A Review of a Few Basic Principles of the Gospel
“The most basic principles of the gospel are sometimes those least understood.” Theodore M. Burton
The following information was obtained by searching through numerous LDS books and choosing a few definitions that caught my eye. Please feel free to add to what I've provided.
Gospel
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is perhaps the most comprehensive subject that we can study...it embraces all truth, wherever found, in all the works of God and man that are visible or invisible to mortal eyes...revealed and...unrevealed, whether religious, political, scientific, or philosophical...[1]
2. Even though Latter-day Saints use the term "gospell" in several ways, including traditional Christian usages, the Book of Mormon and other latter-day scriptures define it precisely as the way or means by which an individual can come to Christ.[2]
As these two definitions point out the word “gospel” can be used in many ways by church members.
In the churches guide for missionaries, Preach My Gospel, the following definition appears on page 5 (I’ve organized the layout differently).
The Savior defined His gospel to include some very vital and basic doctrines:
1. He came into the world to do His Father’s will, and His Father sent Him into the world to be lifted up on the cross
2. By His Atonement and Resurrection, all men will be lifted up to stand before Christ to be judged of their works, whether they be good or evil
3. Those who exercise faith in Christ, repent of their sins, and are baptized in Christ’s name can be sanctified by the Holy Ghost
4. If they endure to the end, they will stand spotless before Christ at the last day and will enter into the rest of the Lord. Christ will hold them guiltless before the Father. He will be their Mediator and Advocate
5. Those who do not endure in faithfulness to the end will be “cast into the fire . . . because of the justice of the Father.”
(See 3 Nephi 27:13-22; compare 2 Nephi 31:10-21, 3 Nephi 11:31-41; D&C 76:40-42, 50-53.)
Doctrine of Christ
The terms gospel, and the doctrine of Christ are used interchangeably. I personally like to use the doctrine of Christ because it quickly narrows down the topic to the first principles and ordinances of the gospel—which are:
1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
2. Repentance
3. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins
4. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
Nephi speaking of the doctrine of Christ said, “... my beloved brethren, 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, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.” (2 Nephi 31:21)
Faith
Nephi speaking to those who follow Christ said, “ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. (2 Nephi 31:19)
“If men were duty to consider themselves, and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action in them; that without it both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental... And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual...It is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1); that is, it is the assurance we have of the existence of unseen things.”[3]
Repentance
“Repentance is the process by which humans set aside or overcome sins by changing hearts, attitudes, and actions that are out of harmony with God's teachings, thereby conforming their lives more completely to his will. In the words of one latter-day prophet, repentance is "to change one's mind in regard to past or intended actions or conduct"...Though repentance is indispensable to eternal salvation and to earthly happiness, it is not sufficient by itself to reunite a person with God. Complete repentance first requires faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which in turn generates strong motivation and power to repent. Both are necessary for, and thus must precede, baptism, the reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and membership in the Lord's kingdom.”[4]
“The meaning of repentance is not that people be punished, but rather that they change their lives so that God can help them escape eternal punishment and enter into his rest with joy and rejoicing. If we have this understanding, our anxiety and fears will be relieved...In our repentance, we should remember that the Lord does not punish us for our sins; he simply withholds his blessings. We punish ourselves. The scriptures tell us again and again that the wicked are punished by the wicked...Jesus Christ has paid for your sin and has thus satisfied justice. Therefore, he will extend mercy to you-if you repent. True repentance on your part, including a change in your life-style, enables Christ, in mercy, to forgive your sin...As long as we dwell on sin or evil and refuse to forgive ourselves, we will be subject to return again to our sins”.[5]
Remission of Sins
“You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half-that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost”.[6]
“We sometimes speak of baptism for the remission of sins. The remission, if you will read the scriptures carefully, comes through the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.” [7]
“Sins are remitted not in the waters of baptism, as we say in speaking figuratively, but when we receive the Holy Ghost... The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the baptism of fire.”[8]
[1] Gospel Through the Ages by Milton R. Hunter, p. 2-3.
[2] Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 556.
[3] Lectures on Faith, Lecture First.
[4] Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. 1216-17
[5] Theodore M. Burton, “The Meaning of Repentance,” Ensign, Aug 1988, 6-9
[6] History of the Church, 5:499
[7] What Every Member Should Know,” Ensign, Aug 2006, 46–52
[8] New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Bruce R. McConkie, p. 290
July 23rd, 2009 - 07:51
“By faithfully following the gospel path of faith, repentance, making and keeping covenants, and receiving the Holy Ghost, we can qualify for Eternal Life” (Preach My Gospel, p. 69).
“Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great willpower and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which sincere and meaningful repentance must be built. If we truly seek to put away sin, we must first look to Him who is the Author of our salvation” (Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct 1989, 2).
July 23rd, 2009 - 10:58
Daniel,
Two great additions.
Thanks
July 26th, 2009 - 21:16
“…we should remember that the Lord does not punish us for our sins; he simply withholds his blessings. We punish ourselves.”
2 Kings 1:
10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
• • •
12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
• • •
14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
The third captain and his fifty were spared, but as for the first two captains and their fifties, if this isn’t punishment then what is? (102 men burned to death.)
Lev10:
“1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”
Nadab and Abihu didn’t punish themselves. The fire came from the Lord. The Lord punished them.
2 Kings 2:
“23 ¶ And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.”
If the bears had come out as a consequence of the children, then the bears would have killed Elisha also. God made the bears come out.
I don’t know why Brother Burton doesn’t address this but I think he should.
D&C 19:
“10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—
11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.
12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment.
20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken…”
Number 16:
“31 ¶ And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
32 And the aearth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.”
The list goes on and on.
Jared? The Lord punishes!
July 26th, 2009 - 21:52
By the way, I read your testimony and thought it was wonderful, but I had never worked with the ‘star rating’ thing before. So I started experimenting with it to see how others were making partial stars when without thinking lifted my finger off the mouse and made 4 1/2 stars when I wanted to make five.
Oh well, once again, I thought it was great.
July 28th, 2009 - 06:56
Rich–
Thanks for coming by and commenting. I thought the same thing as you about the Lord punishing those who sin. I’m not sure I understand this subject 100%. There may be more than one thing going on with how the Lord deals with his children depending on the circumstances.
One thing I do know is that the Lord wants to bless those who have made covenants with him. When we fall short of our covenants then I think what Elder Burton wrote is true. Those who are sincerely seeking Him but struggling with the natural man are those He died for (Mosiah 15:11-12). As you read from my testimony I learned this for myself. Based on my experience, I see the Lord has my Friend, and my advocate. He wants us to change (repent) so that He can bless us.
Regarding those who sin ignorantly, and those who rebel see Mosiah 3:11-12.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comment.