The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

The Lord restored the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith “line upon line, precept upon precept” ( D&C 128:21). Some ot the first truths to be restored were the first principles and ordinances of the gospel.

We believe that the first principles and aordinances of the Gospel are: first, bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, cRepentance; third, dBaptism by eimmersion for the fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ghands for the hgift of the Holy Ghost.

The Lord had a perfect plan for the restoration of the gospel in the dispensation of the fullness of times. Everything was to unfold in a specific order, each event dependent on the one before it, according to God’s plan.

I.First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was by faith that Joseph searched the scriptures looking for an answer, and after reading James 1: 5 and retiring to the woods, knew that his prayer would be answered.

It was by faith that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph, restoring the saving name of Jesus Christ to the earth once again.

It was by faith that Moroni, the last Book of Mormon prophet appeared to Joseph, instructing him of things to come and leading him to the plates he had buried on the Hill Cumorrah many centuries previous.

It was by faith that Joseph, by the urim and thummim, and through the power of the Holy Ghost, translated those plates.

It was by faith that after many threats to thwart the work, that translation was published by E.B. Grandin into a book that was to be the cornerstone of our religion .

“What, then, is faith? In the broad, generic, and universal sense of the word, having no particular reference to religion and salvation, the Prophet [Joseph Smith] tells us that faith ‘is the moving cause of all action.. in all intelligent beings’. All accountable and intelligent beings have faith in this sense. Such is part of life itself. Because this faith dwells in the hearts of all mankind, they sow with the assurance of reaping; they plant with the hope of harvesting; they exert themselves in the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence because they believe they can obtain them. (McConkie, A New Witness to the Articles of Faith p.163)

“Faith is the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness.” “Faith..is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God. Without it there is no power, and without power there could be no creation nor existence!” ( Lectures on Faith 1:1,22-24)

The first principle of the gospel is a little more specific: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
“To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.” 3
From the beginning of time, prophets have known that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, of His mortal mission, and of His Atonement for all mankind. Sacred records give the prophecies of thousands of years, not only of the first coming of our Savior but also of the Second Coming—a glorious day that will most assuredly come. (Robert D. Hales, “Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Nov 2004, 70–73)
The ancient prophets knew Jesus was the son of God, they preached the gospel and worked miracles. Faith was theirs because they worshipped the true God and had a knowledge of his character, attributes, and perfections.
Why is it necessary to have faith in the Lord Jesus christ?
Because it is only through Him that we can gain eternal life.
How can we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Learn of Him
D&C19:23-24
23 aLearn of me, and listen to my words; bwalk in the cmeekness of my Spirit, and you shall have dpeace in me.
24 I am Jesus Christ; I acame by the bwill of the Father, and I do his will.
The very fact that you are here at church today means that you are hearing the words of the Lord. This is the first step to finding faith in Him- to let His word, as spoken by the mouth of His servants, the prophets, touch your heart. “ But it is not enough merely to let those words wash over you, as if they alone could transform you. We must do our part..In other words, hearing requires an active effort. It means taking seriously what is taught, considering it carefully and studying it out in our minds.
D&C 88:118
118 And as all have not afaith, seek ye diligently and bteach one another words of cwisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best dbooks words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
Joseph Fielding McConkie:
(Much learning would come to Latter-day Saints were they to couple their study with greater faith. For instance, the revelations of the Restoration—including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price and the Joseph Smith Translation—can unlock an immeasurable amount of knowledge about the teachings of the Old and New Testaments if we have the faith to allow them to do so. Were we as a people less concerned with having everything that we are told by revelations conform to the findings of the science of our day, our understanding of the origin of man and life beyond the grave would be greatly enhanced. We too are entitled to that same Spirit and the same knowledge known to Joseph Smith and the great prophets of dispensations past in which they, clothed in the robes of righteousness, have had the mysteries of heaven unfolded to them. Revelations of the Restoration, p. 649)
B. Sacrifice

Those who have faith sacrifice freely for the Lord’s work, and their acts of sacrifice increase their faith. “ Let us here observe, “ the prophet Joseph Smith said, “ that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without sacrifice of all earthly things.”
( A New Witness to the Aricles of Faith, McConkie, p. 189)

How do we demonstrate our faith in Christ?

