Unit 1: Our Premortal Life with God
Chapter 1: Our Father In Heaven
Comments and Resources "The Scriptures tell us that "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3. Joseph Smith said: "If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 343). During the study of this topic, we will learn that God exists; God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfect in every way; God is just, merciful, and full of love; God has a body of flesh and bones. Resources:
Gospel Principles: Chapter 1: Our Father in Heaven
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapters 2-3.
The Articles of Faith, Chapter 2. Scriptures:
Mosiah 4:4-12
4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you.
5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state
6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body
7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there isnone other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he <4/9b">created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not <4/9d">comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your ownnothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." 76/1-5#1">D&C 76:1-5
"1 Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.
2 Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out.
3 His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand.
4 From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail.
5 For thus saith the Lord I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those whofear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end." D&C 76:19-21
"19 And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord'shone round about.
20 And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fullness;
21 And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever." D&C 130:1-3,22
"1 When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is.We shall see that he is a man like ourselves.
2 And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled witheternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy.
3 John 14:23 The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal 130/3b">appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man's heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.
22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit.Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us."
Acts 17:22-29
"22 ¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made ofone blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are theoffspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man'sdevice." Articles of Faith 1:1"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." Topical Guide:
God, Attributes of
God, Body of - Corporeal Nature
God, Glory of
God, Justice of
God, Manifestations of
God, Mercey of
God, Omniscience of
God, Power of
God the Father - Elohim/Eloheim
Man, A Spirit Child of Heavenly Father
Man, Potential to Become Like Heavenly Father Bible Dictionary:
God
Glory of the Lord Guide to the Scriptures:
Father In Heaven
God, Godhead
Man, Men
Sons and Daughters of God
Spirit
Spirit Creation