Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Which prophet helped to Restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the last time before Christ comes again?
Joseph Smith
What is our purpose on this earth?
- Abraham 3:25 "We will prove them herewith... to see if [we] will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them."
Our purpose in this life is to have joy and prepare to return to God’s presence.
Become like God
What are the 5 principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
- Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Repentance
- Baptism for the Remission of Sins
- Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost
- Enduring to the End.
Who wrote the Book of Mormon?
Where did the Book of Mormon take place vs. The Bible? (Which continents?)
- Prophets in the Americas
- Book of Mormon = The Americas (North, Central and South).
- Bible = Europe and Africa.
(Picture)
What is my purpose as a missionary?
To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the ____"
Why are these individuals important?
- Prophets
- They're important because they receive direct prophecies and revelation from God that is then relayed onto us to guide us.
Where were we before this Earth? What are some things that happened during this time that we know about
Why did we shout for joy?
pre-mortal life. We fought the war in heaven and chose to follow Christ.
We shouted for joy because we knew we were getting a body, and the opportunity to grow and become like God
What is our first covenant with God?
Baptism
Joseph Smith said, "_____ is the most correct of any ____ on earth, and the keystone of our religion. And a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."
- The Book of Mormon
- Book
Why should someone serve a mission?
(There are multiple answers for this).
President Ezra Taft Benson said (1985–1994)
- “We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family”
- All Young Men who are worthy and willing to serve, are called to the work.
- Because it's a commandment from God
- Because it's not about YOU but the lives you'll bless from serving and spreading this restored gospel.
- People are kept from the truth and don't know where to find it.
What is the Great Apostasy?
**Double Points
After the death of Jesus Christ, wicked people persecuted the Apostles and Church members and killed many of them. With the death of the Apostles, priesthood keys and the presiding priesthood authority were taken from the earth. The Apostles had kept the doctrine of the gospel pure and maintained the order and standard of worthiness for Church members. Without the Apostles, over time the doctrine was corrupted, and unauthorized changes were made in Church organization and priesthood ordinances, such as baptism and conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Without revelation and priesthood authority, people relied on human wisdom to interpret the scriptures and the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. False ideas were taught as truth. Much of the knowledge of the true character and nature of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost was lost. Important parts of the doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost became distorted or forgotten. The priesthood authority given to Christ’s Apostles was no longer present on the earth. This apostasy eventually led to the emergence of many churches.
Who created the earth?
Under the direction of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created the earth as a place for us to live and gain experience.
The Savior's sacrifice is also known as The A_______?
What does this word mean?
Atonement: to reconcile/restore man to God.
- To atone is to suffer the penalty for an act of sin, thereby removing the effects of sin from the repentant sinner and allowing him to be brought to God.
Jesus Christ was the only one capable of making a perfect atonement for all mankind. He was able to do so because of His selection and foreordination in the Grand Council before the world was formed. His divine Sonship, and His sinless life.
His Atonement included His suffering for the sins of mankind, the shedding of His blood, and His death and subsequent resurrection from the grave.
Because of the Atonement, all people will rise from the dead with immortal bodies (1 Cor. 15:22).
The Atonement also provides the way for us to be forgiven of our sins and live forever with God. But a person who has reached the age of accountability and received the law can receive these blessings only if he has faith in Jesus Christ, repents of his sins, receives the ordinances of salvation, and obeys the commandments of God.
The scriptures clearly teach that if Christ had not atoned for our sins, no law, ordinance, or sacrifice would satisfy the demands of justice, and man could never regain God’s presence.
Why does Joseph Smith say the Book of Mormon is the most correct book, and not the Bible?
- President Harold B. Lee one said,
“The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own _____."
Homes
Around the years of 1820, what was Joseph Smith's lingering question about all the new sects/churches, when many claimed to preach the true gospel?
Joseph Smith wanted “to know which of all the sects was right.”
Law of Truth - 1 of none are true.
What is physical death?
What is spiritual death?
- Physical death = normal death that we'll all experience here on earth. (separation of body and spirit)
- Spiritual Death = being out of the presence of Heavenly Father. Sin.
How do we live the Gospel daily?
Build faith in Christ by reading scriptures, prayer, service, etc.
Repent daily
remember our baptismal covenant to represent Christ in everything we do, Keep his commandments, and always remember Him
live worthy of the spirit, practice learning the language of the spirit, pray for the spirit
What is the key difference between the testimonies of the 3 witnesses vs. 8 witnesses?
3 witnesses = By the grace of God and Christ, an angel came down and brought the plates so they could see them.
8 witnesses = Joseph Smith showed the plates to these men and they actually lifted them. ("hefted.")
What are the 2 great commandments?
How does this relate to Missionary Work?
- Loving God
- Loving Your Neighbor
We show God our love for him by doing what he asks. (Obedience)
We show love to our neighbors/randoms by serving them and bringing the message of the restoration of the gospel. We serve people that we love. Anyone we serve is said that we're only serving God by doing so.
Joseph Smith decided to ask God what he should do. In the spring of 1820 he went to a nearby grove of trees and knelt in prayer.
What was Joseph Smith's Vision?
What did Jesus Christ say to Joseph Smith when answering his lingering question?
In the words of Joseph Smith:
“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. … When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"
The Savior told Joseph not to join any of the churches, for they “were all wrong” and “all their creeds were an abomination.”
The Savior called Joseph Smith to restore his true gospel with the same foundation of old. (This is why HE'S SO IMPORTANT!)
Where do we go after we die on this earth?
- The Spirit World
Those who chose to obey God in this life live in a state of happiness, peace, and rest from troubles and care.
Those who chose not to obey in this life and did not repent will live in a state of unhappiness.
In the spirit world the gospel is preached to those who did not obey the gospel or have the opportunity to hear it while on earth. We remain in the spirit world until we are resurrected.
How do we repent?
Why do we repent?
Repent by turning away from the sin, and trying our best to reconcile
We repent to become more like God, to improve ourselves, to come closer to the Savior
How do we gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon to know if it's true? (There are 3 specific actions we should do).
What was Moroni's invitation to all who encounter the Book of Mormon?
Hint: You can find the answers in The Book of Moroni.
Moroni 10:3-5
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
= READ, Remember his Mercy, PONDER in your hearts, ASK w/sincere heart, real intent, and having faith in Christ. Answer will be given through the Holy Ghost.
Read, ponder, ask God
What defines a successful missionary?
- It's measured primarily by your commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.
- One who's built their own testimony by building others.
- One who doesn't compare themselves to others
One who can:
- Feel the Spirit testify to people through you.
Love people and desire their salvation.
Obey with exactness.
Live so that you can receive and know how to follow the Spirit, who will show you where to go, what to do, and what to say.
Develop Christlike attributes.
Work effectively every day, do your very best to bring souls to Christ, and seek earnestly to learn and improve.
Help establish and strengthen the Church (the stake and ward) wherever you are assigned to work.
Warn people of the consequences of sin. Invite them to make and keep commitments.
Teach and serve other missionaries.
Go about doing good and serving people at every opportunity, whether or not they accept your message.