Table Of Content

GOSPEL PRINCIPLES GOSPEL PRINCIPLES Publishedby TheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints SaltLakeCity,Utah ©1978,1979,1981,1985,1986,1988,1992,1995,1997 byTheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints. Allrightsreserved. PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica. Englishapproval:6/96. CONTENTS Introduction........................................................................................................................1 OurPremortalLifewithGodUnitOne Chapter1OurFatherinHeaven...........................................................................8 Chapter2OurHeavenlyFamily........................................................................11 Chapter3JesusChrist,OurChosenLeaderandSavior...................17 Chapter4FreedomtoChoose.............................................................................21 LeavingthePresenceofGodUnitTwo Chapter5TheCreation.............................................................................................27 Chapter6TheFallofAdamandEve.............................................................31 CommunicationbetweenGodandManUnitThree Chapter7TheHolyGhost......................................................................................36 Chapter8PrayingtoOurHeavenlyFather...............................................41 Chapter9ProphetsofGod.....................................................................................47 Chapter10Scriptures.................................................................................................52 JesusChristasOurSaviorUnitFour Chapter11TheLifeofChrist...............................................................................61 Chapter12TheAtonement....................................................................................71 TheChurchofJesusChristUnitFive Chapter13ThePriesthood.....................................................................................81 Chapter14PriesthoodOrganization...............................................................85 Chapter15TheLord’sCovenantPeople.....................................................95 Chapter16TheChurchofJesusChristinFormerTimes..............101 Chapter17TheChurchofJesusChristToday.......................................109 TheGospelofJesusChristUnitSix Chapter18FaithinJesusChrist.......................................................................117 Chapter19Repentance............................................................................................122 Chapter20Baptism....................................................................................................129 Contents Chapter21TheGiftoftheHolyGhost.......................................................137 Chapter22TheGiftsoftheSpirit....................................................................141 Chapter23TheSacrament....................................................................................151 PerfectingOurLivesUnitSeven Chapter24TheSabbathDay..............................................................................159 Chapter25Fasting......................................................................................................165 Chapter26Sacrifice...................................................................................................171 Chapter27WorkandPersonalResponsibility......................................179 Chapter28Service......................................................................................................185 Chapter29TheLord’sLawofHealth..........................................................192 Chapter30Charity.....................................................................................................197 Chapter31Honesty...................................................................................................203 Chapter32TithesandOfferings......................................................................207 Chapter33MissionaryWork..............................................................................211 Chapter34DevelopingOurTalents..............................................................218 Chapter35Obedience..............................................................................................223 FamilySalvationUnitEight Chapter36TheFamilyCanBeEternal.......................................................231 Chapter37FamilyResponsibilities................................................................236 Chapter38EternalMarriage...............................................................................241 Chapter39TheLawofChastity.......................................................................247 Chapter40TempleWorkandFamilyHistory......................................255 TheSecondComingofJesusChristUnitNine Chapter41SignsoftheSecondComing....................................................265 Chapter42TheGatheringoftheHouseofIsrael................................271 Chapter43TheSecondComingofJesusChrist...................................277 Chapter44TheMillennium.................................................................................282 LifeafterDeathUnitTen Chapter45ThePostmortalSpiritWorld....................................................289 Chapter46TheLastJudgment..........................................................................294 Chapter47Exaltation...............................................................................................301 TheArticlesofFaith...............................................................................................306 Contents Hymns Thehymnsarelistedbysuggesteduse,butmanyofthemcouldbe usedformorethanonepurpose.Forinstance,mostoftheopening andclosinghymnscouldbeusedforeitherpurpose. Opening Come,Come,YeSaints.........................................................................................310 Come,YeChildrenoftheLord.......................................................................312 RedeemerofIsrael....................................................................................................313 HowFirmaFoundation.......................................................................................314 CountYourBlessings.............................................................................................316 LetUsAllPressOn..................................................................................................318 INeedTheeEveryHour......................................................................................320 SweetIstheWork.....................................................................................................321 JosephSmith’sFirstPrayer................................................................................322 Sacrament BeholdtheGreatRedeemerDie.....................................................................324 OGod,theEternalFather...................................................................................326 HowGreattheWisdomandtheLove.......................................................327 Jesus,OnceofHumbleBirth.............................................................................328 God,OurFather,HearUsPray......................................................................329 IStandAllAmazed.................................................................................................330 ThereIsaGreenHillFarAway......................................................................332 We’llSingAllHailtoJesus’Name...............................................................333 InHumility,OurSavior.......................................................................................334 Closing TheSpiritofGod.......................................................................................................336 HighontheMountainTop................................................................................338 OhSay,WhatIsTruth?.........................................................................................339 NowLetUsRejoice.................................................................................................340 DoWhatIsRight.......................................................................................................342 WeThankThee,OGod,foraProphet......................................................344 IKnowThatMyRedeemerLives..................................................................346 GodBewithYouTillWeMeetAgain.......................................................348 OMyFather..................................................................................................................350 Contents SpecialTopics LoveatHome(Family,Home)........................................................................352 I’llGoWhereYouWantMetoGo(Mission).......................................354 DidYouThinktoPray?