Introduction

31110, Gospel Principles, Introduction, 1

Gospel Principles was written both as a personal study guide and as a teacher's manual. Therefore, you can use this manual in many ways. It can help you-

*     Build your knowledge and testimony of the gospel.

*     Answer questions about the gospel.

*     Study scriptures by topics.

*     Prepare talks.

*     Prepare lessons for family home evening.

*     Prepare lessons for Church meetings.

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. Through your study of this text and its related scriptures, 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.

Instructions for Teaching at Church and at Home

In one way or another, everyone is a teacher. Being a teacher is a great opportunity and responsibility. The most important things you will ever teach are the doctrines of Christ as revealed through the scriptures and modern prophets and as confirmed by the Holy Ghost. To do this effectively, you must obtain the Spirit of the Lord. "The Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith," said the Lord, "and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach" (D&C 42:14). The Holy Ghost is the real teacher, so it is important to create an environment in which the Lord's Spirit can be present.

You can do many things to bring the Spirit into your class or home. The following suggestions will help you be a better teacher:

*     Pray continually for divine understanding and guidance.

*     Establish a habit of daily scripture study.

*     Testify of the truthfulness of the gospel to your family and friends.

*     Let sacred, uplifting music help you focus your thoughts and moods.

*     Keep yourself free from sin, repenting when necessary and striving always to improve.

*     Express your love to others and to your Heavenly Father.

*     Rely on priesthood authority and its power to bless.

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 enhance your capacity to teach.

Obtain divine knowledge and spiritual guidance through careful study, prayerful preparation, and righteous living. Never speculate about Church doctrine. Teach only what is supported by the scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

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 scriptures personally and with their families each day. Emphasize 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. Find out what they are and use them when the Spirit impresses you to do so.

As you teach, help others see how gospel principles apply to daily living. Encourage discussions on how these principles can affect our feelings about God, ourselves, our families, 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, or share experiences, but do so only when you are sure it will not embarrass them. You may want to make special assignments to class members while preparing the lessons. Be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. You may need to talk privately with individuals before the lesson and ask how they feel about participating.

Some of the people you teach may need special attention. Be sensitive to those with language, cultural, social, or age differences; hearing, sight, physical, or speech difficulties; or mental, emotional, or learning disabilities. In some cases, you may want to talk with a person's family members or with Church leaders. When appropriate, speak to the person directly about any special concerns.

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).

When the Spirit of the Lord is present, you will see significant results. The Lord promised that "every good tree bringeth forth good fruit" (Matthew 7:17). The following list suggests some of the fruits that you and those you teach will enjoy:

*     Knowledge and understanding

The desire to search for eternal truths.

The desire to live according to the word of God.

(See D&C 1:37-38.)

*     Faith

The desire to believe.

The desire to draw closer to God.

The desire to act in faith.

(See Alma 22:16; D&C 11:17; D&C 88:63.)

*     Prayer

The desire to worship God.

The desire to communicate more with him.

The desire to give thanks.

The desire to seek direction.

(See 1 Nephi 15:8; 1 Nephi 18:3; Alma 33:1-11; Moroni 10:4-5.)

*     Humility

The desire to submit to the Lord.

The desire to seek the Lord's will and glory.

The desire to remove pride.

(See John 6:38; Mosiah 3:19; Alma 34:38; D&C 5:24, D&C 5:28.)

*     Repentance

The desire to repair any wrongs against others.

The desire not to judge.

The desire to change.

The desire to acknowledge unworthiness.

The desire to do good works.

The desire to live according to the doctrines of Christ.

(See Alma 26:21-22; Alma 34:32-35; Alma 38:14.)

*     Covenants

The desire to obtain all the saving ordinances.

The desire to keep and renew covenants through priesthood ordinances.

The desire to obtain spiritual strength and power through priesthood ordinances. (See Ezekiel 11:19-20; D&C 84:19-21; D&C 136:4.)

As you draw close to the Lord, you will find happiness and the fulfillment of Paul's words in Ephesians 4:13-15:

"[We will] 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: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."



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