Sunday, February 15, 2015

Why Is Teaching the Gospel Important in the Plan of Salvation?

What have you learned this week in your personal gospel study?  What conversations have you had with friends about the gospel this week?
Why is teaching the gospel important in the plan of salvation?

Watch video of Jesus teaching in the temple.

What was his father's business?

Moses 1:39
39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

How was Jesus doing his father's work?

Is it also our father's business and should we be doing our Father’s business?

We should be working to bring to pass the eternal life of man.  A big part of that is teaching.  We teach others outside church by our example and explaining the Savior’s doctrine’s.  We teach each other in the Church by fulfilling our callings to our best ability and given our thoughts about the lesson in our classes.

2 Nephi 2:8
8 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, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

Why is it so important that people know that no one can dwell in the presence of God except by following Jesus?

People have to know the rules in order to win the game. Winning the game does not mean beating out others, but it means doing what is required to get the prize.

Part of getting the prize is helping others to also get the prize.

Jesus talked about teaching other others through our example in 3 Nephi 18:24:
“Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do”

The Teaching No Greater Call manual talks about who is supposed to be teaching:
"In this instruction the Lord made no distinction among those who heard His voice. All were commanded to teach.
The same is true today. The responsibility to teach the gospel is not limited to those who have formal callings as teachers. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you have the responsibility to teach the gospel. As a parent, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, Church leader, classroom teacher, home teacher, visiting teacher, coworker, neighbor, or friend, you have opportunities to teach. Sometimes you can teach openly and directly by the things you say and the testimony you bear. And you always teach by example."

No matter what our calling is in the Church, we are to be teaching all people.  This included teaching members and nonmembers both.

Let’s read some from some of the Church’s material on some things that Heavenly Father has for us.

Invite the youth to read the “Education” section in For the Strength of Youth, including the scripture references. Ask half of the class to look for things Heavenly Father wants us to do, and ask the other half to identify blessings that He has promised.

Ask the youth to read “Plan of Salvation” in True to the Faith (pages 115–17), including the scriptures cited, and find something they didn’t already know.

  • What have the youth learned about aspects of the plan of salvation (such as covenants, obedience, the Atonement, or life after death)? What could they share with each other?