Before the institution of the Mosaic law code, the nation Israel itself signified the Lord’s firstborn: “Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn” (Ex. 4:22). Presumably, Israel here refers to both females and males. Once the law of Moses was in place, the tribe of Levi symbolically became the firstborn (see Num. 3:12, 40–45; 8:18). Firstborn males, both persons and animals, were dedicated to the Lord (see Ex. 13:2, 12; 22:29); such belonged to the Lord and were called “holy to the Lord” (Luke 2:23). The symbolism of firstborn males (beasts and humans) is clear—they bring to mind Jesus Christ, who was the Father’s first spirit child (D&C 93:21).
President John Taylor explained the doctrine regarding Jesus Christ as the Firstborn: “If He was the first born and obedient to the laws of His Father, did He not inherit the position by right to be the representative of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world? . . . And being Himself without sin (which no other mortal was), He took the position of Savior and Redeemer, which by right belonged to Him as the first born.”108