Post # 165
--- Let’s Back Up!!! --- Preach My Gospel -- #1
Dear Family
and Friends
I have been
posting the lessons for the Come, Follow Me for Individuals and families for
each one of you to study. This year we are studying the Book of Mormon. Which
is great! I love studying all of the scriptures, especially the book of Mormon😊
I hope that each one of you will grow to love this wonderful sacred book as
well😊 of course I know that there are some
of you out there who al ready love the Book of Mormon.
I am sure that you are just as happy as I am
to be studying it again. I got to thinking about when I knew nothing about the
gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon and how hard it was for me in the
beginning when I became a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. I knew so little and I learn so slowly☹
So, I thought it would be good to Back Up just
a little bit and share some of the basics with each of you. This may be
something that most of you already know. If that is the case then this may just
be a good review for you, but for those of you who aren’t at that level,
learning the basics may be really helpful for each one of you. So here we go😊
😊 😊 Are you Ready???? 😊
😊 😊
I have
mentioned to you before that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. I joined the church in my early 30’s. Before I joined the church my
life was full of things that I thought would bring me happiness and joy, and sometimes they did for a short time – a
fleeting moment, though it may have seemed to last longer nonetheless it still was not true happiness:(
But I came to
realize that I was only deceiving myself,
just trying to convince myself that this was what happiness is. You do know
that this is exactly what the adversary wants…. To deceive us, to distract us, to
make us doubt ourselves, to think we are not good enough, to think that we NEED
certain things in order to be happy! Its
his job to destroy us, to keep us alone – not in a family unit☹
The adversary
knows us as well as our Heavenly Father does and he will use our weaknesses,
our doubts, our fears, our uncertainty, and so many other things to get us to
give him some of our control to have some power over our lives. The adversary; Satan; the devil; and
I am sure he is called other things, but we do not want or need to learn about him.
We only need
to be aware of how he can convince us to do what he wants through his cunning
lies and other subtle plans. The adversary is miserable, he wants each one of
us to be miserable as well. The adversary’s goal is to disrupt our families, to
cause contention among even the most peaceful of people☹ Then
he will get you to allow him into your life, only to destroy you one inch at a
time☹
You must know
that the adversary has NO power over you unless YOU give him that power. Just
as Christ stands at the door knocking, waiting for each one of us to let Him
in, the devil waits for his chance to squeeze into our lives just as a mouse
will squeeze through the smallest of holes and then he will bring all of his
friends in to destroy whatever they touch!
You have surely been witness to what a mess rodents can make of things. The adversary wants to make such a mess of our lives that we become just as miserable as he himself is. As you can probably tell, I do not
like mice and other rodents and I like the adversary and his followers even
less for they seek to destroy my family as well as myself😊
I thought it
might be good for me to begin at the beginning. So, here I am in my old life.
