DOCTRINE AND GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SECTION ONE, TOPIC TWENTY
CODE: DGC
LEARNING CONCEPTS:
1. Christ Suffered and Died For
Us. 3 Nephi 11:11; 3 Nephi 27:13-14; 1 Corinthians
15:3-4; D&C 76:40-42
2. Christ Told Us to Enter the Strait Gate. Matthew
7:13-14; 2 Nephi 33:9
3. What we Must Do to ``Enter the Strait Gate".
2 Nephi 31:5-18; 3 Nephi 11:31-41; 3 Nephi 27:16-21; D&C
39:5-6 2 Nephi 31:19-21
1. CHRIST SUFFERED AND
DIED FOR US
The Savior testified of his
own mission. To the Nephites he said:
Please read 3 Nephi 11:11
11. And behold, I am
the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk
out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me,
and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins
of the world, in the hich I have suffered the will of
the Father in all things from the beginning.
Christ suffered for the sins
of all mankind. The cup was indeed bitter, but Christ
prevailed and completed this part of His mission making
it possible for man to avoid paying for his own sins.
Justice would otherwise require all sin to be paid for by
the individual committing the sin thus barring all mankind
from the Kingdom of God.
After Christ suffered for our
sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was taken by men and
hung on the cross to die. Because He was the Son of
God, He could have saved Himself. He had the power
to destroy His enemies. Instead, He understood that
He had to die so He could overcome physical death.
He willingly gave up His life so we could live again.
Having suffered for our sins and making it possible for
us to be resurrected, His mission on earth was complete.
He told the Nephites:
Please read 3 Nephi 27:13-14
13. Behold I have given
unto you my gospel, and this is my gospel which I have
given unto you - that I came into the world to do the
will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
14. And my Father sent
me that I might be lifted up upon the cross, and after
that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might
draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by
men, even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to
stand before me, to be judged of their works whether they
be good or whether they be evil.
In Paul's first letter to the
saints at Corinth, he said:
Please read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
3. For I delivered unto
you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4. And that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures.
In the latter-days, Joseph Smith
summarized the Savior's mission:
Please read Doctrine & Covenants 76:40-42
40. And this is the gospel,
the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore
record unto us-
41. That He came into
the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world,
and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the
world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness:
42. That through him
all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power
and made by him.
2. CHRIST TOLD US TO
ENTER THE STRAIT GATE
Christ suffered and died for
us all. His resurrection provides for our resurrection.
His suffering can pay for our sins. But we must do
His will if we are to benefit from His sacrifice for our
sins. To His faithful followers in Israel He said:
Please read Matthew 7:13-14
13. Enter ye in at the
strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go
in thereat;
14. Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
To the Nephites on the American
continent He gave similar instructions through his prophet
Nephi:
Please read 2 Nephi 33:9
9. Enter into the narrow
gate and walk in the strait path which leads to life,
and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
(also 3 Nephi 14:13-14)
3. WHAT WE MUST DO TO
``ENTER THE STRAIT GATE"
In Nephi's great prophesy of
the mission of Christ, he revealed the actions of the Savior
done as an example to man.
Please read 2 Nephi 31:5-18
5. And now, if the Lamb
of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized
by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much
more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea,
even by water.
6. And now, I would ask of
you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did
fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?
7. Know ye not that
he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy,
he showeth unto the children of men that, according to
the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth
unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in
keeping his commandments.
8. Wherefore, after he
was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon
him in the form of a dove.
9. And again, it showeth
unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and
the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter,
he having set the example before them.
10. And he said unto
the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall
be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?
11. And the Father said;
Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my
Beloved Son.
12. And also the voice
of the Son came unto me saying: He that is baptized in
my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like
unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which
ye have seen me do.
13. Wherefore, my beloved
brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with
full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception
before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins,
witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take
upon you the name of Christ, by baptism - yea, by following
your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according
to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost;
yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost;
and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels and shout
praises unto the Holy One of Israel.
14. But, behold, my
beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto
me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed
unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments
by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism
of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new
tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after
this should deny me, it would have been better for you
that ye had not known me.
15. And I heard a voice
from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved
are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end,
the same shall be saved.
16. And now, my beloved
brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure
to the end, in following the example of the Son of the
living God, he cannot be saved.
17. Wherefore, do the
things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord
and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have
they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by
which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye
should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then
cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy
Ghost.
