BEING FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY

Anciently, in the 1st century AD those who followed Jesus Christ were known as "Followers of The Way". It wasn't until about the 2nd Century AD that the world began to call them "Christians". There is a very strong Egyptian theme here as Osiris/Horus was known as the "Opener of the Way" so Yeshua (Jesus) was also known as "the Opener of the Way".

When He tells His disciples in John 14:6

I am the Way ("Hodos" in Greek),
the Truth ("Alethia" in Greek),
and the Life ("Zoe" in Greek)

There is so much more meaning to this cryptic phrase. By understanding what each of these Greek words mean it sheds a little more light on His role in your life:

HODOS

The words "the Way" meant something more than we casually throw it around today. Hodos (the Way) means to have entered into an fellowship or intimate relationship with Him. It meant that you have a true connection with the heavens and are on the path of eternal life through the seven heavens (even though you are stopping through temporarily on this Telestial world). Not anyone who just wanted to "be good" so they could get to heaven was admitted into "the Way". There was a specific standard of action and receiving of certain heavenly ordained ordinances (as well as exercising faith sufficient to overcome the world) before heaven acknowledged you were in "the Way".

Nephi is very clear in 2 Nephi 31 and 32 when he talks about entering the Gate (repentance and baptism by water), the Path (baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost), then are you in the Way (the Path which leads to Eternal Life). Some of us have recently re-entered the Gate, but still have not entered the Path, let alone the Way. You need to pray and find out if you've entered in the Path (received your baptism by fire).

ALETHIA

While the word "Alethia" can be translated "truth" a more appropriate translation is "Discloser" or "Restorer". One of Christ's role is to restore your memory (or truth) of who you are to Him. Part of which includes being given your eternal name (which appears as a New Name to you). In essence, when He says He is the Discloser/Restorer He actually means it.

ZOE

The word "Zoe" isn't just a cute girls name. It also doesn't just mean "life". It has such a deep meaning - yes, it means "life" but there is a difference between CREATED life and CREATIVE life. What Christ is saying is that He has the eternal spark, the ability to CREATE LIFE, even Life Eternal (or Zoe Aeonion - "creative life through the aeons"). He is the only one capable of progressing us through the aeons (sometimes spelled "eons") to where we can become Zoe ourselves.

Sometimes when people ask me, "Well what do we call ourselves now that we're in limbo with our LDS membership, but we definitely believe in the truths restored through Joseph Smith?"  Before, I didn't have a good answer... Now I think my answer going forward is going to be: I am a Follower of the Way.