John 1
In the Bible, the creation story is told in Genesis, Hebrews, and here in a shorter form in John. In the Book of Mormon we find it in 1 Nephi, Mosiah, Doctrine and Covenants, Moses, and Abraham.
It is important to know that the John speaking in the Book of John is the man who becomes an apostle of Christ, not John the Baptist who most assuredly knew Jesus as they were cousins. This is important because John recognized Jesus as soon as he saw Him as the Light of the World. He testified of who Jesus was.
John went on to write the Gospel of John, three epistles and is the author of the book of Revelation. (www.lds.org).
Most of the time the way they number verses is helpful and makes it easier to find specific scriptures. It is important to remember that this was not always the case and I think these verses in John point it out. Lets take a look at the difference.
John 1:1-14 with numbers
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 ¶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to becomethe sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Same verses with out numbers
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Obviously, I chose the paragraph markers, but they are breaks that make sense with the content and for me, this format makes the verses clearer and easier to see what John is saying. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh and dwelt among us; in the beginning Jesus dwelt with God, we see repeatedly Jesus referred to as the Light, John states that he is not the light but the witness of the Light, and that the world was made by the Light. Taking this and rereading Genesis we understand that Jesus created the world under the direction of our Heavenly Father "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not".
