The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
??? What is the message of this word? (see Mosiah 2:9)
??? What is the difference
between hear, hearken, and heed?
“Put simply, policies can change, but doctrine is rooted in eternal truths that never change.”
“In the last 200 years, the Lord
has revealed many truths to His prophets. Some revelations lead to policy
changes, such as those found in the Official Declarations. Adjustments are a
natural part of the true and living Church. However, doctrine—the foundational,
eternal truths of the gospel—never changes. This visual helps us see the
relationship between Church policy and doctrine.
Just as the roots are the means by
which a tree receives life, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost
give spiritual life to the plan of salvation. The gospel, revelation, and the
priesthood come from the Godhead.
Gospel doctrine is eternal and
unchanging and comes from the Godhead. The doctrine informs Church policies and
practices.
Church policy is guided by doctrine
but is subject to adjustments, as revealed by the Lord to His prophet. Like the
branches of a tree, policy “grows” or adjusts as guided by doctrine and by
revelation. While still inspired, policy is not eternal like Church doctrine.”
(churchofjesuschrist.org)
??? Where do we go to find the truths of the gospel???
[Scriptures, Proclamations, Declarations, Conference Addresses, Words of the prophets, churchofjesuschrist.org, Things found from multiple sources] At the beginning of every book written by general authorities is statement indicating that the book is not an official publication of the Church and that the author alone is responsible for the content.
The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.
READ the proclamation paragraph by paragraph [A brother and a sister reader]
??? What do you glean from each paragraph?
“God loves His children in every nation of the world.” [discussed in the proclamation]
The Restoration began with an answer to a question.
??? Is it OK to have questions?
??? What do you do with your questions?
??? Where do you go for answers? [See above.]
??? What resources would you not recommend? Why?
We will read a scripture from the New Testament and
then From the Doctrine and Covenants.
1. Matthew 16:15-19 and D&C 6:23; D&C 110:
“15 He saith unto
them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto
thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou
art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the
kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
D&C 6:23 “23
Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness
can you have than from God?”
D&C 110:11-16 - “11 After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north. 12 After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. 13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: 14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come— 15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse— 16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.”
2.
Mark 16:15-16 and D&C 1:4-5; D&C 84:64
Mark 16:15-16 “15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.”
D&C 1:4-5 “4
And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my
disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. 5 And they shall go forth and
none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.”
D&C 84:64 “64 Therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost.”
3.
Luke 6:12-13 and D&C 18:37-38; D&C 107:23-24
Luke 6:12-13, “12
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray,
and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called
unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named
apostles;”
D&C 18:37-38,
“37 And now, behold, I give unto you, Oliver Cowdery, and also unto David
Whitmer, that you shall search out the Twelve, who shall have the desires of
which I have spoken; 38 And by their desires and their works you shall know
them.”
D&C 107:23-24 “23 The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. 24 And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.”
4.
1 Corinthians 15:29 and D&C 127:4-6
1 Corinthians
15:29 “29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead
rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”
D&C 127:4-6 “4 And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven. 5 And again, I give unto you a word in relation to the baptism for your dead. 6 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning your dead: When any of you are baptized for your dead, let there be a recorder, and let him be eye-witness of your baptisms; let him hear with his ears, that he may testify of a truth, saith the Lord;”
5. Ephesians 4:11-13 and Articles of Faith 6
Ephesians 4:11-13 “11 And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”
Articles of Faith 6 “6 We
believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely,
apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.”
[A
little history of the Church in Lawrence.]
???
Do you need to do some great thing to participate in the ongoing restoration?
???
What are you doing?
The heavens are open
The Restoration
of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World
The First Presidency and
Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints