One of the spiritual highlights of the entire Book of Mormon is the appearance of the pre-earthly Jesus Christ to the brother of Jared. The conversation of the Savior with the brother of Jared sheds tremendous light on the pre-earthly role of Jesus Christ as well as the later role he is to play as the Savior and Redeemer of the world. It is significant to note, for example, that even in the pre-earthly existence Jesus Christ referred to himself as both the Father and the Son. Even before his birth on the earth the Savior indicates how all members of the human race can become his sons and daughters. (For further information on these topics, see the materials following Mosiah 15:1-14 and following 3 Nephi 9:17.)
Another significant part of the Savior's statement is the reference to his pre-earthly spirit body. He says to the brother of Jared: "Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men are created in the beginning after mine own image." (Ether 3:15.) This statement seems to indicate that in the scripture that says "God created man in his own image" (Genesis 1:27), the word God refers not to Elohim but to Jesus Christ, and the word image refers not to the physical resurrected body of Elohim but to the pre-earthly spiritual body of Jesus Christ.