Introduction to Self-Guided Lessons about Mormonism
Thank you for wanting to learn more about the Mormon Church and its teachings! We hope that you will feel the Spirit of Lord as you study and that through the power of the Holy Ghost you will be able know that what we are teaching and what you are studying is true. The purpose of these lessons is to provide you with an opportunity to study the truth about what Mormons believe from those who are faithful, believing members. While studying a written text and reading the references provided can help you a great deal, ultimately they are no replacement for speaking with a member of the Mormon Church and being able to get answers to your particular questions and concerns right away. These lessons provide a way for you to study the Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through living prophets like Joseph Smith and others in a relaxed, no-pressure environment at your own pace.
There are planned a total of at least ten lessons that will discuss the teachings and practices of the Mormon Church. Each one will focus on a different aspect of the Gospel and will introduce certain key concepts. Each lesson will be organized in the following way:
1. An interesting fact about Mormonism
2. A Review of the previous lessons (except of course for the first lesson)
3. An introduction to the topic with specific vocabulary
4. Lessons with instructions, references and occasional some video clips
5. A list of what you can do to better understand the lessons, such a further reading, prayer, and so on.
6. A preview of the upcoming lesson
As you study each lesson, read the accompanying references, some of which will be to outside books like the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The lessons will also explain how you can access those materials if you do not have them available. All of the books and videos mentions in the lessons can be obtained for free either from members or missionaries of the Mormon Church or online at various websites.
Your responsibility in these lessons is to read, ponder, and pray. Read the lesson and the references provided. Ponder about their meanings. Ask yourself: What would it mean to my life if these teachings are true? How would I change or not change? How do I feel about these teachings? We recommend keeping a diary of your thoughts and record any special spiritual experiences or impressions that come to mind. Often these thoughts are placed there by the Holy Spirit and can help us learn. Jesus told his disciples:
But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26)
Through the Holy Ghost we can learn the truth of all things. This witness comes to us as we ponder and pray about the teachings and doctrines we are taught. As we do those things which our Father in Heaven wants us to do, we will find peace in our hearts and clarity in our minds. We will be filled with love for other people and with an increased ability to learn, remember, love, serve, and endure the difficulties of life. Peace, love, joy, and hope are gifts from God to us through His Holy Spirit which let us know that we are doing what is right. When we begin to feel this increased love, hope, and faith in God, then we will know that what we are learning and doing is correct. If we do not act on these spiritual impressions to pray, study God’s word, and do what is right, then that peace and love from the Spirit will leave us again until we try again. God is forgiving and will never give up on us as long as we live and try our very best. Remember, that when we have done what we can, even if it not very much, but it is our best, God will make up for our failings. That is His gift to us if we believe.
Read also:
Galatians 5:22
John 14:29
1 Kings 19:11-12
After you have studied the lessons, pondered their messages and begun to apply the teachings of the Gospel to your life, you must pray. Jesus taught us how to pray:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen (Matthew 6:9-13)
This is not something we should quote when we pray, but it is a pattern for our prayers. We should:
1. Address our Heavenly Father
2. Praise and thank Him for our blessings
3. Ask questions about the things we need or questions we want answered
4. Ask for forgiveness for our sins
5. Close in the name of Jesus Christ
Prayers are like conversations with our Father in Heaven. He will answer them by sending us the Holy Ghost to confirm the truth. When we pray, we are not trying to force God to agree with us, but we trying to find out what God wants us to do. We are trying to force ourselves to agree with God. If we pray with real faith, believing that God exists and that he can answer us, we will receive an answer.
You should pray about the things you study and ask God if they are true. He will tell you that they are true by sending the Holy Spirit into your mind and heart to fill your whole soul with love, peace, joy, and faith. Pray to prepare your heart before you study and pray when you have finished in order to know the truthfulness of what you have studied. Pray whenever you feel impressed to pray.
Finally, make sure you have studied the whole lesson before you move one. Make sure you understand all the concepts taught in the lesson before proceeding to the next one. This is important. When you build a house, you must start with the foundation. If you try to start with the roof, you will never build a house, just a pile of rumble. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, too, has a foundation. That foundation is God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost and God’s prophets whom he has called since the beginning of time to teach the truth. If you do not understand these very basic foundations, you will not be able to understand the rest of the teachings. Even if you feel you know a lot about God and Jesus Christ, please read the lesson anyway. You may be surprised by something you did not know, or you may find your faith strengthened. Above all, when learning about God, you must be humble. Humility means that you are willing to acknowledge you do not know everything and that you are ready to learn and willing to change. Without humility, you cannot have faith in God and without faith in God, you cannot be saved (see Hebrews 11:6)
Did You Know…?
