Doctrines of the Gospel
Student Manual

Religion 430 and 431

cover

Prepared by the Church Educational System

Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah

Send comments and corrections, including typographic errors, to CES Editing, 50 E. North Temple Street, Floor 8, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-2722 USA.

© 1986, 2004 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America

English approval: 7/03

Contents

Introduction

1

Chapter 1   Divine Truth

2

Chapter 2   Revelation: Avenue to Truth

4

Chapter 3   God the Eternal Father

6

Chapter 4   Jesus Christ, the Son of God

9

Chapter 5   The Holy Ghost

11

Chapter 6   Our Premortal Life

13

Chapter 7   The Creation

16

Chapter 8   The Fall

19

Chapter 9   The Atonement of Jesus Christ

22

Chapter 10   The Purpose of Earth Life

27

Chapter 11   The Agency of Man

30

Chapter 12   Prayer and Fasting

32

Chapter 13   Faith, a Power That Centers in Christ

35

Chapter 14   Repentance

38

Chapter 15   The Covenant of Baptism

42

Chapter 16   The Gift of the Holy Ghost

44

Chapter 17   Obedience, a Law of Heaven

46

Chapter 18   Spiritual Rebirth: True Conversion

49

Chapter 19   Eternal Life

51

Chapter 20   The Sacrament, a Memorial Ordinance

53

Chapter 21   The Foreordination of Covenant Israel and Their Responsibilities

56

Chapter 22   The Apostasy

59

Chapter 23   The Restoration of the Gospel in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times

61

Chapter 24   The Scattering and the Gathering of Israel

65

Chapter 25   Priesthood: What It Is, How It Works

67

Chapter 26   The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

69

Chapter 27   The Law of the Sabbath

72

Chapter 28   Celestial Marriage

75

Chapter 29   The Importance of the Family

78

Chapter 30   Death and the Postmortal Spirit World

83

Chapter 31   The Redemption of the Dead

85

Chapter 32   The Resurrection and the Judgment

87

Chapter 33   Kingdoms of Glory and Perdition

90

Chapter 34   The Signs of the Times

94

Chapter 35   The Fall of Babylon and the Establishment of Zion

97

Chapter 36   The Lord’s Second Coming

100

Chapter 37   The Millennium and the Glorification of the Earth

103

Bibliography

106

Author Index

108

Scripture Index

115

Subject Index

125

Introduction

Doctrines of the Gospel, Religion 430–31, is a course designed to help you systematically study the principles and doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ from the four standard works of the Church. Hence, your basic texts are the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. This student manual is a guide to help you study the scriptures and to provide a basis for classroom discussion.

Every chapter has two sections, Doctrinal Outline and Supporting Statements. In the first section, Doctrinal Outline, the subject is divided into a number of statements, which in turn are further divided into still more specific statements. Scripture references for each doctrinal statement build on each other in a logical and sequential manner. The second section, Supporting Statements, consists of commentaries from Prophets and Apostles in this dispensation.

It is recommended that you read the introduction to each lesson and then read quickly through each statement in the outline. Next, look up each scripture reference in the order it is listed. Finally, read through the supporting statements.