My oldest daughter wanted to go to church, so I drove her to church and I sat
outside in the truck waiting for her. I had nothing against my children going
to church. to my knowledge I didn’t go to church growing up. It was only when I
went to my friend’s house that I was able to go to church with her family😊
My step-
fathers did not believe in going to church. we always had to be busy at home
doing our chores – all day, every day, every minute of our waking being, we
were cleaning the house. that's how it was with my first stepfather. We would get into so much trouble if we were caught not cleaning and if we went to sleep 'on the job' or before the job was done to his satisfaction he would wake us up out of a sound sleep to 'get it done right!' And to be truthful, he would not be very nice or gentle in the way he woke us up:( he was really rather mean intentionally
My next stepfather wouldn’t let us do our homework, or even read a book. He did not believe that we needed book learning to get a job. he felt that we did not 'need any book learning'because he didn’t read books growing and he has a good job. he gave us no allowance with this at all so we did the next best thing and we did our homework on the school bus during the ride to and from school each day! Our childhood was therefore a very conflicted and confused mess to say the least☹
My next stepfather wouldn’t let us do our homework, or even read a book. He did not believe that we needed book learning to get a job. he felt that we did not 'need any book learning'because he didn’t read books growing and he has a good job. he gave us no allowance with this at all so we did the next best thing and we did our homework on the school bus during the ride to and from school each day! Our childhood was therefore a very conflicted and confused mess to say the least☹
Anyway, I
didn’t mind at all that she wanted to go to church, so I took her😊and
she loved it. It didn’t take long before her sister and her brother began to go
to church with their sister and I would wait in the parking lot for them to get
done. This became our new Sunday activity for our family, at least for the kids and I. Until one day some
Sisters from the church came knocking on my door😊
I was unsure
if I should let them into my home. As I had never heard of people coming to
your home to teach you church lessons. I visited with my husband about this and he said
that it would be okay. I let them come into our home to teach her but I sat in on
every lesson. I wanted to know exactly what these ladies were teaching, my
daughter, as I am sure you would too😊
These two
Sister Missionaries were very kind and I felt as though they truly wanted to
teach my daughter about Jesus Christ. I
was a little familiar with Him and God, but not this Joseph Smith fellow. And then they had another book of scripture for us to read from.
I only had a Bible, though i was not at all very familiar with it. The sister missionaries as I learned they were called, were good to answer all of our questions😊
Well, guys, I
hope you are not busy because I would like to take you on a bit of a journey of
discovery and learning. If you have already had this lesson, then consider this
a review for you and your family members and friends. If you have not had this lesson,
then it will be all new learning experience for each one of you to work on together with
your family members and your friends,. Are you all ready to begin this journey with me? 😊
The following
is the first lesson and I found it in the Preach My Gospel Book. Back when I
was listening in on the lessons that they were teaching my Daughter they didn’t
have a preach my gospel book , at least I don't think that they did. The missionaries used a little stand with
pictures on it and they had some videos that they used as well. I know that they do things a lot differently now😊 The following is directly from this book –
except the parts I have added in😊
Lesson 1:
The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
I
wanted to share some of this information with each one of you about this first
lesson in the Preach My Gospel book. Don’t feel badly if you take several days
to complete this lesson. I believe that the Sister missionaries came to visit
us once a week, but I could be wrong😊 These are some of the questions that the missionaries
may ask you at some point during this first lesson. How would you answer the
questions below?
·
Will you read the
Book of Mormon and ask God in prayer to know that it is the word of God?
·
Will you ask God in
prayer to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet?
God Is Our Loving Heavenly
Father
God is our Heavenly Father.
We are His children. He has a body of flesh and bone that is glorified and
perfected. He loves us. He understands and feels our sorrows and rejoices in
our progress. He wants to communicate with us, and we can communicate with Him
through sincere prayer.
He has given us this experience on the earth so
we can learn and grow. We can show our love for Him through our choices and our
obedience to His commandments.Heavenly Father has provided us, His children, with a way to be successful in this life and to return to live in His presence. However, we must be pure and clean through obedience in order to do so. Disobedience moves us away from Him. Central to our Father’s plan is Jesus Christ’s Atonement. Jesus Christ’s Atonement included His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane as well as His suffering and death on the cross. Through Christ’s Atonement we can be freed from the burden of our sins and develop faith and strength to face our trials.
What have you learned from what you have read about God who is our Heavenly Father? Please read and have your family members and friends read through the following verses and answer the question below, to learn what the scriptures teach us about the nature of God and Jesus Christ:
Scripture Study
What is the nature of God the
Father and Jesus Christ?
So, what did you find in your study of these passages about the nature of God the Father and Jesus Christ? For example, the first scripture reference is 1 Nephi 17:36:
36 Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
From this verse of scripture we learn that God the Father and Jesus Christ created the earth for us to live on. Which means that They loved us enough to provide a place for us to live. So maybe the nature of God the Father and Jesus Christ in this verse might be Loving!
