I taught in church last Sunday and there were several people who wanted me to publish my notes here online, so here they are. The talk was about how the Book of Mormon teaches elements of the Plan of Salvation, and the steps of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My outline of the Plan of Salvation follows the Book of Mormon pretty closely, but I took some liberties in my explanation of the Gospel. I will enjoy any of your insights regarding these principles.
On Sunday, I had just an outline of principles, and all of the quotes that I would need, so below is the outline and a synopsis of what I said, plus material that I was not able to cover.
I. Introduction
The Book of Mormon teaches the concepts of the Plan of Salvation and Gospel of Jesus Christ are taught with more clarity and simplicity than any other book of scripture, including expounding principles only mentioned in the Bible. Notwithstanding the clarity and simplicity, understanding the Plan and the Gospel from the book takes a lot of work. This is because the relevant material is presented as part of several sermons by different characters - and each sermon organizes principles differently and puts emphasis on different elements. No single sermon contains all of the elements of the others.
It is very rewarding to study these sermons and to piece together the a larger picture of the Plan, but again it takes a lot of work. Today I would like to use these sermons to string together my own outline of the Plan and Gospel, of course with my own organization and emphases. I hope that it will be beneficial to you all as you start your study of the Book of Mormon in Sunday school this year.
II. Jesus and the Atonement
Identity of Jesus- The Book of Mormon offers a view of Jesus that bridges the Old a New Testament, framing him as God, the Creator, the Father, and the Son
- In Mosiah 15, Abinadi taught "I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.” Furthermore, he said that because Jesus was begotten of the Father, and sent from Father, He is the Father; and because he was subject to flesh of mortality, He is the Son. So He is the Father and the Son, and one with His and our Heavenly Father.
- Then Jacob, in 2 Nephi 9 - “…for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.”
- Jacob continues by explaining the need for an infinite atonement - "For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. … O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.”
- Abinadi also explains the need for an atonement - "salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses…"
- Finally, Amulek and Alma, in Alma 11-12, explain - "For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice. … But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world."
The Atonement of Jesus Christ
- The most important contribution of the Book of Mormon in this outline is its descriptions of the Atonement itself
- Alma, to the people of Gideon in Alma 7 - "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
- Benjamin, in Mosiah 3-5 - "with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay… And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary."
- And Abinadi, quoting the words of Isaiah - "He
is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him
not. Surely he has borne our griefs, and
carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
III. The Atonement Facilitates the Components of the Plan of Salvation
The Atonement Turned the Tragedy of the Fall into a Story of Salvation
- Lehi, in 2 Nephi 2, concerning the Fall and Adam and Eve - “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. … And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents. … and the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.”
- Abinadi – “And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.”
- Alma and Amulek – “The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost”
- Alma and Amulek – “and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt…. but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
- Samuel, in Helaman 15-16 – “For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.”
- Benjamin – “For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.”
- Jacob – “For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.”
Up to this point, each item of salvation is given entirely by grace; as Lehi said "the way is prepared from the Fall of Man, and Salvation is Free". We will all be saved from physical death and be resurrected; we will all be saved from spiritual death and return to the presence of God; and any errors that we have ignorantly committed.
Yet, no unclean thing can continue to dwell in the presence of God. Sins that we knowingly commit bar us from the presence of God
- Benjamin – “But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Amulek – “And I say unto you again that he
cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said
that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye
be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be
saved in your sins.”
Through the Atonement we can also be saved from sins that we have knowingly committed. This salvation is also free - It was purchased by the blood of the Savior, and could be purchased in no other way.
Jesus came not to redeem us in our sins, but to redeem us from our sins. As agency was used in committing the sin, the same degree of agency is required to accept the Savior and repent of our sins for us to have full access to the salvation purchased for us. Because of this, a knowledge of the Gospel is preached to the world.
- Helaman to Sons in Helaman 5 – “[Christ] should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins. And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.”
- Benjamin – “And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.”
- Alma to Son in Alma 41 – “Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.” … Furthermore he taught that mercy could not rob justice, but through repentance in this probationary life, and the atonement, justice could be satisfied. The free grace of the atonement could not be used to excuse sins and deny justice.
- Samuel – “But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness.”
IV. The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost
The Book of Mormon defines the steps to receiving a remission of sins as more than simply repentance, but also includes being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- Jesus in 3 Nephi 27 - "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. … 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. 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel."
Knowledge, Agency, and Accountability
As was described in the outline of the Plan - the atonement covers errors that were ignorantly committed, and the Gospel was given for those sins which we knowingly commit. Furthermore, the same degree of agency which was used it committing sin, the same degree is required in our repentance in order to be forgiven.
The world grossly misunderstands agency, and I think that can bleed into a misunderstanding of the Book of Mormon. The world holds two extreme versions of agency - that there is a 'free agency' which gives us freedom in every choice we make, and that there is no freedom to choose whatsoever, and that we are all subject to our environment.
