Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
What person Restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the last time before Christ comes again?
Joseph Smith
What is our purpose on this earth?
Hint: It's also the great test of life.
“Our purpose in this life is to have joy and prepare to return to God’s presence.” - PMG
It’s also a test of our obedience.
- Abraham 3:25 "We will prove them herewith... to see if [you] will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them."
- Alma 12:24 “therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of...”
- The word probationary means, “relating to a process of testing.” Life is a test.
The greatest test of life = Obedience to God.
1). What does the word “Gospel,” literally mean?
2). What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
1). ”Gospel,” literally means, “good news.”
2). “The gospel of Jesus Christ is how we come unto Christ. It includes all the doctrine, principles, laws, commandments, ordinances, and covenants necessary for our salvation and exaltation.” - PMG
“The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news because it provides the doctrine—the eternal truth—we need to come unto Him and be saved.“
“It’s called the gospel of Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is central to his plan.”
1). Who wrote the Book of Mormon?
2). Where did the Book of Mormon take place vs. The Bible? (Which continents specifically?)
1). “The book was written by many ancient prophets [in the Americas] by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon.” - Intro to BOM
(Explain what abridgment means.)
2). Book of Mormon = The Americas (North, Central and South). Bible = Europe, Asia & Africa.
What is my purpose as a missionary?
“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.”
1). "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the ____."
2). What is a ______?”
1). Prophets
2). “A person who has been called by and speaks for God. As a messenger of God, they receive commandments, prophecies, and revelations from God.“
**You too can receive personal revelation through prayer. A prophet is slightly different due to receiving revelation for the church and its people as a whole.
What is one of God’s greatest gifts to us?
Hint: Christ is the obvious one but I’m looking for something else.
”Agency - the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and to act for ourselves.”
Our actions or inactions have consequences or blessings, there’s no in-between.
What are the first principles and ordinances of The Gospel of Jesus Christ? (I’m looking for these in order.)
Hint: There‘s five.
1). Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2). Repentance.
3). Baptism for The Remission of Sins.
4). Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
5). Enduring to the end.
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
(Explain what a keystone is.)
- 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
Why do we have so many different religious churches today?
**Double Points
Because of the Apostasy.
”It was a period of time 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.”
What are the 5 laws that members make with God in the temple endowment?
**Double points.
Acronym: CCOGS (”Cogs,” with two c’s.)
- Law of Chastity: Members have sexual relations only with their legally wedded spouse.
- Law of Consecration: Members dedicate their time, talents, and everything the Lord has blessed them with to building up the Church of Jesus Christ.
- Law of Obedience: Members strive to keep God's commandments.
- Law of the Gospel: Members follow the higher law that Jesus taught while on earth.
- Law of Sacrifice: Members support the Lord's work and repent with a broken heart.
“These five covenants are inseparable, and members must make all five or none. Keeping these covenants helps members become Saints and strengthens their relationship with God.”
How does one receive blessings in our lives?
D&C 130: 20-21
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
- Obedience enables blessings.
What are the 3 Kingdom's of Glory, and who will qualify for each?
Double Points!!
Celestial- The celestial kingdom is the place prepared for those who have “received the testimony of Jesus” and been “made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.” To inherit this gift, we must receive the ordinances of salvation, keep the commandments, and repent of our sins.
Terrestrial- Generally speaking, individuals in the terrestrial kingdom will be honorable people “who were blinded by the craftiness of men.” This group will include members of the Church who were “not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.”
Telestial- Telestial glory will be reserved for individuals who “received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.” These individuals will receive their glory after being redeemed from spirit prison.
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?
(Looking for exact wording.)
Joseph Smith wanted “to know which of all the sects (churches) was right.”
1). What is physical death?
2). What is spiritual death?
1). Physical death - normal death that we'll all experience here on earth. (separation of body and spirit.)
2). Spiritual Death = being out of the presence of Heavenly Father and his influences.
Do little children need to be baptized before the age of 8?
Why or why not?
Little children DO NOT need to be baptized and are redeemed through the mercy of Jesus Christ (see Moroni 8:4–24).
They are not to be baptized until they reach the age of accountability, which is eight years of age (see Doctrine and Covenants 68:27).
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/carried them.
What are the 2 great commandments?
How does this relate to Missionary Work?
1). "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and mind."
2). ”Love thy neighbor as thyself"
We show love to God’s children by serving them through 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.
What is the significance of Joseph Smith and what role does the Book of Mormon play?
The Church of Jesus Christ and its gospel was restored through Joseph Smith for the last time before Christ comes again.
The BOM is proof of the restoration and how we can know if Joseph was a prophet of God.
*If the BOM is true, then Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. If Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, then The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
1). Where do we go after we die on this earth?
2). What are the two specific locations called?
1). The Spirit World
2). Paradise & Prison
Paradise - the righteous spirits who have departed from this life await the resurrection of the body. It is a condition of happiness and peace.
Prison - for those who were disobedient in mortality. 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.
1). What is exaltation?
2). How we do we receive it?
1). It's the highest state of happiness and glory in the celestial kingdom. (There are actually 3 levels within the celestial kingdom.)
- “Sea turtle” —> “Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial.”
2). One must fully obey and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make/keep all the ordinances and covenants (Ex. Baptism, Endowment, Sealing…)
(This is why temples are SO IMPORTANT!)
According to Moroni, 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. Please give them in order.)
- Search, Ponder & Pray with real intent.
Answer will be given through the Holy Ghost.
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.
According to President Nelson, if I’m on the fence or not fully confident in serving a mission, what should I do to find out for myself?
“For you young and able sisters, a mission is also a powerful but optional, opportunity. We love sister missionaries and welcome them wholeheartedly. What you contribute to this work is magnificent!
Pray to know if the Lord would have you serve a mission, and the Holy Ghost will respond to your heart and mind.“
-President Nelson, 2022.