If we look up the footnotes we learn that we were created in the image of God. We also learn the purpose of man [and woman]. We learn that we are Spirit children of God. We learn that all things were created by the power of God. So maybe the nature of God the Father and Jesus Christ in this verse might be All Powerful? Strong?
Did you answer the above question for each passage of scripture that you looked up? What did you learn? Let’s move on to the next section directly from the Preach My Gospel book – again except the parts I have added 😊talking to you:
The Gospel Blesses
Individuals and Families
The restored gospel of Jesus
Christ blesses individuals and families. It helps husbands and wives, parents
and children as they strive to develop stronger relationships and spiritual
strength in their families. These blessings are available now and in eternity.
The gospel of Jesus Christ provides help with current concerns and challenges.
The message of the gospel of
Jesus Christ is that all individuals are part of God’s family and that families
can be united now and in eternity. Because families are ordained of God, they
are the most important social unit in time and in eternity. God has established
families to bring happiness to His children, allow them to learn correct
principles in a loving atmosphere, and prepare them for eternal life. The home
is the best place to teach, learn, and apply principles of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. A home established on gospel principles will be a place of refuge and
safety. It will be a place where the Spirit of the Lord can abide, blessing
family members with peace, joy, and happiness. Through prophets in every age,
including our own, God has revealed His plan of happiness for individuals and
families.
After you and your family members and friends have had a chance to read the above paragraphs together😊 tell me what have you learned about how the gospel blesses individuals and families?
Heavenly Father Reveals
His Gospel in Every Dispensation
One important way that God
shows His love for us is by calling prophets, who are given the priesthood—the
power and authority given to man to act in God’s name for the salvation of His
children. Prophets learn the gospel of Jesus Christ by revelation. They in turn
teach the gospel to others and testify of Jesus Christ as the Savior and
Redeemer. The teachings of prophets are found in sacred books called
scriptures.
Our Father’s plan for us
to be successful in this life and to return to live with Him is called the
gospel of Jesus Christ, with Jesus’s Atonement at the center of that plan. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive
eternal life if we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, are baptized by
immersion for the remission of sins, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
endure to the end. “This is the way; and there is none other way nor name given
under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold,
this is the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:21). All people have the gift of
agency, which includes the freedom to accept or reject the gospel as taught by
the prophets and apostles. Those who choose to obey are blessed, but
those who ignore, reject, or distort the gospel do not receive God’s promised
blessings.
Whenever people choose to
disregard, disobey, or distort any gospel principle or ordinance, whenever they
reject the Lord’s prophets, or whenever they fail to endure in faith, they
distance themselves from God and begin to live in spiritual darkness.
Eventually this leads to a condition called apostasy. When widespread apostasy
occurs, God withdraws His priesthood authority to teach and administer the
ordinances of the gospel.
Biblical history has recorded
many instances of God speaking to prophets, and it also tells of many instances
of apostasy. To end each period of general apostasy, God has shown His love for
His children by calling another prophet and giving him priesthood authority to
restore and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ anew. In essence, the prophet acts
as a steward to oversee the household of God here on earth. Such periods of
time headed by prophetic responsibility are called dispensations.
God revealed the gospel of
Jesus Christ to Adam and gave him priesthood authority. Adam was the first
prophet on the earth. By revelation, Adam learned of mankind’s proper
relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost; of
the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ; and of the first principles and
ordinances of the gospel. Adam and Eve taught their children these truths and encouraged
them to develop faith and to live the gospel in all aspects of their lives. Adam
was followed by other prophets, but over time the posterity of Adam rejected
the gospel and fell into apostasy, choosing to be unrighteous.
Thus began the pattern of
prophetic dispensations that makes up much of the recorded history of the Old
Testament. Heavenly Father revealed His gospel through direct communication to
prophets such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Each prophet was called by God to
begin a new dispensation of the gospel. To each of these prophets God granted
priesthood authority and revealed eternal truths. Unfortunately, in each
dispensation people eventually used their agency to choose to reject the gospel
and then fell into apostasy.