18. And then are ye in
this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life;
yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according
to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye
have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father
and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which
he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should
receive.
During His visit to the American
continent shortly after completing his earthly mission in
Israel, Christ said;
Please read 3 Nephi 11:31-41
31. Behold, verily, verily,
I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
32. And this is my doctrine,
and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto
me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth
record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the
Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth
all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
33. And whoso believeth
in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they
are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
34. And whoso believeth
no in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
35. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record
of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth
in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear
record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with
the Holy Ghost.
36. And thus will the
Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear
record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father,
and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
37. And again I say unto
you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and
be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these
things.
38. And again I say unto
you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become
as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom
of God.
39. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth
upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against them.
40. And whoso shall declare
more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine,
the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock;
but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates
of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come
and the winds beat upon them.
41. Therefore, go forth
unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken,
unto the ends of the earth.
And also please read 3 Nephi
27:16-21
16. And it shall come
to pass that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name
shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold,
him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day
when I shall stand to judge the world.
17. And he that endureth
not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down
and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return,
because of the justice of the Father.
18. And this is the word
which he hath given unto the children of men. And
for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given,
and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.
19. And no unclean thing
can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth
into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments
in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance
of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end
20. Now this is the
commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come
unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified
by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand
spotless before me at the last day.
21. Verily, verily, I
say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things
that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have
seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have
seen me do even that shall ye do.
The Savior repeated these basic
concepts to Joseph Smith who records:
Please read D&C 39:5-6
5. And verily, verily,
I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth
me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not
me.
6. And this is my gospel
- repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the
baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter,
which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things
of the kingdom.
Thus, to enter the gate we must
take four definite steps. These four steps are outlined
in the 4th Article of Faith:
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.
These four steps constitute
the Doctrine and Gospel of Christ. However, entrance
at the gate is not all that is required.
Please read 2 Nephi 31:19-21
19. And now, my beloved
brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow
path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say
unto you, Nay; for 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.
20. Wherefore, ye must
press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a
perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all
men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting
upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold,
thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
21. And now, behold,
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.
DOCTRINE AND GOSPEL OF CHRIST
THE EXTRA MILE
Study these additional scriptures
and note here the important concepts you discover in each
scripture. You should cross reference them in your
Scriptures.
Jacob 7:6
Hebrews 5:11-14
Hebrews 6:1-6
Joseph Smith History 1:34
Doctrine and Covenants 10:46-70
Doctrine and Covenants 18:4
Doctrine and Covenants 20:8-9
Doctrine and Covenants 27:5
Doctrine and Covenants 42:1-2
Doctrine and Covenants 88:17-22
DOCTRINE AND GOSPEL OF CHRIST
PERSONAL ANALYSIS
Using the language of the Book of Mormon
as much as possible, write your responses to the following
questions.
1. What is the ``Doctrine
and Gospel of Christ"?
2. What role do organizations
like Sunday School, Primary, Young Womens, and Young Mens
play in the Doctrine and Gospel of Christ?
3. Why is the Doctrine
and Gospel of Christ important to you?
4. Why is the strait gate and
path of the gospel ``narrow"?
DOCTRINE AND GOSPEL OF CHRIST
TOPIC EVALUATION
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. CHRIST DIED FOR US
A. SO WE WOULD
NOT HAVE TO DIE
B. SO WE COULD BE RESURRECTED
C. SO SATAN COULD COME TO EARTH TO GAIN HIS
BODY
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE
E. NONE OF THE ABOVE
2. CHRIST SUFFERED AND
SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US
A. SO WE WOULD
NOT HAVE TO REPENT OF OUR SINS
B. SO WE WOULD NOT BE TEMPTED
C. TO ATONE FOR OUR SINS IF WE REPENT
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE
E. NONE OF THE ABOVE
3. THE DOCTRINE AND GOSPEL
OF JESUS CHRIST
A. IS JUST FOR
THE MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH
B. IS FOR EVERY PERSON OF EARTH
C. IS ONLY FOR THE EVIL WHO NEED TO REPENT
D. IS NOT IMPORTANT AFTER ONE IS BAPTIZED
E. IS NOT NECESSARY FOR LITTLE CHILDREN
4. CHRIST WAS BAPTIZED
A. FOR THOSE WHO
COULD NOT BE BAPTIZED
B. SO THE REST OF US COULD SEE HIS EXAMPLE
C. TO CLEANSE HIM OF HIS SINS
D. BY SPRINKLING
E. BY HIS EARTHLY FATHER, JOSEPH
5. THE DOCTRINE AND GOSPEL
OF CHRIST IS
A. TO HAVE FAITH
IN JESUS CHRIST AS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
B. TO REPENT OF OUR SINS WITH A BROKEN HEART
AND A CONTRITE SPIRIT
C. TO ENTER THE WATERS OF BAPTISM BY IMMERSION
D. TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST BY
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
E. ALL OF THE ABOVE
F. NONE OF THE ABOVE
6. ACTUAL BAPTISM IS NOT
NECESSARY TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE
A. CHRIST WILL
FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS WITHOUT BAPTISM
B. CHRIST WAS BAPTIZED ONLY OF AN EXAMPLE
OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO
C. WHAT IS IN OUR HEART IS ALL THAT WILL COUNT
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE
E. NONE OF THE ABOVE
DOCTRINE AND GOSPEL OF CHRIST
DIRECTIONS:
Cross out the incorrect statement.
