There is a change in what we will be studying in Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month. We have been studying the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church. That began in 1998. We have used that series for the past 11 years. Those are wonderful books and are a resource for our own gospel libraries. Gospel doctrines and gospel principles have been taught from that book. In my opinion, we are not done with the series, but we are taking a two year break from it. We can still study from the teachings of our presidents of the church. Because we have finished studying it, does not mean we do not have to look at it again. When can still study the teaching found in the previous 9 books. I still look forward to studying the teachings of Lorenzo Snow, George Albert Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Thomas S. Monson.
We will be using an updated edition of the book “Gospel Principles”. It was originally done 30 years ago. It is the book that new converts use in the Gospel Essentials class each Sunday in Sunday School. The core doctrines and principles will be taught.
http://www.mormontimes.com/around_church/general_authority/?id=11489
Mormon Times article
The following is the electronic version of the book found on the church website:
http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,8865-1-4828-2,00.html
2010 is a great year for us. It is a year where we can refocus our energies on the basic foundations of the gospel. I have wondered why we are going to be using the Gospel Principles book. There are several reasons I have thought of. One reason is that we need a refresher on the basics. We have forgotten or have not learned some of the basic truths. This will help us as people around us ask questions about the church and gospel (missionary work). We have no excuse for not knowing the gospel. This will help in our preparation. We are filling our lamps with oil as we learn and apply the gospel into our lives.
Application is the key. What we put into something is what we get out of it. We have this wonderful opportunity to learn and apply the principles and doctrines of the gospel into our lives. We can still study the lessons if we are not in Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society. This book can be a foundation in gospel learning. It is like building our houses on the foundation of rock and not of sand.
What are some of the things that can we do to really benefit from our Gospel Principles book?
1> Skim through the chapters
2> Read the chapters
3> Think, Ponder, and Reflect as we read
4> Study the scriptures that are listed in each chapter
5> Answer the questions that are listed on our own paper
6> When we are done studying, we can write a summary of the chapter, write our testimony on that doctrine/ principle, and write down a few things that we can do to apply that lesson into our own lives. This can be kept in a notebook, and at the end of 2011, we can look back and see how far we have grown spiritually in the gospel.
7> We can do this before we go to class so that we can get more out of the lesson
What is the main objective of lessons and talks? I believe it is to apply the principles and doctrines of the gospel in our own lives so that we can be blessed. As we are blessed, others will be blessed too. I believe by using this updated book, our testimonies and knowledge will grow. We will better understand the gospel and its teachings.
The church has grown in the last 30 years since the Gospel Principles book was first done. President Spencer W. Kimball was president of the church at that time. Church membership in 1979 was 4,404,121 with 1092 stakes, 175 missions, and 17 temples.
In 1989, we had a membership of 7,308,444 with 1739 stakes, 228 missions, and 43 temples.
In 1999, we had a membership of 10,752,984 with 2542 members, 333 missions, and 68 temples.
In 2004, we had a membership of 12,275,822 with 2665 stakes, 338 missions, and 119 temples.
At the end of 2008, we had a membership of 13,508,509 with 2818 stakes, 348 missions, and 128 temples. We currently have 130 temples.
Look at these numbers: from 1978 to 2008
We have had an increase of 9,341,655 members, an increase of 1828 stakes, an increase of 182 missions, and an increase of 111 temples. Wow! 4,484,141 of those members have been since the start of 1995 when President Hinckley became president of the church.
The church will continue to grow. We must remain faithful. We need to continue to learn, and by studying this updated book, we can do it.
President Boyd K. Packer said the following in April General Conference 1999: “Actually the Church is no bigger than a ward. Each bishop has counselors. He wears a special mantle and is designated as the presiding high priest in the ward. There are other high priests, and there is a presidency of elders. There are auxiliary leaders and teachers sufficient for the need. When we serve obediently, ever willingly, our pay, like the bishop’s, comes in blessings.
No matter if the Church grows to be a hundred million (as it surely will!), it will still be no bigger than a ward. Everything needed for our redemption, save for the temple, is centered there—and temples now come ever closer to all of us.”
NOTE: I have compiled a chart that goes with the 2nd and 3rd Sunday Relief Society and Priesthood lessons. How is it organized? On the left there are the main topics that are in the 9 lessons books (1998 to 2009). There are still more presidents of the church books left. I have columns for the remaining prophets. This is an incomplete work. If I want to study a topic, but want to include the teachings of the other prophets, I use the chart so I can study from all of them that talk about it. The prophets are in order from Joseph Smith onward using their initials. If there is a blank, then that is not one of the main topics. The numbers indicate the lesson numbers. This can be used to study to principles and doctrines of the gospel.
Wow, Bill, there’s a lot in this post. But I agree with what I think is your main point, which is that it’s important to remember the basics of our doctrines. People do seem to go off on strange tangents sometimes. Remembering the basics is vital.
Wow is right! The growth of the Church has been explosive, for lack of a better word. I like the focus on gospel principles for all members.
I normally attend the gospel principles class instead of gospel doctrine because of the focus on basic principles of the gospel.
Surprisingly, I already have a copy of the new book given to me by my ward mission leader. They must already be sending the new manuals out to the wards.
I’m going to also put in a plug for Preach My Gospel. It is a GREAT resource! We’ve been admonished to read this book and use it in our homes, classes and quorems. I think this coupled with the Gospel Essentials will be great.
I have a question that is very basic. I quickly viewed Gospel Principles for the answer but didn’t see one.
Question: When do we fulfill our baptism covenant?
If someone finds the answer please let me know.
I quite like the Gospel Principles manual. In working through it with new members, investigators, and the youth it’s one of the few manuals you can pick up and read verbatim and have a great discussion. I worry about how it’s going to be used in priesthood, however. Take Lesson 9 for example (“The Scriptures”). Does anyone have any thoughts about how something like this should be taught in their wards? If we simply read the chapter and ask those questions, I can already see a lot of head-in-the-hands staring at the floor while thinking about lunch. Perhaps a more relevant question would be, how can those of us who are in the audience contribute to the lesson such that it uplifts the class and ourselves?
Love the idea! The book is pretty much an outline of the principal doctrinal pillars of the church. Some of which define and separate us from the rest of Christianity. Each subject with endless possibilities of discussion and at a deeper level than the new member class in which things have to be kept at a basic level.
I think in some cases it will be easier to teach and discuss this than it was some of the chapters from the Teachings of the Presidents series. I can see SmallAxe’s concern that some subjects seem extremely basic, such as “The Scriptures,” but if you have read the bloggernacle debates about what should be considered scripture and what not, you will find material to talk about for months!
By the way, one of the chapters explicitly states that we can become gods… so hopefully no more GA’s will be saying on national TV “… I don’t know that we teach it…”
I think it will be really good.
What about the investigators, will they get the same lessons twice?
Good to see so many people thinking ahead to the next year. I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts in the upcoming months.
I think it is important to point out that because of the growth of the Church, especially outside the United States, that for many members this will not necessarily be “back” to basics, but it may be the first time they have access to Gospel Principles manual in their language. Gospel Principles was originally created for areas where the Church was less established to provide a simplified curriculum. In some areas, where materials were sparse, Gospel Principles constituted the full curriculum of the Church. Perhaps, the current timing of Gospel Principles as curriculum is indicative of a similar situation world-wide.
Manuel…
…I believe the appropriate way to phrase the statement would be to say “hopefully no more prophet’s will be saying…’I don’t know that we teach it’” (GA’s too, for that matter).