Mormon is really just a nickname. The real name of the Mormon Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and members are called Latter-day Saints, Saints, or members of the LDS Church. Mormons prefer to be called Latter-day Saints. The nickname Mormon and Mormon Church comes because members of the LDS Church believe that the Book of Mormon is a volume of scripture just like the Bible. Because only Latter-day Saints believe in this, others started calling them Mormons. This was originally used as an insult and while Latter-day Saints do not find it offensive today, most prefer not to use it. These two names sometimes cause confusion. Once when a tornado hit Oklahoma City, members of the LDS Church rushed to help. The next day, the front page article of the local newspaper wrote a thank you to two churches: The Mormon Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!
Introduction to Lesson I: Our Heavenly Father
Essential Vocabulary:
God: The creator and sustainer of the Universe, our Heavenly Father
Prophet: A man inspired by God to teach the truth about Him and His plan for mankind (see Amos 3:7)
Scriptures: The writings of prophets inspired by the Holy Ghost which teach us the truth about God and His plan (see 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Prayer: Communication with our Heavenly Father
Books needed:
The Holy Bible - any good translation can be used. Mormons typically use the King James Bible, and quotes in the text will come from that translation, but if you have a different translation it is okay.
The Book of Mormon - A companion volume to the Holy Bible which was translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith from ancient records. If you do not have a copy, you may get a free copy online at www.mormon.org by clicking on the button that reads “Seen on TV” and selecting Book of Mormon. Or you may go directly to the Free Book of Mormon website here. (Note: users of Mozilla Firefox may have trouble getting the order form to work properly. The problem is being fixed). You may also either contact the local Mormon missionaries or see the text of the Book of Mormon online at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/contents. The Book of Mormon will be explained in more detail later.
Lesson 1: God, Our Heavenly Father
There is a God
There is a God. He is the creator of the universe and the Father of every person who has every lived upon the face of the earth. He is perfect, all-wise, all-powerful, and all-loving. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, God created this world and the whole universe and placed us here so that we could learn and grow through our experiences.
We can know that there is a God by looking around us and observing the beauty and order of the world. In the Book of Mormon a prophet named Alma was trying to convince a man named Korihor that there was a God. He said:
Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. (Alma 30:44, pg 283).
Alma taught that the whole universe reminds us there is a God. The Prophet Joseph Smith, a modern prophet who taught the truth about God just like Paul did, said:
The heavens declare the glory of a God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork; and a moment’s reflection is sufficient to teach every man of common intelligence, that all these are not the mere productions of chance, nor could they be supported by any power less than an Almighty hand; and He that can mark the power of Omnipotence, inscribed upon the heavens, can also see God’s own handwriting in the sacred volume. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 2:14)
Points to Ponder:
Do you feel that the order in nature testifies there is a God?
What do you believe about God? How do you feel about Him?
How can we know God and know what He is like?
Since the beginning of time, people have wondered about God. Some thought there was only one; others thought that there were many gods. Some have even said that there is no God. How does God let us know who He is?
In the Job 11:7 in the Holy Bible we read:
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Job’s friend here reminds us that we cannot find God, he reveals Himself to people on earth. We learn about God through Holy Prophets like Adam, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, and Paul. God revealed Himself to them and sent Angels to teach them the truth.
Read Amos 3:7 in the Holy Bible
- What will God always do before he performs His work?
God has established this pattern of calling prophets and other inspired teachers who learn firsthand what God is like. They then teach us the truth and the Holy Spirit testifies to us that what they teach us is true.
Read The Acts 10:34-48 in the Holy Bible
- To whom did God show Jesus Christ?
- What did God command these people to do?
- What happened to those who heard Peter speak?
Read also Moroni 7:20-34, pg 522-23 in the Book of Mormon
- How can we find what is good?
- How do prophets learn the truth?
Read 2 Peter 1:16-18 in the Holy Bible
- What does Peter say about the things he taught?
God always sends us prophets to teach us the truth. Without prophets, we would be left on our own trying to “find out God” which no person can do. A prophet is one who teaches about Jesus Christ (see Revelation 19:10). The word prophet means a spokesman. A prophet is a spokesman for Jesus Christ and God. When a true prophet of God teaches, he will teach us about Jesus and what we must do. His words will be confirmed by the Holy Spirit. When we listen to the words of the prophets, the Spirit will enter our minds and hearts and fill us with peace and faith. Then we will know that he is a true prophet. A prophet will speak and write words that are inspired by God. Whenever there are problems or questions that arise in our modern world, the Prophet can learn what God’s will is for us today. A prophet’s words become scripture just as Paul’s letters became part of the Bible.
The Prophet Joseph Smith, one of the modern day prophets testified:
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father— That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24)
Points to Ponder:
How do prophets learn the truth about God?
What role did prophets play in writing the scriptures (like the Bible)?
How will I recognize a true prophet?
Why would it be important to have a prophet today on the earth?
What is God like?
Through the testimonies of the many prophets who have lived, we can know for certain that there is a God and that He loves us. We can have faith that He is all-powerful and all-knowing and that He never lies. He is merciful, just, loving, patient, and kind. Because God is perfect, we can have faith in Him and trust that what He commands us to do will be for our benefit and that He will fulfill all His promises to us.