D&C 20:69
69 And the members shall manifest before the church, and also before the elders, by a agodly walk and conversation, that they are worthy of it, that there may be works and bfaith greeable to the holy scriptures—walking in choliness before the Lord.

We demonstrate our faith by doing those things that the Savior would do. The Savior attained his glory by making himself one with the Father. He desired the same for his disciples, and all of his children.

Joseph Smith
“ These teachings of the Saviour most clearly show unto us the nature of salvation. And what he proposed unto the human family when he proposed to save them-that he proposed to make them like unto himself, and he was like the Father, the great prototype of all saved beings; and for any portion of the human family to be assimilated into their likeness is to be saved; and to be unlike them is to be destroyed; and on this hinge turns the door of salvation. “ (Lectures on Faith 7:12-17)

To be like Him, we must know Him and do what He did. In this, we obtain our salvation.

II. Second, Repentance

Repentance is a major theme in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord teaches the doctrine of repentance and repeatedly emphasizes the need to repent. He promises great blessings to those who repent- and punishments to those who do not.

What is repentance?
It is the process of becoming cleansed from our sins and receiving forgiveness for them through the power of the Savior’s Atonement.

D&C 58:42-43
42 Behold, he who has arepented of his bsins, the same is cforgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will aconfess them and bforsake them.

To repent, we must confess and forsake our sins and turn away from evil. We must also turn our heart and will to God, sincerely striving to obey His commandments.
(Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior…True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change in behavior. The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 71. Repentance requires both turning away from evil and turning to God. Neal A. Maxwell, CR, Nov 1991, p. 30.)
Who does the law of repentance apply to? Who of us are in need of repentance?
Everyone. We all are in need because none of us are perfect. This includes us, as members of the church. We are only in process of overcoming the world. Paul said to the Corinthian saints: “Ye are yet carnal.” To prove his point, he asked: “Whereas there Is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
The attainment of salvation is a long and grueling process; it is a process of renewed, repeated, and continuing repentance, as our needs and circumstances may require. It is the process of overcoming the world, of bridling our passions, of coming to a unity with the Lord, of growing in grace until we become like Him through whose atoning blood we have power to gain eternal life. ( A New Witness to the Articles of Faith, McConkie, p.222)
What happens if we don’t repent?
Alma, addressing himself to his brethren of the church, asks: “How will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? ..Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time,..that ye have been sufficiently humble?.. Is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother..will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, and upon your riches?.. Will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and withholding your substance from them?” ( Alma 5:14-55
D&C1:33
33 And he that arepents not, from him shall be btaken even the light which he has received; for my cSpirit shall not always dstrive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts
D&C 19:17-18
17 But if they would not repent they must asuffer even as I;
18 Which asuffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might bnot drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
What does the Lord promise us if we truly repent?
D&C 109:53
53 But inasmuch as they will repent, thou art gracious and merciful, and wilt turn away thy wrath when thou lookest upon the face of thine Anointed.

Neal A. Maxwell
(Repentance is a rescuing, not a dour doctrine. It is available to the gross sinner as well as to the already good individual striving for incremental improvement. Neal A. Maxwell, CR, Oct 1991, p. 40)
That the Lord is willing to forgive us each time we go through this process is evident in the life of the prophet Joseph Smith. After allowing Martin Harris to take the 116 pages of manuscript, the prophet soon learned why the Lord had told him no to begin with. Joseph and his whole family felt that the opportunity to participate in this great work of the restoration was in a moment snatched from them, never to return.
Lucy Mack Smith
“I will remember that day of darkness, both within and without. To us, at least, the heavens seemed clothed with blackness, and the earth shrouded with gloom. I have often said within myself that if a continual punishment, as severe as that which we experienced on that occasion, were to be inflicted upon the most wicked characters who ever stood upon the footstool of the Almighty-if even their punishment were no greater than that, I should feel to pity their condition.” (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, p.171)
Upon returning to Harmony, PA, the urim and thummim were taken from Joseph as a consequence of his actions with the promise that if he was fully repentant, he would have the opportunity to receive them again.
Joseph Smith
“After the angel left me, I continued my supplications to God, without cessation, and on the twenty-second of September, I had the Joy and satisfaction of again receiving the Urim and Thummim with which I have again commenced translating..The angel was rejoiced when he gave me back the Urim and thummim, and he told me that the Lord was pleased with my faithfulness and humility, and loved me for my penitence and diligence in prayer, in the which I performed my duty so well as to receive the Urim and Thummim and was able to enter upon the work of translation again.” (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, p.176).
III. Baptism by Immersion, for the remission of sin
Our faith in Christ is measured by the extent to which we pattern our lives after him. The things we choose to do evidence for whom we have chosen to labor. The truly repentant will bring forth, as Luke stated it, "fruits worthy of repentance" (Luke 3:8), or as Alma said it, bring forth "works which are meet for repentance" (Alma 5:54).