Scripture Study: Prophets
|
Dispensations
|
|
·
Amos
3:7
|
·
Bible Dictionary, “Dispensations”
|
Now that you have finished reading the paragraphs and searching the scriptures😊 tell me what have you and your family members and friends learned about prophets? Why does the Lord call prophets on the earth? What have you learned about dispensations? How do these two things, prophets and dispensations work together for the work of the Lord?
The Savior’s Earthly
Ministry and Atonement
A few hundred years before
the birth of Jesus Christ, people again fell into apostasy. But when the Savior
began His mortal ministry He established His Church again on the earth.
Heavenly Father sent His Son
to the earth to atone for the sins of all mankind and overcome death:
“For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son … that the world through
him might be saved” (John 3:16–17). Our Heavenly Father sent His
Son, Jesus Christ, to take upon Him, by His suffering, the sins of all who
would live on this earth and to overcome physical death. The Savior made an infinite
atoning sacrifice so that if we have faith in Him, repent, are baptized,
receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we can receive forgiveness of
our sins and enter and follow the path that will lead us to eternal life in
God’s presence
(see 2 Nephi 31:13–21).
During His earthly ministry,
the Savior taught His gospel and performed many miracles. He called twelve men
to be His Apostles and laid His hands on their heads to give them priesthood
authority. He organized His Church, fulfilled prophecy, and was rejected and
crucified. Most important, He completed the Atonement. The Son of God, the Lord
Jesus Christ, completed all that His Heavenly Father sent Him to do.
Before the Savior’s death and
Resurrection, He gave His Apostles authority to teach His gospel, perform the
ordinances of salvation, and establish His Church in the world.
Scripture Study
“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.” —Articles of Faith 1:5
The Great Apostasy
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.
After centuries of spiritual
darkness, truth-seeking men and women protested against current religious
practices. They recognized that much of the doctrine and many of the ordinances
of the gospel had been changed or lost. They sought for greater spiritual
light, and many spoke of the need for a restoration of truth. None of these
people claimed, however, that God had called them to be a prophet.
Instead, they tried to reform
teachings and practices that they believed had been changed or corrupted. Their
efforts led to the organization of many Protestant churches. This Reformation
resulted in an increased emphasis on religious freedom, which opened the way
for the final Restoration.
The Savior’s Apostles
foretold this universal apostasy. They also foretold that the gospel of Jesus
Christ and His Church would be restored once more upon the earth.
Scripture Study
|
·
Topical Guide, “Apostasy
of the Early Christian Church”
|
Wow! That was a few passages to search through wasn’t it? So, what did you and your family members and friends learn thus far about the Great apostasy? Guess what? There is still more to learn about the Great Apostasy
The Restoration of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith
When the circumstances were
right, Heavenly Father once again reached out to His children in love. He
called a young man named Joseph Smith as a prophet. Through him the fulness of
the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth.
Joseph Smith lived in the
United States, which was perhaps the only country to enjoy religious freedom at
the time. It was at a time of great religious excitement in the eastern United
States. His family members were deeply religious and constantly sought for
truth. But many ministers claimed to have the true gospel. Joseph desired “to know which of all the sects
was right” (Joseph Smith—History 1:18).
The Bible taught there was “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). Joseph attended different churches, but he remained confused about which church he should join. He later wrote:
The Bible taught there was “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). Joseph attended different churches, but he remained confused about which church he should join. He later wrote:
“So
great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it
was impossible for a person young as I was … to come to any certain conclusion
who was right and who was wrong. … In the midst of this war of words and tumult
of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these
parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be
right, which is it, and how shall I know it?” (Joseph Smith—History 1:8, 10).
