Doctrines of the Gospel Teacher Manual RELIGION 430 AND 431 DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL TEACHER MANUAL RELIGION 430 AND 431 Prepared by the Church Educational System Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah © 1987, 2000 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America English approval: 6/00 Contents Introduction . v Chapter 22 The Apostasy . 77 Chapter 1 Divine Truth . 1 Chapter 23 The Restoration of the Gospel Chapter 2 Revelation: Avenue to Truth . 3 in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times . 83 Chapter 3 God the Eternal Father . 7 Chapter 24 The Scattering and the Gathering Chapter 4 Jesus Christ, the Son of God . 9 of Israel . 85 Chapter 5 The Holy Ghost . 11 Chapter 25 Priesthood: What It Is, How It Chapter 6 Our Premortal Life . 15 Works . 89 Chapter 7 The Creation . 19 Chapter 26 The Oath and Covenant of the Chapter 8 The Fall . 25 Priesthood . 91 Chapter 9 The Atonement of Jesus Christ . 29 Chapter 27 The Law of the Sabbath . 95 Chapter 10 The Purpose of Earth Life . 35 Chapter 28 Celestial Marriage . 97 Chapter 11 The Agency of Man . 39 Chapter 29 The Importance of the Family . 101 Chapter 12 Prayer and Fasting . 41 Chapter 30 Death and the Postmortal Spirit World . 105 Chapter 13 Faith, a Power That Centers in Christ . 47 Chapter 31 The Redemption of the Dead . 111 Chapter 14 Repentance . 49 Chapter 32 The Resurrection and the Judgment . 115 Chapter 15 The Covenant of Baptism . 53 Chapter 33 Kingdoms of Glory and Perdition 119 Chapter 16 The Gift of the Holy Ghost . 55 Chapter 34 The Signs of the Times . 125 Chapter 17 Obedience, a Law of Heaven . 59 Chapter 35 The Fall of Babylon and the Chapter 18 Spiritual Rebirth: True Establishment of Zion . 127 Conversion . 63 Chapter 36 The Lord’s Second Coming . 131 Chapter 19 Eternal Life . 67 Chapter 37 The Millennium and the Chapter 20 The Sacrament, a Memorial Glorification of the Earth . 133 Ordinance . 71 Bibliography . 135 Chapter 21 The Foreordination of Covenant Israel and Their Responsibilities . 75 iii Introduction In Doctrines of the Gospel courses, students will the doctrinal subject. You should spend no more study principles and doctrines of the gospel as than five to seven minutes of each class period revealed in the standard works. The scriptures are using ideas from this section. Do not allow the the basic texts. The student manual is a guide for motivational part of the lesson to usurp time you individual study of the scriptures, and it provides need to teach the substance of the doctrines in each a basis for classroom discussion. chapter. Ideas for Teaching. The second and longest USING THE STUDENT MANUAL section of each chapter is Ideas for Teaching. This Study the student manual before you prepare section corresponds to the doctrinal outline of your lessons. Each chapter in the student manual the corresponding chapter in the student manual. has two sections, Doctrinal Outline and Supporting Choose from and adapt the methods and ideas Statements. Each subject in the Doctrinal Outline is suggested in this section for teaching the doctrines. divided into several statements, which are further Conclusion. The third and final section of each divided into more specific statements. Supporting chapter, Conclusion, contains a brief suggestion for scriptural references build on each other in a logical ending the lesson successfully. These suggestions and sequential manner. The second section in each often include ideas about how to help the students chapter, Supplementary Statements, consists of apply a specific gospel principle in their lives. commentaries from the Prophets and Apostles in Chalkboards. At the end of some chapters are this dispensation. chalkboard illustrations, which you may use as USING THE TEACHER MANUAL a guide for what you write on the chalkboard; or This manual provides the teacher with a variety you may choose to make bulletin board displays of ideas that you may use, adapt, or build upon as or overhead transparencies from them. Some you prepare your lessons. Each chapter contains chalkboards may also be suitable for use in making more ideas than you can possibly use, so do not handouts for the students. try to follow this guide explicitly. For best results, ADAPTING THE COURSE TO SEMESTERS OR begin by reading each chapter in the student manual, noting the concepts you want to explain QUARTERS and emphasize in your classes. Next, read the Doctrines of the Gospel is a course easily corresponding chapter in the teacher manual. adapted to either the semester or the quarter Choose only the ideas and methods for lesson system. If you are teaching on the semester system, presentation that will work best for you and your the following