The Principles of the Gospel for our Young People
Faith “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” –Hebrews 11:1 “By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7 Jesus has a powerful love for us and plan for our life!! (1 John 4:14)
Faith is Like a Seed When you plant a seed, how do you know it will grow? -You have faith that it will grow. Alma 16:153: “Now if ye give place that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts;” 156- But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, and ye must needs say, that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. 157-And now behold, will this not strengthen your faith? Faith is believing in what you can’t see!
Repentance Saying sorry for our sins, asking the Lord to forgive us. Being truly sorry, from your heart. When we decide to follow the Father’s commandments in the name of Jesus, we ask God to forgive us and for Him to direct our life. “Yea, he that truly humbleth himself and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed…” Alma 16:136
Baptism We believe in full immersion, all the way under the water. The water is a symbol to show we are washing away our sins. Doing this in front of others is an act of humility. Elders and Apostles have the authority from God to baptize. 3 rd Nephi 5: We are commanded by God to be repent and be baptized, but must do so willingly and with full purpose of heart. “Blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubborness of heart; yea, without being brought to know the word or even compelled to know, before they will believe.” Alma 16:138 “For thus saith the scripture, Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” Alma 16:9 Our Father in Heaven has promised that if we witness to Him by baptism that He will give us His Spirit to stay with us for life, with the laying on of hands.
Laying on of Hands Church of Christ ministry use the laying on of hands for receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost after a person is baptized, When a person is sick, (administration) Ordination (when a man is called by God to be a minister, and two other ministers put their hands on his head and pray.) Blessing of babies and children.
Resurrection Alma 19:56 “…This much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery, until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.” Alma 19:58 & 9- “The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost, but all things shall be restored to its proper and perfect frame. And now my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.”
Eternal Judgment “…If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so shall he be rewarded unto righteousness. These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness…” Alma 19:69-70