Gospel Doctrine Lesson 7 “The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel”

Here is my lesson for church tomorrow. I finally got one posted before I teach it!

When the church was first restored by Joseph Smith, it wasn’t all done at once. The restoration has been a slow and steady process that has come about “line upon line, precept upon precept.” If all pieces of the Gospel had been revealed all at once, people would have had a very hard time understanding and adapting. At the time of the restoration, the people were not ready for the complete level of the Gospel we have today.

As soon as we have been prepared and made ready, additional pieces have been revealed. This is so we can master the smaller concepts and become proficient at those items before moving on to learning and understanding more in-depth information.

The first truths revealed and restored were the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel, which are listed in the 4^th Article of Faith.

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Today we will be talking about the first two principles, faith and repentance.

• 1^st Principle – Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

This article of faith teaches us that the first principle of the Gospel is faith and that our faith must be centered on Jesus Christ.

• What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?
  • Alma 32:11 – And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
  • Handout #1 – LDS.org – Faith is a trust or confidence in someone or something, even though that person or thing is not seen. Faith is more than just a belief that something is real and true; it is a feeling that motivates us to do something based on our belief.
  • Why is it important that we center our faith in Jesus Christ?
    • While we can have faith in many things (the sun rising, the stars coming out at night, our church leaders leading us correctly), Jesus Christ is the only one in which can be saved. Our faith in Him leads us to do the actions which are necessary to receive a remission of our sins and to achieve exaltation.
    • Handout #2 – Bible Dictionary – All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for.
      • As it says here, faith must be based on correct knowledge. Having faith in Jesus Christ ensures that we have faith based in truth.
    • Handout #3 – Mormon.org – Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to do good works. The Holy Bible teaches, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). This does not mean that we can be saved by good works, for no amount of good works can cleanse our souls of even a trace of sin without the power of Christ’s sacrifice. But those who have genuine faith in Christ will want to follow Him and do the kinds of works He did, such as helping the poor and needy, caring for the sick, visiting the lonely, and showing good will and love to all people.
      • Having faith in Jesus Christ is also important in that when we have faith, we act upon the things He has taught us, which brings good into the world and helps strengthen the faith of others by answering their prayers.
  • Once we have started gaining faith, how can we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ?
    • D&C 19:23 – Learn   of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
      • We strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ by the peace that is received when we follow His teachings.
    • D&C 88:118 – And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
      • When we learn more about Jesus Christ and the Gospel, our faith is strengthened because we understand the Gospel more and we can see and feel of Jesus Christ’s love for us
    •  Alma 32:27 – But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
      • Faith is received and strengthened gradually. Single experiences of a great spiritual nature are rare and we should not expect our faith to be provided for by miraculous events. We must do our part to study the scriptures and live the teachings of the church and pray for confirmation.
  • How has faith helped you overcome discouragement, weakness and other difficulties?
    • There are times in our lives when we have difficulties we must go through. Sometimes it is hard to see how these experiences are for our good, but understanding and having faith that the experiences we go through benefit us in the future is a key to making it through difficult circumstances.
    • When we are in difficult situations, faith is such a blessing because we can know that God will strengthen us and help us through any situation if we but ask Him. When we pray for help, comfort, guidance and strength, faith helps us know that we will receive the assistance we ask for. It may not be in the manner we expect or want, but it will come and faith helps us know that
      • Ask people to share examples
        • My example – Several years ago I got divorced. It was probably one of the most difficult situations I’ve ever been in in my life and I hope I don’t ever have to go through something like that again. I can’t even begin to adequately describe how I felt. I had such a hard time for a long time and I remember one day I was just laying on the floor, crying, and I started talking to God. I told Him how much I was hurting and that I didn’t know how much longer I could keep going. I asked Him to please help me because I just couldn’t do it on my own anymore. I didn’t feel an immediate removal of my pain and unhappiness, but I was able to make it through the day. And the next day. And the day after that. Soon after, things didn’t seem so bad. Over time, the pain receded. I made it through. But I never would have made it without God’s help. And I wouldn’t have asked if I hadn’t known He would help me. 9 times out of 10, if I don’t think someone is going to help me, I won’t ask. I’ll just handle it myself. But at that point, I realized I couldn’t handle it myself and I went to the one person who I knew I could always count on. I had faith that He would help me if I would just ask for it, which I did. And He helped me.