division of the course material is students. The suggestions in the teacher manual recommended: may help you develop other ideas that will work First semester: Religion 430. Chapters 1–20 better for your classes. In adapting your lessons, Second semester: Religion 431. Chapters 21–37 however, do not depart from the doctrinal outlines If you teach on the quarter system, this plan is in the student manual into speculation or subjects recommended: of dubious eternal value to the students. First quarter: Religion 430. Chapters 1–12 Introduction. The first section of each chapter Second quarter: Religion 431. Chapters 13–24 in the teacher manual, Introduction, contains one Third quarter: Religion 432. Chapters 25–37 or more ideas about how to begin your lesson in Both of these divisions of the course material a way that will motivate your students to study allow time for tests and give you the flexibility to teach some chapters over two or more class periods. v Divine Truth Chapter 1 ■ What is the difference between absolute truth Introduction and relative truth? (see Supporting Statements A ■ Begin the class period by singing with the on pp. 2–3 of the student manual; or Spencer W. students “Oh Say, What Is Truth?” (Hymns, 1985, Kimball, “Absolute Truth,” ­Ensign, Sept. 1978, no. 272). Point out that author John Jaques wrote pp. 3–4). Ask the students to give examples of each. the words to the hymn as a poem entitled “Truth.” ■ Read and discuss Alma 7:20. Bear witness that The poem was included in a British mission absolute truths are those eternal and immovable pamphlet, The Pearl of Great Price, published in truths that have been revealed by God. Liverpool in 1851. The lyrics were set to music B. All divine truth is possessed by God and composed by Ellen Knowles Melling, a Scottish imparted by him to his children. convert taught by Elder Jacques. After giving the background of the hymn, read the ■ Are prophets the only ones to have discovered lyrics and discuss their meaning with the students. and disseminated truth? Read the statements by President Joseph F. Smith (see Gospel Doctrine, p. 30) ■ Prepare copies of President Spencer W. Kimball’s First Presidency Message, “‘Seek Learning, Even and President Brigham Young (see Discourses of by Study and Also by Faith’” (­Ensign, Sept. 1983, Brigham Young, pp. 2–3) in Supporting Statements B pp. 3–6), in which he emphasized the importance on page 3 of the student manual. The Father, of seeking and applying truth. Distribute a copy of the Son, and the Holy Ghost are the fountain of the article to each student, and assign the students all truth, and all truth discovered by anyone— to read it in conjunction with the Doctrinal Outline philosophers, scientists, inventors, and reformers— on page 2 of the student manual. Tell the students has come from that fountain. Point out, however, to be prepared to discuss their reading in class. that although many people have sought the truth and discovered it, not all teach the truth. Each of us ■ When Jesus was brought before Pilate, He said, “For this cause came I into the world, that I should must rely on the Holy Ghost to determine whether bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the a teaching is true and comes from the fountain of truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37.) Pilate then all truth. Each of us must also measure all secular asked the question of the ages: “What is truth?” teachings against the teachings of the standard (John 18:38). Ask the students how they would works. Discuss the scripture references in Doctrinal have answered Pilate. What is truth? Outline B 4 on page 2 of the student manual. ■ Is there any value in obtaining knowledge from secular sources? Read the statement by President Ideas for Teaching Kimball in Supporting Statements B on page 3 of the student manual (see “‘Seek Learning, Even by A. Divine truth is absolute reality. Study and Also by Faith,’” p. 3). Emphasize that ■ Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Better questions secular truths do not bring salvation nor open the might be, “Who is truth?” and “From whom does doors to the celestial kingdom. They are valuable truth emanate?” Jesus said, “I am the way, the only when we have put absolute truths first. By truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, so doing, we may use all truth—absolute and but by me” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ represents relative—to bless ourselves and others. truth and is the embodiment of all truth (see ■ Discuss Doctrine and Covenants 88:77–79. List on 3 Nephi 15:9). Everything in this world that is true the chalkboard the various secular fields of study has a divine source, and that source is Jesus Christ.