(Prayer)...................................................................356 PraisetotheMan(JosephSmith)...................................................................358 Far,FarAwayonJudea’sPlains(Christmas).......................................360 SilentNight(Christmas).......................................................................................361 ChristtheLordIsRisenToday(Easter)....................................................362 HeIsRisen!(Easter)................................................................................................363 Children’sSongs IAmaChildofGod................................................................................................366 IKnowMyFatherLives.......................................................................................367 IThinkWhenIReadThatSweetStory.....................................................368 IThankThee,DearFather..................................................................................369 TheLordGaveMeaTemple............................................................................370 KindnessBeginswithMe....................................................................................371 DaretoDoRight........................................................................................................372 TheGoldenPlates.....................................................................................................373 TeachMetoWalkintheLight........................................................................374 FamilyPrayer...............................................................................................................375 Glossary...........................................................................................................................376 BooksCited...................................................................................................................383 IndexofFirstLinesandTitles(Music)..................................................385 IndextoLessonTopics........................................................................................387 Musical accompaniments for the hymns and children’s songs includedinthispublicationarerecordedontheHymnsandChil- dren’sSongsaudiocassettes(52052),availablethroughChurchdis- tributioncenters. INTRODUCTION Gospel Principles was written both as a personal study guide andasateacher’smanual.Therefore,youcanusethismanual inmanyways.Itcanhelpyou— (cid:127)Buildyourknowledgeandtestimonyofthegospel. (cid:127)Answerquestionsaboutthegospel. (cid:127)Studyscripturesbytopics. (cid:127)Preparetalks. (cid:127)Preparelessonsforfamilyhomeevening. (cid:127)PreparelessonsforChurchmeetings. As you study this manual, seek the Spirit of the Lord. The Holy Ghost will increase your understanding and testimony of Jesus Christ, his atonement, and the restoration of the gospel.Throughyourstudyofthistextanditsrelatedscriptures, you can find answers to life’s questions, gain an assurance of your purpose and self-worth, and solve personal difficulties. Many of the instructions for teachers listed below are also important when you use this manual as a personal study guide. InstructionsforTeachingatChurchandatHome In one way or another, everyone is a teacher. Being a teacher isagreatopportunityandresponsibility.Themostimportant things you will ever teach are the doctrines of Christ as re- vealed through the scriptures and modern prophets and as confirmedbytheHolyGhost.Todothiseffectively,youmust obtaintheSpiritoftheLord.“TheSpiritshallbegivenuntoyou by the prayer of faith,” said the Lord, “and if ye receive nottheSpirityeshallnotteach”(D&C42:14).TheHolyGhost is the real teacher, so it is important to create an environment inwhichtheLord’sSpiritcanbepresent. 1 Introduction You can do many things to bring the Spirit into your class or home. The following suggestions will help you be a better teacher: (cid:127)Praycontinuallyfordivineunderstandingandguidance. (cid:127)Establishahabitofdailyscripturestudy. (cid:127)Testify of the truthfulness of the gospel to your family and friends. (cid:127)Let sacred, uplifting music help you focus your thoughts andmoods. (cid:127)Keep yourself free from sin, repenting when necessary and strivingalwaystoimprove. (cid:127)ExpressyourlovetoothersandtoyourHeavenlyFather. (cid:127)Relyonpriesthoodauthorityanditspowertobless. Related to these suggestions are some other ways to come unto Christ by drawing upon the Spirit. Consider fasting. It can give you spiritual strength and confidence. Attend the temple as often as possible. Ponder the covenants you have made, the ordinances you have entered into, and the gospel truths you are learning. As you draw close to the Lord, you and those you teach will receive more than mere intellectual understanding; you will receive a knowledge of truth that only the Spirit can give. You will experience the love of God and the benefits of living the gospel, which will greatly en- hanceyourcapacitytoteach. Obtain divine knowledge and spiritual guidance through careful study, prayerful preparation, and righteous living. Never speculate about Church doctrine. Teach only what is supportedbythescripturesandtheHolySpirit. Read and teach from the scriptures regularly. Remind those you are teaching to use their scriptures at home and in class. If necessary, obtain extra copies of the scriptures so that all may refer to them. Help others become more familiar and confident with the scriptures. Give scriptural references clearly and, if needed, provide help in finding them. Lesson discussions should lead participants to read and ponder the 2 Introduction scriptures personally and with their families each day. Em- phasize that the home is the main setting for gospel learning. Become familiar with the teaching resources in this manual and, if available, the materials in your meetinghouse library. There are visual aids, music, audiovisual materials, general conference addresses, Church magazines, and other resources.FindoutwhattheyareandusethemwhentheSpirit impressesyoutodoso. As you teach, help others see how gospel principles apply to daily living. Encourage discussions on how these principles canaffectourfeelingsaboutGod,ourselves,ourfamilies,and our neighbors. Challenge participants to live according to the principles. Try to involve as many people as possible in the lessons. You can do this by inviting them to read aloud, answer questions, orshareexperiences,butdosoonlywhenyouaresureitwill not embarrass them. You may want to make special assign- mentstoclassmemberswhilepreparingthelessons.Besensi- tive to the needs and feelings of others. You may need to talk privatelywithindividualsbeforethelessonandaskhowthey feelaboutparticipating. Some of the people you teach may need special attention. Be sensitivetothosewithlanguage,cultural,social,oragediffer- ences; hearing, sight, physical, or speech difficulties; or men- tal,emotional,orlearningdisabilities.Insomecases,youmay want to talk with a person’s family members or with Church leaders.Whenappropriate,speaktothepersondirectlyabout anyspecialconcerns. The Lord’s Spirit will be present when love and unity exist. The Lord said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). WhentheSpiritoftheLordispresent,youwillseesignificant results. The Lord promised that “every good tree bringeth 3