“What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?”
Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question: “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ response is more than a tale of helping another, it is a lesson about the plan of salvation, with Jesus as the compassionate Savior.
“‘The Good Samaritan: A Type and Shadow of the Plan of Salvation,” by John W. Welch, BYU Studies, Volume 38, no. 2
The Good Samaritan is more than an admonition to be kind to others. It is an impressive allegory of the fall and redemption of mankind. Elements in the parable testify of Jesus as Savior. This article contains a chart suitable for classroom use.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan Website
This website offers a chart [Elements in the Parable of the Good Samaritan Chart] showing the Luke 10 text of the Good Samaritan with its Early Christian interpretation and modern Latter-day Saint interpretation. Another chart [Good Samaritan Unified Chart] shows the writings of Early Church Fathers who wrote about the Good Samaritan. Authors are Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine, and Isidore, alongside interpretations based on the Latter-day Saint view of redemption.
“Plumbing the Heart of Social Institutions: Revealing Truths from the Parable of the Good Samaritan,” video presentation by John W. Welch, The Wheatley Institution, 5 January 2015
This 50-minute presentation by John W. Welch on the Good Samaritan shows what the parable really means as Jesus taught it, how the parable now is known as a force for doing service and being an influence for good in the world.
“The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols,” John W. Welch, Ensign, February 2007, (PDF format with artwork)
“The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols,” John W. Welch, Ensign, February 2007, (text-only format)
The parable of the Good Samaritan testifies of Christ. This article examines this parable and shows its teachings about the plan of salvation, the Savior’s atoning love, and our journey toward inheriting eternal life. This article (in two formats) gives a clear overview of the ancient meaning of the parable of the Good Samaritan.
“The Way of the Master,” Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, January 2003
The Good Samaritan. By learning of Him, by believing in Him, by following Him, there is the capacity to become like Him.
“Your Jericho Road,” Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, February 1989
Can there actually occur in my own life, on my Jericho Road, such a treasured experience?
New Testament Chart 9-9: The Good Samaritan
This chart explains how the Good Samaritan story is an impressive allegory of the fall and redemption of all mankind.
