What is the role of agency in learning the gospel?
Intro:
Read: 2 Nephi 2:26
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given..
Heavenly Father created us as people who have the freedom to choose for ourselves... Good or bad it is our choice.
Learning the Gospel is again OUR CHOICE. No one can learn it for us. Learning the gospel is meant to be an active experience, meaning we must act on the lessons we learn and the knowledge we gain And when we do this, the Lord blesses us with increased light and knowledge.
- Object lesson
Light Bulb: We are all at school right now learning the things we need to know.
House: It is now time to go home.
Pathway: So we start to head Home.
Flood #1: It begins to rain and the waters rise.
We find we are stranded and can’t get home.
Bridge #1: A man appears and sees our problem and offers to build us a bridge.
We offer to pay the man but he says he will provide this bridge for FREE.
We thank him and are one our way.
Flood #2: Again it begins to rain and the waters rise.
We again are trapped and stranded and can’t get home.
Bridge #2: The same man appears and tells us he will build us another bridge but this time it isn’t free.
We must pay FIVE dollars.
Dollar #1-#5: We pay the man and he builds us a bridge.
We arrive home.
- Object lesson meaning
Flip pictures over as you tell the story again.
Light Bulb/Earth Life:
We are all on earth to gain knowledge.
We are here to be tested and to learn the things we need to know.
House/Live with HF:
Our goal is to one day return to live with our Heavenly Father.
Pathway: Our earth life is our journey Home.
Flood #1/Death:
Each one of us will die.
Our bodies will grow old and they will die.
In order to live with God again, we need to overcome PHYSICAL death.
Bridge #1/Resurrection:
Because Christ was Resurrected all mankind will be Resurrected.
It doesn’t matter our choices - Good or Evil -.
It is a FREE gift from our Savior Jesus Christ.
We will all overcome PHYSICAL DEATH
Flood #2/Sin:
No one is perfect. Each one of us will make mistakes and sin.
We know that no unclean thing can enter into the presence of God.
Because of our sins, we will all fall short and will be stuck without help.
We need help to overcome SPIRITUAL death
Bridge #2/Atonement:
Again, Christ is there to help us over come sin.
Because of the Atonement, we can overcome SPIRITUAL death.
But this time it isn’t free.
We must pay FIVE dollars or DO our part.
This is the part of the lesson that I want to focus on.
III. Our part
We are required to do our part. Like the scripture we read we are required to act for ourselves!
Once we have learned the things we need to do. We must act.
Read: James 1:22
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Dollar #1: Faith
Read D&C 88:118
118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
Dollar #2: Repentance
Read: Helaman 15:7
7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—
Dollar #3: Baptism
Read: 2 Nephi 31:14
14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
Dollar #4: Holy Ghost
Read: 3 Nephi 19:13
13 And it came to pass when they were all baptized and had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon them, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Read: Acts 8:17
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Dollar #5: Obedience
Although we must continually have FAITH and REPENT
We are only BAPTIZED and receive the HOLY GHOST once.
So this is where we are now.
Basically now is when we MUST CHOOSE to endure to the end showing OBEDIENCE to the gospel.
Obedience to the things we learn in church, at home, thru scripture study and prayer.
Heavenly Father has promised us a great blessing if we do this.
Read: D&C 50:24
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
I know that as we strive to be obedient and as we strive to gain more knowledge and then share the knowledge we have gained, that we will have JOY in this earth life and one day - that PERFECT DAY - we will live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. amen.
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