let our will be absorbed into God’s—to want what He wants, to choose what He chooses, to trust where He leads.
Supporting Scriptures
1. Luke 22:42
This is the clearest moment in all scripture where Christ reveals the collision between His natural will and the Father’s will—and His choice to yield.
Why it fits this section
- It shows the inner tension of mortality: Christ felt the weight of the cup.
- It shows the voluntary nature of His submission: He chose the Father’s will.
- It shows the moment of swallowing up: His will dissolves into the Father’s.
Why it fits the entire study
Your study traces the progression of obedience:
- Led
- Crucified
- Subjected
- Swallowed up
Luke 22:42 is the turning point where submission becomes unity.
2. John 6:38
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."
This is Christ’s own doctrinal explanation of His mission.
Why it fits this section
- It reveals that Christ’s entire life was oriented toward the Father’s will.
- It shows that unity of will was not a moment—it was His identity.
- It teaches that the swallowing up of His will was intentional, not situational.
Why it fits the entire study
This verse is the doctrinal backbone of the whole theme:
Christ’s obedience was not reactive—it was purposeful, pre‑chosen, and covenantal.
3. 3 Nephi 11:11
This is the resurrected Christ’s own testimony of His submission.
Why it fits this section
- It is the post‑resurrection confirmation of His perfect unity with the Father.
- It shows that His submission was complete—“in all things.”
- It reveals that His suffering was not random but willed, accepted, and fulfilled.
Why it fits the entire study
This verse ties the whole arc together:
- He was led.
- He was crucified.
- His flesh was subjected.
- His will was swallowed up.
3 Nephi 11:11 is the divine seal on the doctrine of perfect submission.
Principles for Celestial Spiritual Growth
Below are the principles these three scriptures establish for self, family, fellowship, and community.
For Self — The Transformation of Desire
Christ shows that celestial life begins when our will is not merely restrained but reshaped.
- We stop fighting God and start wanting what He wants.
- We surrender not only actions but desires.
- We trust the Father’s wisdom more than our impulses.
- We allow God to rewrite our inner life.
This is the essence of becoming like Christ.
For Family — Shared Will, Shared Peace
Families become celestial when each member seeks not personal victory but divine unity.
- Parents model Christ when they yield their will to God in parenting.
- Spouses grow in oneness when they seek God’s will above personal preference.
- Children learn peace when they see adults submit their will to God.
A family aligned with God’s will becomes a family aligned with each other.
For Fellowship — Unity Through Surrender
A fellowship becomes Zion when individual wills are swallowed up in God’s will.
- Contention dies where self‑will dies.
- Unity grows where disciples seek God’s will together.
- Service becomes joyful when we stop insisting on our own way.
A fellowship aligned with God becomes a fellowship filled with peace.
For Community — A People Governed by God’s Will
Communities are transformed when disciples live as Christ lived—submitted, surrendered, aligned.
- A community influenced by surrendered disciples becomes gentler and more just.
- Reconciliation becomes possible when people stop defending their own will.
- Christlike submission becomes a healing presence in public life.
A community shaped by God’s will becomes a community touched by heaven.
Why These Three Scriptures Are Essential to the Entire Study
Together, they form the trinity of submission:
- Luke 22:42 — The moment of surrender
- John 6:38 — The mission of surrender
- 3 Nephi 11:11 — The fulfillment of surrender
They reveal that Christ’s obedience was not:
- reluctant
- forced
- partial
- circumstantial
It was:
- chosen
- joyful
- complete
- identity‑defining
This is the pattern for celestial growth:
Our will is not crushed—it is transformed.
Our desires are not suppressed—they are sanctified.
Our identity is not erased—it is exalted.
Closing Summary for This Section
Christ did not merely obey the Father—
He became one with the Father’s will.
His will was absorbed, swallowed up, harmonized with the Father’s.
This is the deepest form of discipleship and the highest form of unity.
For us, this is the invitation:
To let God’s will become our will.
To trust Him enough to want what He wants.
To walk where He leads, not reluctantly, but joyfully.
This is the path to celestial life—
for individuals, families, fellowships, and communities.
Summary for Us
Whose Will Was Jesus Doing?
Mosiah 15:7 gives us the clearest possible answer:
“Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.”
From this single verse, the entire pattern of Christ’s obedience unfolds.
1. Jesus was doing the Father’s will — not His own
Our dissection states plainly:
“Jesus was doing the Father’s will, not His own. Mosiah 15:7 shows that every part of His suffering, obedience, and sacrifice was an act of total alignment with the Father’s purpose.”
This is the core truth:
Christ’s entire mission was an expression of the Father’s will.
2. He walked the path the Father appointed — even when it descended into death
From the “Crucified” section:
“He did not merely walk a hard path; He walked the path the Father appointed, even when that path descended into death itself.”
Christ’s crucifixion was not a political accident or human tragedy.
It was the Father’s design, the Son’s obedience, and the world’s redemption.
This teaches us that doing the Father’s will may lead us into sacrifice, but never without purpose.
Explore more: Crucifixion of Christ
3. He subjected His mortal flesh to the Father’s purpose
From our section on submission of the flesh:
“He subjected His flesh—His mortality, His vulnerability, His capacity to suffer—to the Father’s will… He yielded His humanity to the Father.”
This is the inner engine of obedience:
Christ brought His desires, impulses, fears, and mortal limitations into full alignment with the Father.
This is the pattern for us:
Yielding the Inner Life
4. He allowed His own will to be completely swallowed up in the Father’s
Our section on the will of the Son concludes:
“His will was absorbed, swallowed up, harmonized with the Father’s… This is the deepest form of discipleship and the highest form of unity.”
This is more than obedience.
This is oneness.
This is covenantal unity.
This is the Son saying:
“What the Father wants is what I want.”
This is the ultimate pattern for celestial living:
Swallowed Up in God’s Will
What This Means for Us
Because Jesus lived Mosiah 15:7 perfectly:
- We now know what it looks like to do the Father’s will ourselves.
- We know the path: being led, being faithful, being willing to sacrifice.
- We know the posture: yielding the flesh, aligning the heart, surrendering the will.
- We know the promise: resurrection follows every crucifying moment of discipleship.
Our document summarizes it plainly:
“And because He did this, we now know what it looks like to do the Father’s will ourselves.”
This is the pattern for celestial growth—for self, family, fellowship, and community.
Explore each path:
- Personal Discipleship — Discipleship in Daily Life
- Covenant Family Life — Families Are Eternal
- Christlike Fellowship — How Can I Improve My Teaching Skills?
- Redemptive Community Influence — Ways of Divine Communication
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