Baptism is the first fruits of repentance. It is an ordinance, a sign of a covenant, an
outward expression of the acceptance of and participation in a two-way promise. The initiate promises God certain things; in return, God promises certain blessings. According to Alma, persons desiring to enter the kingdom of God promise to 1) bear one another’s burdens; 2) mourn with those that mourn; 3) comfort those that stand in need of comfort; and 4) stand as witnesses of God at all times. In return God promises that obedient souls may be: 1) redeemed from death; 2) numbered with those of the first resurrection; and 3) inheritors of eternal life. DCBM, 2:254),

While translating the plates, Joseph and Oliver had to have questions about baptism and wonder if the power and authority to do so would be restored to the earth. As was his habit, Joseph went to the Lord to get answers.
JSH 1;68-71
68 We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting abaptism for the bremission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a ccloud of light, and having laid his dhands upon us, he eordained us, saying:
69 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the aPriesthood of bAaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of cbaptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of dLevi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in erighteousness.
70 He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter; and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and that afterwards he should baptize me.
71 Accordingly we went and were baptized. I abaptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me—after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood, and afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same Priesthood—for so we were commanded.*
What are the purposes of Baptism?
a. To show our commitment to the Savior: The first part of baptism, immersion in water, is a visible, public, and outward sign that a penitent person has come unto Christ, accepted his gospel, and taken our Lord’s yoke upon him. The second part of baptism, immersion in the Spirit, through the receipt of the Holy Ghost, is an invisible, private, and inward witness that lets the penitent person know he has been accepted by the Lord as an heir of salvation. Baptism is dual in nature; it is in water and of the spirit. It is manifestation before the world and the receipt of an inner and personal peace. ( Another Witness to the Articles of Faith, McConkie, p. 241).

b. Receive a remission of our sins:
D&C49:13-14
13 aRepent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the holy commandment, for the remission of sins;
14 And whoso doeth this shall receive the agift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of the bhands of the elders of the church.
No unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God or dwell in his holy presence. Figuratively speaking, sins are washed away in the waters of baptism. In the literal sense, they are burned out of a human soul as though by fire upon the receipt of the Holy Ghost.
c. For membership into the church: The church administers the gospel, and the gospel brings salvation. Salvation comes by obedience to all the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Thus, without baptism, without the church, and without the gospel, there would be no salvaion.
d. Preparing to receive the holy ghost:The Holy Ghost is a sanctifier. He alone, by divine appointment, has power to sanctify a human soul. No person enters that glorious kingdom unless and until he is clean and spotless and sanctified.
e. Enter into the gate that leads to eternal life

“Baptism is not an optional ordinance; it is not something for those only who are especially devout and pious. It is for all men, and it comes from God by way of commandment. Those who are not baptized therby turn from the order of heaven, defy the will of the Lord, and break one of his great and eternal commandments. “ Now this is the commandment,” the risen Lord said to the Nephites: “Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name.” (3 Ne 27:20). In his ministry among the Jews, speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus said “ All the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” (Luke 7:29-30).” ( A New Witness to the Articles of Faith, McConkie, p.245).
In the Latter days:
D&C 20:37
37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who ahumble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and bcontrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the cname of Jesus Christ, having a ddetermination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their eworks that they have received of the fSpirit of Christ unto the gremission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.