As Joseph sought truth among
the different faiths, he turned to the Bible for guidance. He read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him” (James 1:5). Because of this passage, Joseph
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. We have four different accounts of what
followed, recorded by him or scribes under his direction (see Gospel Topics
essay, “First Vision Accounts”). In one account, he
described his experience:
“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!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17).
In this vision God the Father
and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith. The Savior told Joseph not
to join any of the churches, for they “were all wrong” and
“all their creeds
were an abomination.” He stated, “They draw near to me with their
lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the
commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power
thereof” (Joseph Smith—History 1:19).
Even though many
good people believed in Christ and tried to understand and teach His gospel,
they did not have the fulness of truth or the priesthood authority to baptize
and perform other saving ordinances. They had inherited a state of apostasy as
each generation was influenced by what the previous one passed on, including
changes in the doctrine and in ordinances such as baptism. As God had done with
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other prophets, He called Joseph Smith to be a
prophet through whom the fulness of the gospel was restored to the earth.
After the appearance of the
Father and the Son, other heavenly messengers, or angels, were sent to Joseph
Smith and his associate Oliver Cowdery. John the Baptist appeared and conferred
upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the Aaronic Priesthood, which includes the
authority to perform the ordinance of baptism. Peter, James, and John (three of
Christ’s original Apostles) appeared and conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood
upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, restoring the same authority given to
Christ’s Apostles anciently. With this priesthood authority, Joseph Smith was
directed to organize the Church of Jesus Christ again on the earth. Through
him, Jesus Christ called twelve Apostles.
The time in which we live is
referred to by Bible prophets as the last days, the latter days, or the dispensation
of the fulness of times. It is the period of time just before the Second Coming
of Jesus Christ. It is the final dispensation. This is why the Church is named
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A living prophet directs the
Church today. This prophet, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, is the authorized successor to Joseph Smith. He and the present
Apostles trace their authority to Jesus Christ in an unbroken chain of
ordinations through Joseph Smith.
Scripture Study
The Book of Mormon:
Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Knowing that doubt,
disbelief, and misinformation would remain after centuries of darkness, our
loving Heavenly Father brought forth an ancient volume of holy scripture
comparable to the Bible, which contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel
of Jesus Christ. This volume of holy scripture provides convincing evidence
that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. This record is the Book of Mormon:
Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
Joseph Smith was directed by
a heavenly messenger named Moroni to a hill where golden plates had lain hidden
for centuries. These golden plates contained the writings of prophets giving an
account of God’s dealings with some of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.
Joseph Smith translated the contents of these plates by the power of God. The
prophets in the Book of Mormon knew about the mission of the Savior and taught
His gospel.
After His Resurrection, Christ appeared to these people. He taught
them His gospel and established His Church. The Book of Mormon proves that “God
does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as
well as in generations of old” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:11). In order to
know that the Book of Mormon is true, a person must read it and ponder and pray
about it. The honest seeker of truth will soon come to feel that the Book of
Mormon is the word of God.
Reading, pondering, and
praying about the Book of Mormon are critical for an enduring conversion. Those
who begin reading the Book of Mormon for the first time take important steps
toward coming to know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that the true
Church has been restored to the earth.
Scripture Study
Pray to Know the Truth
through the Holy Ghost
Prayer
·
Address our Heavenly
Father (“Our Father in Heaven, …”).
·
Express the feelings
of your heart (gratitude, questions, requests to confirm that the Book of
Mormon is true, and so on).
·
Close (“In the name
of Jesus Christ, amen”).
This message of the
Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ is either true or it is not. We can
know that it is true by the power of the Holy Ghost, as promised in Moroni 10:3–5. Consistent study of the
scriptures (particularly the Book of Mormon), regular church attendance, and
sincere prayer help us feel the power of the Holy Ghost and discover truth.
After reading and pondering the message of the Book of Mormon, any who desire
to know the truth must ask our Heavenly Father in prayer in the name of Jesus
Christ if it is true.