• After we have developed faith in Jesus Christ, are we done? Is this all we need to do?
  • James 2:14-17
            14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
             15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
         16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
           17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

• To demonstrate our faith in God and live up to the teachings of the Gospel, we must act upon our faith. We demonstrate our faith by:
  • Living the teachings of the Gospel
  • Serving others
  • Continuing to study the teachings of the Gospel
  • Accepting God’s will when it is contrary to our own
  • Helping those in need
  • Do good unto others
  • Love one another
  • Obeying the commandments
• 2^nd Principle – Repentance
  • Handout #4 – Once a young girl was asked what she was thankful for. She replied, “Erasers.” When asked to explain, she said, “I make lots of mistakes doing math problems. Without an eraser I can’t undo my mistakes and write the correct answers on my paper.”
  • After having faith, we are asked to repent of our sins. By completing a sincere repentance, we can receive the blessings of the atonement and be cleansed from all our sins.
    • Repentance is a major theme in the Doctrine & Covenants and is repeatedly taught and emphasized by the Lord. Jesus Christ teaches that we all must repent and those who do will be blessed, while those who do not will be punished.
  • What is repentance?
    • D&C 58:42-43  
             42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
             43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

• Repentance is the process of becoming cleansed from our sins and being forgiven by the power of the Atonement. To repent, we must confess our sins and turn away from them along with turning our will to God and striving to obey His commandments.
• Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve broke down repentance in the April 1995 General Conference session
  • Handout #5 – “Sorrow for sin. [This will] bring a sincere desire for change and a willingness to submit to every requirement for forgiveness. …

“Abandonment of sin. This is an unyielding, permanent resolve to not repeat the transgression. …

“Confession of sin. You always need to confess your sins to the Lord. If they are serious transgressions, such as immorality, they need to be confessed to a bishop or stake president. …

“Restitution for sin. You must restore as far as possible all that which is stolen, damaged, or defiled. …

“Obedience to all the commandments. Full obedience brings the complete power of the gospel into your life. … It includes things you might not initially consider part of repentance, such as attending meetings, paying tithing, giving service, and forgiving others. …

“Recognition of the Savior. Of all the necessary steps to repentance, I testify that the most critically important is for you to have a conviction that forgiveness comes because of the Redeemer” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 102; or Ensign, May 1995, 76–77).

• When we repent, how is it different from breaking a bad habit or modifying a behavior?
  • President Ezra Taft Benson provided some explanation on this
    • Handout #6 – “Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. … True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13)” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 71).
      • When we repent and turn away from what we are doing wrong, we also turn our heart to the Lord and become more in tune with the Spirit
  • When we do not repent, what are some of the consequences we have to face?
    • D&C 1:33 – And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
      • We lose the companionship of the Holy Ghost
    • D&C 19: 17 – But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
      • When Christ suffered for the sins of the world in Gethsemane, He suffered so that we would not have to. When we do not repent, we lose that blessing and will have to suffer the pain from the sins we have committed.
    • D&C 29:17 – And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not.
      • By not repenting and continuing in our sins, we become subject to the wrath of God.
  • When we repent, what are some of the blessings we receive?
    • D&C 1:32 – Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven;
      • We will be forgiven of our sins
    • D&C 58:42 – Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
      • Our sins are forgiven and it was as if we had never done them
    • D&C 109:53 – But inasmuch as they will repent, thou art gracious and merciful, and wilt turn away thy wrath when thou lookest upon the face of thine Anointed.
      • God’s wrath will be turned away

Repentance is a great gift. We are all human and we all make mistakes. Nobody except Jesus Christ has lived a perfect life here on this earth. We should not be discouraged by the mistakes we have made. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught at the October 1991 General Conference:

“Repentance is a rescuing, not a dour doctrine. It is available to the gross sinner as well as to the already good individual striving for incremental improvement” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 40; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 30).

We have all been given the chance to return to our Father in Heaven by way of repentance. When we repent and are sincere in our repentance, God forgives our sins and forgets that we ever made those mistakes. We become whole again in His eyes. This is probably the greatest gift we could have ever been given.

I am thankful for both faith and repentance. Without the Gospel, I probably would have taken a very different path in life. Because of being taught the Gospel and learning to have faith, I have been able to overcome the obstacles that I have faced. And because of that faith, I have been able to partake in the Atonement by repenting when I make mistakes. I have faith that repenting works because I have experienced the peace in my life of knowing I have been forgiven when I make mistakes.

We all make mistakes. Do not think you are lost or too far gone if you have done something wrong. It is never too late to repent. Repentance is a wonderful gift that is available to each and every one of us. It can take you out of the heartache of knowing you’ve made mistakes and bring you back into the joy of knowing God loves you and will forgive you. It does work. This I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.