IV. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
D&C33:15
15 And whoso having faith you shall aconfirm in my church, by the laying on of the bhands, and I will bestow the cgift of the Holy Ghost upon them.
D&C 35:6
6 But now I give unto thee a commandment, that thou shalt abaptize by water, and they shall receive the bHoly Ghost by the laying on of the chands, even as the apostles of old.
Bruce R. McConkie:
“Men ought –above all things in this world-to seek for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing as important as having the companionship of the Holdy Ghost. Those who first receive this endowment and who then remain in tune with this member of the Eternal Godhead will receive a peace and a comfort that passeth all understanding; they will be guided and preserved in ways that are miraculous; they will be instructed until they receive all truth; they will sanctify their souls so as to dwell spotless before the sinless one in his everlasting kingdom.
“There is no price too high, no labor too onerous, no struggle too severe, no sacrifice too great, if out of it all we receive and enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost. It follows that faighful people desire to know who or what the Spirit is; to know the part he plays in the plan of salvation; to know the blessings that flow from his hands; to know his relationship to the Father and the Son; to know what mortals must do to be filled with his goodness and grace. “ ( ANWAF , p.253)
After we are baptized, we are confirmed members of the church and given the gift of the holy ghost. These 2 ordinances are dependant on each other to be complete. It is important to note that the authority to baptize comes from the Aaronic, or lesser, priesthood. The authority to perform the ordinance of confirmation, however, comes from the Melchezidek priesthood. Therefore, this priesthood needed also to be restored in the latter days prior to this ordinance being performed. Peter, James and John restored the keys to this priesthood to Joseph and Oliver shortly after John the Baptist restored the keys to the Aaronic Priesthood.
When we are confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, it does not automatically ensu that the Holy Ghost will always be with us. What must we do to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion?
Joseph Fielding Smith
“The Holy Ghost will not dwell with that person who is unwilling to obey and keep the commandments of God or who violates those commandments willfully.” (Church News, 4 Nov. 1961,14).
Why is the Holy Ghost so valuable to us? What does the Holy Ghost do for us?
o a. D&C 18:18; 39:6; 42:14; 75:10; 79:2. (He is a teacher; see also John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Nephi 10:19; Moroni 10:5.)
o b. D&C 39:6. (He is the Comforter; see also John 14:16.)
o c. D&C 42:17; 100:8. (He is a testifier; see also John 15:26; Alma 5:46.)
o d. D&C 11:12. (He leads us to do good, walk humbly, and judge righteously.)
o e. D&C 11:13; 76:10. (He enlightens our minds and fills our souls with joy.)
o f. D&C 84:33. (Through Him we are sanctified; see also 3 Nephi 27:20.)
o g. D&C 31:11; 75:27; 84:85. (He inspires us in where to go, what to do, and what to say.)
V. We must endure to the end in faith to receive eternal life
When we are baptized, we enter the path that leads to exaltation. However, this single experience does not ensure that we will be exalted. As the Lord frequently admonishes in the Doctrine and Covenants, we must also keep the covenants we made at baptism to endure faithfully to the end of our lives.
Elder Dieter Uchdorf:
The scriptures teach us that once we have received the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, our task then is to “endure to the end” (2 Nephi 31:20).
When I was a young boy, “endure to the end” meant to me mainly that I had to try harder to stay awake until the end of our Church meetings. Later as a teenager I progressed only slightly in my understanding of this scriptural phrase. I linked it with youthful empathy to the efforts of our dear elderly members to hang in there until the end of their lives.
Enduring to the end, or remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout our life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God. This belief distinguishes Latter-day Saints from many other Christian denominations that teach that salvation is given to all who simply believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ. The Lord clearly declared, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).
Therefore, enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life’s difficult circumstances or “hanging in there.” Ours is an active religion, helping God’s children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day. Viewed from this perspective, enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).
Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise. It is accomplished through personal discipline following the commandments of God.
The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is a way of life. It is not for Sunday only. It is not something we can do only as a habit or a tradition if we expect to harvest all of its promised blessings. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
Enduring to the end implies “patient continuance in well doing” (Romans 2:7), striving to keep the commandments (see 2 Nephi 31:10), and doing the works of righteousness (see D&C 59:23). It requires sacrifice and hard work. To endure to the end, we need to trust our Father in Heaven and make wise choices, including paying our tithes and offerings, honoring our temple covenants, and serving the Lord and one another willingly and faithfully in our Church callings and responsibilities. It means strength of character, selflessness, and humility; it means integrity and honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen. It means making our homes strong places of defense and a refuge against worldly evils; it means loving and honoring our spouses and children.
By doing our best to endure to the end, a beautiful refinement will come into our lives. We will learn to “do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us]” (Matthew 5:44). The blessings that come to us from enduring to the end in this life are real and very significant, and for the life to come they are beyond our comprehension.
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?,” Liahona, Nov 2007, 18–21).