Agency in the Book of Mormon is neither extreme - referring only to special choices that we make when we are specifically given knowledge from the Holy Ghost. In short, we do not have agency for every choice, but when we are given knowledge from the spirit we do become free to choose in ways we were not free previously.
- Samuel, while speaking to people who knew the Gospel in Helaman 12-13 – “And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.” (emphasis added)
- Lehi – “Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah… And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon… Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other. … And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (emphasis added)
Knowledge grants agency, and agency also grants accountability before God, requiring justice, notwithstanding the infinite atonement. This is why we can all be returned to the presence of God through the atonement, and yet 'no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God'.
Just as knowledge, agency, and accountability is required to sin; knowledge, agency, and accountability is also required to accept the salvation of Jesus and receive a remission of our sins. These three steps are summed up in Faith, Repentance, and Baptism.
Faith, Repentance, Baptism
In each of the sermons mentioned thus far, the prophets offer some iteration of the steps of the Gospel. Most often they are described as "Faith, Repentance, and Baptism", but at times they are described as:
- Faith, Repentance, Covenant
- Recognition, Broken Heart, Contrite Spirit
- Faith, Sincerity, and Real Intent
Examples:
- The people of Benjamin, upon hearing his sermon - “And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come. … And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us. … And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days.”
- Lehi - "Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered."
- The last example of Faith, Sincerity, Real Intent is a famous scripture from Moroni 10, used most often as a promise to read and pray about the Book of Mormon to learn if it is true. In fact, it is the steps of the Gospel, albeit in a different order - “And
when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God,
the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if
ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he
will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may
know the truth of all things.”
Just as knowledge is required to sin, it is also required to be redeemed. Faith is not a belief, but an "assurance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen", it is knowledge. We are not accountable for our hopes and beliefs, but for what we know. We must come to know Jesus, and that we can be forgiven because of His Atonement through the steps of the Gospel.
With that knowledge, we must exercise our agency and choose to accept Jesus, and also choose to "put aside our sins which do easily beset us" (Alma), and repent of our sins with sincerity.
We then need to commit to do better with real intent and a contrite heart. This makes us accountable to God, especially when we enter in to official commitments called covenants, like the covenant of Baptism.
The very moment that our repentance is sincere, and our commitment is with real intent, and our agency in repentance is the same degree as the agency of our sin, we receive a remission of our sins through the power of the atonement.
Baptism and Other Official Covenants
We receive a remission of our sins the moment our inward commitment is sincere, but the Lord also requires us to enter into formal covenants through social ordinances. The most common ordinance the people in the Book of Mormon experience is baptism.
- Alma to the people of Gideon - "Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. ea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism."
Today in the restored church we also have the ordinances of Baptism and the Sacrament, in addition to other ordinances and covenants. The steps of the Gospel applies to each one of these, and not just to baptism.
At baptism, the people of the Book of Mormon make a covenant to "mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort". This is a great thing to do, but nowhere in our current baptism ordinance are we also asked to do these things. Instead, the covenant today is to keep the commandments of God, particularly the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Tithing, the Sabbath Day, and the Law of Chastity, which are specifically mentioned in baptismal interviews. These covenants prepare us for similar, more serious, covenants we make in the temple.
Receiving the Holy Ghost
More than simply receiving a remission of sins, the gospel also leads to the Holy Ghost. As Moroni says, the Holy Ghost leads to new knowledge, which unlocks more agency and salvation. It can also makes service in the kingdom of God possible, and allows us to be instruments in dispensing the gospel to our fellow men.
Most importantly, the Holy Ghost can change our natures so that we no longer desire to do evil. As the people of Benjamin experienced, the spirit “wrought a mighty change… no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”
The spirit to a certain degree is granted whenever the steps of the gospel are followed. However, when the formal covenant of Baptism is entered, the formal gift of the Holy Ghost is also granted thereafter, leading to the promise of the continual presence of the Holy Ghost, and access to the gifts of the Holy Ghost in our service in the kingdom.
Steadfastness in Christ, Charity, and Retaining a Remission of Sins
As we maintain our covenants, including service to others as part of the sabbath day and other commitments, we retain a remission of our sins, our natures are changed, and we begin to gain charity. Being saved is only the beginning of our journey, as our end goal is to have our natures changed to be more like Jesus. After all, faith and hope are nothing compared to charity, the "pure love of Christ". In this subject, the Book of Mormon grants this council:
- Benjamin - the people are taught that they must teach their children and their fellow men, and administer to their relief. This includes administering to the needs and wants of the poor, without judging them. “And
if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that
he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation
for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to
whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the
thing which thou hast done. And now, for
the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of
retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless
before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every
man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the
naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually
and temporally, according to their wants.”
- Moroni 10 - "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. and again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.”
- Nephi in 2 Nephi 31-32 - "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.”
V. Jesus Sums up the Plan and the Gospel
To close, I think that it is appropriate to use the sermon of Jesus to describe the Gospel in 3 Nephi 27 as He explained that his new church would be built upon the Gospel:
“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the
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.
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— And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore,
according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may
be judged according to their works. 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. … 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. 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my
gospel...”
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