3 Nephi 11:11
1. CHRIST PROCLAIMED TO
BE THE LIGHT AND LIFE OF THE WORLD.
2. HE DRANK OUT OF THE BITTER CUP WHICH THE FATHER
PREPARED.
3. HE GLORIFIED HIMSELF.
4. HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
3 Nephi 27:13-14
1. THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
IS THAT HE CAME INTO THE WORLD TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER.
2. THE FATHER SENT CHRIST TO THE EARTH.
3. IT WAS IN THE FATHER'S PLANS FOR CHRIST TO BE CRUCIFIED.
4. ALL MANKIND WILL BE JUDGED BY THEIR WORKS BY SAINT
PETER.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:40-42;
Luke 2:10
1. THE GOSPEL IS ALSO REFERRED
TO AS ``GLAD TIDINGS".
2. CHRIST BORE THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
3. THE SHEPHERDS WERE TOLD OF THE ``GLAD TIDINGS".
4. PRIESTCRAFT IS A PART OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
Matthew 7:13-14; 3 Nephi 14:13-14
1. WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO
ENTER AT THE WIDE GATE SO ALL CAN ENTER.
2. NARROW IS THE WAY THROUGH THE STRAIT GATE.
3. FEW PEOPLE WILL FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH THE GATE.
4. THE STRAIT GATE LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE.
2 Nephi 31-:5-18
1. CHRIST HUMBLED HIMSELF
AND THROUGH BAPTISM SHOWED HE WOULD BE OBEDIENT TOT THE
FATHER.
2. AFTER BAPTISM, CHRIST RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST BY
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS.
3. THE STEPS TO FOLLOW ARE: FAITH, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM,
AND GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.
4. WE CAN BE SAVED IF WE ENDURE TO THE END.
3 Nephi 11:31-41
1. THE GOSPEL IS A DIFFERENT
CONCEPT FROM THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.
2. BAPTISM IS AN ETERNAL PRINCIPLE THAT EVERYONE MUST
EXPERIENCE IN ORDER TO BE SAVED IN GOD'S KINGDOM.
3. THE FATHER, CHRIST, AND THE HOLY GHOST BEAR RECORD
OF EACH OTHER.
4. WHOSOEVER UNDERSTANDS AND BELIEVES IN THE DOCTRINE
OF CHRIST CAN PREVAIL AGAINST SATAN.
3 Nephi 27:16-21
1. NO UNCLEAN THING CAN
ENTER INTO GOD'S KINGDOM
2. IF WE DO NOT REPENT IN THIS LIFE, WE CAN ALWAYS
BE SAVED THROUGH DEATH-BED REPENTANCE.
3. WE ARE SANCTIFIED BY THE RECEPTION OF THE HOLY
GHOST.
4. WE NEED TO FOLLOW CHRIST'S EXAMPLE.
3 Nephi 31:19-21
1. ONCE YOU ARE ON THE
STRAIT PATH, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL.
2. THE LOVE OF GOD HELPS YOU STAY ON THE STRAIT AND
NARROW PATH.
3. THE STRAIT PATH IS THE ONLY WAY TO GAIN THE KINGDOM
OF GOD.
4. ONCE YOU HAVE FOUND THE STRAIT PATH, BECAUSE OF
THE LOVE OF GOD, YOU NO LONGER NEED THE HOLY GHOST.
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