Lesson for January 1, 2017

Lesson for January 1, 2016 Today our lesson was given by Maggie Kopp on “The Restoration of the Gospel.” from The Teachings of Gordon B, Hinckley, chapter 1. Maggie loves teaching from President Hinckley’s manual because of his optimism. She wants to find optimistic moments in the lessons to uplift us. In 2005 the Church commemorated Joseph Smith’s 200th birthday. President Hinckley said that even before Joseph Smith had his first vision, there was a great deal of light in the world, such as religious fervor and Martin Luther, and the printing press that paved the way for the restoration of the Gospel. For example, even owning a Bible was made easier for people in America. The reformers of the reformation were inspired and brave men and serious about their scripture study. When we have the Gospel, we can see how the need for a reformation and the restoration really took place. In the reformation, people were trying to correct mistaken doctrine. President Hinckley spoke about restoring the keys and doctrines. The following are some quotes and comments from the class. “In this divine revelation [the First Vision] there was reaffirmed beyond doubt the reality of the literal Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This knowledge of Deity, hidden from the world for centuries, was the first and great thing which God revealed to His chosen servant.” “The Book of Mormon has come forth by the gift and power of God. It speaks as a voice from the dust in testimony of the Son of God. It speaks of His birth, of His ministry, of His Crucifixion and Resurrection, and of His appearance to the righteous in the land Bountiful on the American continent. It is a tangible thing that can be handled, that can be read, that can be tested. It carries within its covers a promise of its divine origin. Millions now have put it to the test and found it to be a true and sacred record.” It is a testimony of the truth of the Bible and it perfectly aligns with the Bible. We get a record of Christ coming to this continent. He did come and visit the people here in the flesh and taught them. Think about the Bible and Book of Mormon as two lenses of a pair of glasses that are necessary to see the gospel clearly. “Under the doctrine of the Restoration, baptism is for the remission of one’s individual and personal sins. It becomes a covenant between God and man. It is performed at the age of accountability, when people are old enough to recognize right from wrong.” “I go on to mention another revealed truth. We are told that God is no respecter of persons, and yet, in no other church of which I am aware, is provision made for those beyond the veil of death to receive every blessing which is afforded the living. The great doctrine of salvation for the dead is unique to this Church. … The dead are given the same opportunity as the living. Again, what a glorious and wonderful provision the Almighty has made through His revelation to His Prophet.” We get the opportunity to listen to General Conference and learn of modern revelation and that it directs the Church. It lets us know the possibility for revelation in our own lives and how we should see for it in our lives. A talk by President Oaks says the two books go together. “The eternal nature of man has been revealed. We are sons and daughters of God. God is the Father of our spirits. We lived before we came here. We had personality. We were born into this life under a divine plan. We are here to test our worthiness, acting in the agency which God has given to us. When we die we shall go on living. Our eternal life is comprised of three phases: one, our premortal existence; two, our mortal existence; and three, our postmortal existence. In death we die to this world and step through the veil into the sphere we are worthy to enter. This, again, is a unique, singular, and precious doctrine of this Church which has come through revelation.” What a comfort comes from knowing that we will have our complete families in the hereafter. Also it gives us a more compassionate view of our children’s faults that are not a manifestation of original sin that needs to be beaten out of them, but that individuals must learn, including making mistakes and God is no respecter of persons. “With prayer and anxious seeking of the will of the Lord, we testify that direction is received, that revelation comes, and that the Lord blesses His Church as it moves on its path of destiny.” Some mentioned that they have been reassured from time to time that the gospel and its doctrines are familiar. “The eternal nature of man has been revealed. We are sons and daughters of God. God is the Father of our spirits. We lived before we came here. We had personality. We were born into this life under a divine plan. We are here to test our worthiness, acting in the agency which God has given to us. When we die we shall go on living. Our eternal life is comprised of three phases: one, our premortal existence; two, our mortal existence; and three, our postmortal existence. In death we die to this world and step through the veil into the sphere we are worthy to enter. This, again, is a unique, singular, and precious doctrine of this Church which has come through revelation” God loves His children and speaks to us so many wonderful things that have been restored through continuing revelation to help us on our individual journeys.