Read the following passages and write down what they teach us about God:
Bible:
Matthew 5:48
1 John 4:7-9
Hebrews 12:9
Romans 8:16
Acts 17:27-29
Book of Mormon
Mosiah 4:9 pg 155
2 Nephi 9:6 pg 72
3 Nephi 27:13-22 pg 459
Points to Ponder:
How do you feel about God? Write your thoughts down in a letter or a journal.
How does it make you feel to know that God is all-powerful and totally loving?
How does it feel to know that God is aware of you personally and wants to help you?
The Godhead
The Godhead is composed of God, our Heavenly Father, His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They are three distinct and separate personages who are united together by their absolute perfect love and power. They are three separate beings, but are one in glory, perfection, love, purpose, and power.
Jesus Christ taught this very plainly. In His prayer for us, which is John chapter 17, he says that Eternal Life is to know God and Jesus Christ (see John 17:3). In this prayer, Jesus Christ prays to Our Heavenly Father. He says in verses 20 and 21:
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou has sent me (John 17:20-21)
He prays that we may all be one just like He and the Father are one. Being one means to be unified in purpose, belief, love, and service. Because they are so unified, they do everything in unison. Because of this, Jesus Christ is also called God since he does the work of the Father, too. Each member of the Godhead has a role to play for us:
God the Father: He is our Heavenly Father. He created our Spirits and through Jesus Christ he created the world and everything in it. He is the one to whom we pray.
Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Through Him and his sacrifice for us on the cross, we can be saved and return to live with God the Father. He is our mediator and we always pray in His holy name
The Holy Ghost: the Holy Ghost serves as the testifier. He teaches us the truth about God and comforts us when we are sad. Through his power we are cleansed from our sins because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for us. He is also called the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God.
The Prophet Joseph Smith in a vision saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. He testified of them this way:
When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! (Joseph Smith-History 1:17)
Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ and was called to proclaim to the world the God lives and to teach us what God is like. He was a prophet of God just like the prophet who lived in the days of the Bible. Because of Joseph Smith’s testimony about Jesus Christ and through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we can know for certain that God lives, that Jesus is our Savior, and that we must all repent and listen to God’s modern prophets so that we can follow God’s will for us today.
Our Relationship to God
We are literally the children of God (read Acts 17:29). The Bible teaches us that we are created in His image (see Genesis 1:27). He created us and placed us here on earth to gain physical bodies and to grow through experiences. He knew that life would be difficult for us and so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be our Savior and our greatest example. He taught us how to act toward one another and how to return to live with God once again. This plan to return to live with God again is called the Plan of Salvation and will be the topic of the next lesson. Because we are His children, He loves us and wants us to be happy. To help us be happy, he teaches us through the prophets how to fulfill His commandments. When we obey God we can be happy. Also, because we the “offspring of God” (Acts 17:29), we have great worth and great potential. We are all wonderful in God’s eyes, even if we sometimes make mistakes. These mistakes hurt Him just as they hurt us, because He loves us. However, God cannot excuse our sins; we must repent of them and trust in Jesus Christ. In the next lesson we will learn more about God’s Plan for us and our potential to become perfect through Jesus Christ.
Summary:
There is a God. He is perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful and He loves us very much. He created the world and is literally our Father in Heaven. Through His Son Jesus Christ he created everything we see and placed us on this earth to learn. Jesus Christ is our Savior. He and our Heavenly Father are two separate, perfect beings who are united in glory and power. They reveal themselves to prophets here on earth and those prophets teach us the truth about God and invite us to commit our lives to Him. The Holy Ghost, the third person in the Godhead, will testify to us that God lives and that Jesus is our Savior by entering our hearts and minds and bringing peace, love, joy, and faith.
The Challenge:
This week, until you start the next lesson, read and reread some of the passages about God and Jesus Christ. Ask yourself what this means to you. Pray to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to let you know He lives and loves you by sending you the peace, love, joy, and faith that come with the Holy Ghost. Take time every day to pray and meditate about what you have learned.
Read 3 Nephi 11 pg 427 in the Book of Mormon where Jesus Christ appears to the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and teaches them. Pray about what he teaches and ask yourself what would change if your life if they were true. Think about what changes God would want you to make in your life and work on one of those this week. Take time to pray and to listen for the Spirit in your heart and mind.
To prepare for the next lesson ask yourself the following questions:
Who am I?
Where did I come from?
What is the purpose of my life here on earth?
Where am I going after I die?
Think about your own answers to these questions and why they would be important to know the answers. If you have other questions not addressed in this lesson, but relating to God, Jesus Christ, or prophets, look at the material available on www.meetmormonmissionaries.com or locate the nearest Mormon Chapel to you and go there to ask a member. When you have completed this lesson to your satisfaction, reply to the email and request the second lesson. If you have any specific questions, you may ask them in your email, though because of time and work constraints, we cannot guarantee to respond to every question personally.