First Principles!

"Preach the first principles of the Gospel, preach them over again: you will find that day after day new ideas and additional light concerning them will be revealed to you. You can enlarge upon them so as to comprehend them clearly. You will then be able to make them more plainly understood by those (you) teach." -Hyrum Smith

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I would first like to talk about faith in Christ. I recently struggled with my faith in Christ. I feared, so much that everything I did was wrong, I feared sin, for the reasons that I feared not being able to make it to the celestial kingdom. My Mother gave me some great advice. That was to study the scriptures. As I study my scriptures, my fear is replaced by faith, bringing me such great peace. Now I know, even if I had committed sins, that repentance is not a scary thing once you fully understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. Having faith in Christ is the first step to developing peace.

Second, repentance. Once having faith in Christ, repentance becomes so much easier, as we are able to fully rely on Christ to take away all of our guilt. This gospel is a gospel of change! Changing constantly to become more like Christ. I am always repenting. Whether it is repenting of a lack of patience with my siblings, or a bigger mistake, through Christ I am able to be made perfect. It is a glorious thing.


Third, baptism by immersion. Some may ask... Why is it necessary to baptized?? Here is a great answer by Harold B. Lee "When we went into the waters of baptism we entered into a covenant with the Lord that we would do all within our power to keep God’s commandments, with the understanding that the Lord’s promises would be given to us and His glory would be added forever and ever, and that we would let our lives be so ordered that we would serve as witnesses of God in all places even until death. [See Mosiah 18:8–10.] It was that covenant we made when we were baptized members of this Church. 9"


When I was Baptized, I took on the name of Jesus Christ. This means that I will always strive to fully live his commandments. Even Christ was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness". (Mathew 3:15). If we want the full benefits of Christs atonement we MUST be baptized.


Fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Every baptized member has hands laid upon his head or her head and the elders, after confirming him or her a member of the Church, said, “Receive the Holy Ghost.” Then they may have repeated the words that the Master spoke to His disciples when He told them about the Comforter or the Holy Ghost, which was to come: It will bring all things to your remembrance. It will teach you all things. It will show you things to come. [SeeJohn 14:26; 16:13.] And so if I were confirming you a member of the Church, I would confer upon you the gift of the Holy Ghost, which shall be a lamp to your feet and a guide to your path, which shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance and show you things to come. 12

The Holy Ghost is the 3rd member of the Godhead, and the best gift that Heavenly Father could give me here on this earth. He helps me discern right from wrong. He is who speaks all truth to me. Through the Holy Ghost I have the guidance that brings peace to me each and every day of my life! I will forever love my Heavenly Father for this gift that I have every hour of every day as I am striving to live the commandments.

The Holy Ghost also comforts me. He dries my tears and wraps me in a hug.

He will always be my constant companion, as long as I am keeping the commandments and living righteously.


This is my testimony, and some research that I have done on the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel. For more information, Harold B. Lee does an excellent job in telling of these first principles.


Visit: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=453197a7c1d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=da135f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

How do you receive power?

Alma 17:  The sons of Mosiah have the spirit of prophecy and of revelation because they:

1. searched the scriptures diligently to know the word of God
2. prayed
3. fasted

D&C 53: It is through Jesus Christ that we have power because:

1. He was crucified for the sins of the world. He died so I can be clean.
2. Christ has commanded us to "forsake" the world.

1 Corinthians: again through Christ I have power.

1. Through the grace of God I have power through Jesus Christ.

Families

"The most important of the Lord's work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes." -President Harold B Lee.

Something that was said in my Sunday School class a few weeks ago was God wants to have control of 2 things, when we come into this life, and when we go out of this life. That is why he has given us the commandments, 1. Thou shall not kill 2. Thou shall not commit adultery.  I had never thought of it that way. God has those commandments, because he wants us to be raised by 2 parents who love and are committed to each other through a marriage covenant. I am so grateful for the amazing family I have. I have been blessed to come from parents who work to keep their marriage strong, who love each other, and the gospel so much that they make it through all of the little rough patches.

My sister Holly said she didn't even know what it meant to have a broken home until she left to her mission in Eugene, Oregon.
This is one reason I want to serve a mission, to teach people of families, so those who are desire to make their families strong, can have all the tools of the gospel to do so, so they can strengthen and help generations for years to come.

My Purpose

What is my purpose as a missionary?

• Teach that "redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah" and that no one "can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits and mercy.
• Help people become clean from sin. 
• Help others understand the following:
• God is our literal Father in Heaven. He loves us. Every person on earth is a child of God and a member of God's family
• Jesus Christ, the son of God, is our Savior and Redeemer.
• Our loving heavenly prophet reached out to his children in biblical times through revealing gospel truths to prophets. Sadly many people rejected that gospel, and made changes to it. 
• Beginning with the first vision, God has again reached out to His children. He restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ and restored the priesthood, and even restored the church through a Joseph Smith.

What is the gospel?

• Faith in Jesus Christ unto repentance.
• The "power off God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16).
• The what and the why of missionary work! Through Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
• Christ will stand as a mediator of all men and hold us guiltless if we have repented.
• Centered on the Book of Mormon.

Why do we preach the gospel?

• To help others find the gospel and come to a knowledge of the truth. Many are "kept from the Truth only because they know not where to find it.
• To teach them that God loves them
• To cleanse people of their sins.
• Invite others to come unto Christ and be baptized and exercise faith in Christ.

Why must I teach with power and authority?

• As a missionary I am an authorized representative of Jesus Christ.
• Because it is God's divine gospel, and I must preach with the Holy Ghost.
• So the message can enter the hearts of those I am teaching.
• So he can give me the right words to speak at the right moments.
• Help me discern the needs of the people I am teaching.
• Purify my own heart.
• Teach so others understand and both parties are edified.
• Discouragement weakens faith. Always teach with power and authority rather than being discouraged.

What is the message of the Restoration? Why is it so important?

• "Redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah"
• "Put of the natural man and become a Saint through the atonement of Jesus Christ"
• We understand Gods plan of Divine Happiness is through families.
• "The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally"
• Repentance is a change of thoughts, desires, habits, and actions.

What is my responsibility in helping others become converted?

• Invite others to come unto Jesus and become converted to his Holy Gospel.
• Prepare them for covenants like baptism and confirmation.
• Invite them to commit to living according to the teachings of the gospel.
• Do all in my power to persuade people to read the Book of Mormon, understand it, and ask God sincerely whether it is true.
• Help others to receive a spiritual confirmation.
• Help others qualify for baptism and prepare for covenants by teaching true doctrine, and inviting them to repent.
• Help them realize the amazing and remarkable gift of the Holy Ghost!

How will I know whether I am a successful missionary?

• Obedience:Spencer W. Kimball said, "The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal; apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity. The blessing is conditional upon faithful performance.
• When I am an example of a believer.
• When I am living according to God's commandments and keeping the covenants I made in the temple.
• I know my scriptures
• I am courteous, on time, and dependable.
• I follow the mission standards.
• When I am committed to find, teach, baptize, and confirm people and to help them become faithful members of the Church who enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost.
• Feel the Spirit testify to people through you. 
• Love people and desire their salvation.
• Obey with exactness
• Live so that you can receive and know how to follow the Spirit, who will show you where to go, what to do, and what to say.
• Develop Christlike attributes.
• Work effectively every day, do your very best to bring souls to Chrst, and seek earnestly to learn and improve. 
• Help build up the Church wherever you are assigned to work.
• Warn people of the consequences of sin. Invite them to make and keep commitments.
• Teach and serve other missionaries.
• Go about doing good and serving at every opportunity whether or not they accept your message.