Because God is our Father and
we are His children, He will help us recognize truth. When we pray with faith,
sincerity, and real intent—a commitment to act on the answers we receive—God
will answer our questions, guide our lives, and help us make good decisions.
When we pray, we address our
Heavenly Father. We thank Him for our blessings and ask to know that the
message of the Book of Mormon is true. No one can know of spiritual truths
without prayer.
In answer to our prayers, the
Holy Ghost will teach us truth through our feelings and thoughts. Feelings that
come from the Holy Ghost are powerful, but they are also usually gentle and
quiet. As we begin to feel that what we are learning is true, we will desire to
know all that we can about the Restoration.
Knowing that the Book of
Mormon is true leads to a knowledge that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet
and that the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through him.
It is important for each of us to understand that our Heavenly Father will answer each of our prayers, this is usually done through our hearts and our minds. And if we really want to know the truth of something and we are sincere in our prayers, if we want to know for sure if God is there. He will always answer our prayers😊
Scripture Study
Here are some key definitions that you may find helpful in teaching your family members and friends:
Key Definitions
- Agency: The ability and privilege God gives people to choose and to act for themselves.
- Apostasy: A turning away from the truth by individuals, the Church, or entire nations. It includes rebellion against authority and rejection of prophets. Evidence of apostasy includes transgressing God’s laws, changing gospel ordinances, and breaking covenants (see Isaiah 24:5).
- Dispensation: A period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the keys of the holy priesthood. In addition to Jesus Christ, prophets such as Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Joseph Smith have each started a new gospel dispensation. When the Lord organizes a dispensation, the gospel is revealed anew so that the people of that dispensation do not have to depend on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation. The dispensation begun by Joseph Smith is known as the “dispensation of the fulness of times.”
- Priesthood: The authority and power that God gives to man to act in the name of Jesus Christ in all things for the salvation of mankind.
- Prophet: A man who has been called by and speaks for God. As a messenger of God, a prophet receives priesthood authority, commandments, prophecies, and revelations from God. His responsibility is to make known God’s will and true character to mankind and to show the meaning of His dealings with them. A prophet denounces sin and foretells its consequences. He is a preacher of righteousness. On occasion, a prophet may be inspired to foretell the future for the benefit of mankind. His primary responsibility, however, is to bear witness of Christ.
- Redeemer: Jesus Christ is the great Redeemer of mankind because He, through His Atonement, paid the price for the sins of mankind and made possible the Resurrection of all people. To redeem is to deliver, to purchase, or to ransom, such as to free a person from bondage by payment. Redemption refers to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and to deliverance from sin. Jesus’s Atonement redeems all mankind from physical death. Through His Atonement, which includes His suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross as well as His Resurrection, those who have faith in Him and who repent are redeemed from spiritual death.
- Reformer: To reform is to make changes to something in order to improve it. The term reformers refers to those men and women (such as Martin Luther, William Tyndale, and John Wycliffe) who protested the practices of the existing church, which they felt needed to be reformed.
- Restoration: To restore means to return to a former condition, or to bring back. The Restoration, as used by Latter-day Saints, means that the true Church of Jesus Christ, which was lost through apostasy, was brought back as it originally existed when organized by Jesus Christ. Unlike the Reformation, the Restoration was accomplished by divine authority through revelation.
- Revelation: Communication from God to His children on earth. Revelation may come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost by way of inspiration, visions, dreams, or visits by angels. Revelation provides guidance that can lead the faithful to eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. The Lord reveals His work to His prophets and confirms to believers that the revelations to the prophets are true (see Amos 3:7). Through revelation, the Lord provides individual guidance for every person who seeks it and who has faith, repents, and is obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Remember who
you are – you are each a child of God! Your Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus
Christ love each one of you more than words can say😊
remember to continue saying your prayers every day – at least morning and
night. Please share what you are learning with your family members and friends if
you are not studying with them😊 Until my next post, please remember
to make it a great week😊
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