The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Hello everyone! I know it has been a while since I last talked to you. Today I want to talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I mean Gospel of Jesus Christ I am talking about the teachings that Christ himself taught to us when he was here on the earth. So what exactly was it that Jesus Christ taught us? let me share you what it is we the church believes and then let me show you a few scriptural examples from Jesus Christ, and the Prophets.  Doctrine & Covenants section 4 we read. 4We believe that the first principles and ^aordinances of the Gospel are: first, ^bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, ^cRepentance; third, ^dBaptism by ^eimmersion for the ^fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ^ghands for the ^hgift of the Holy Ghost.

As we read the first principle is Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, so how do we exercise that faith? Well to have faith in the Lord we need to believe that he is the Son of God as he said he was, also we need to believe that through his Atonement we can be cleansed from our sins, one more thing we need to believe in  is His teachings and following them.

Second is principle is Repentance. So what is repentance and how do we use it? Repentance is a five step process which is not as easy as it sounds. Let me share with you the ABC's of repentance.

A)Accept what we have done to be wrong, this is the first step to repenting. By accepting or acknowledging what we did was wrong we can begin the healing process.

B)Be sorry for what we did. We need to truly be sorry for what we have done, not sorry for being caught.  Big difference between the two.

 C)Correct the sin/mistake we made. We need to next do all that is in our power to correct what we did was wrong. By doing so we are showing the Lord that we are truly sorry and that we are trying to repent.

C)Confess the sin. Now what I mean by confessing the sin, I do not mean going to a priest and telling him all that you have done, what I mean by confessing the sin is to turn to your Heavenly Father in prayer and ask for forgiveness. It is our Heavenly Father that can forgive sin. Also if needed talk to a Bishop. A Bishop is appointed by God to HELP you by giving guidance... Notice I said Helping you not forgiving you.

D)Don't do it again! I think that is a very simple one.

After we repent we can then go to our third principle which is Baptism. Baptism is something that is very important.  Without Baptism nobody (that is at the age of accountability)  can be save in the kingdom of Heaven. Christ Also said that baptism was a commandment.

lets read matthew 3:14-17

14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15And Jesus answering said unto him, ^aSuffer it to be so now: for thus it ^bbecometh us to ^cfulfil all ^drighteousness. Then he suffered him.

16And Jesus, when he was ^abaptized, went up ^bstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the ^cSpirit of God descending like a ^ddove, and lighting upon him:

17And lo a ^avoice from heaven, saying, This is my ^bbeloved ^cSon, in whom I am well pleased.

Notice how Christ says to John "^aSuffer it to be so now: for thus it ^bbecometh us to ^cfulfil all ^drighteousness." Then he suffered him.                 

After Baptism we need to recieve the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands in Acts 8:14-18 

14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the ^aword of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

 17Then ^alaid they their hands on them, and they received the ^bHoly Ghost.

  As we can see that the Apostles prayed for the people of samaria, then laid their hands on their heads. 

And finally my friends we need to Endure To The End. It is something that is throughout the Bible if you read it closely, but for this scripture I want to go to the Book of Mormon and tie together all of the Principles that we talked about.   2 Nephi 31:5-10 show us why baptism is important.

5And now, if the Lamb of God, he being ^aholy, should have need to be ^bbaptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be ^cbaptized, yea, even by water!

 6And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

 7Know 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 ^aobedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

 8Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the ^aform of a ^bdove.

 9And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the ^agate, by which they should enter, he having set the ^bexample before them.

 10And he said unto the children of men: ^aFollow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we ^bfollow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

18And then are ye in this ^astrait and narrow ^bpath 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 ^cwitnesses of the ^dFather and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

 19And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow ^apath, I would ask if all is ^bdone? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken ^cfaith in him, ^drelying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to ^esave.

 20Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life.

I know that if we follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we will be fulfiling all the commandments that has been given unto us. I know that if we follow them we will be happy and will have eternal life.