"Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, replied that the gospel is the covenant which the Lord has made with men for their salvation and exaltation. It embraces all the rights, power and authority to saved exalt the human family. It is definite in all it's commitments. It must not be perverted or modified to suit the convenience, or to satisfy the sophistries of false teachers and others who seek the evade its responsibilities." -Elder Alma Sonne
"After Jesus put his apostles in charge of the church anciently, they preached the same unity of doctrine and practiced the same ordinances which Jesus had given them. These apostles were not self-appointed servants, for Jesus said unto them, 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.' They were authorized ministers called to teach and officiate in the saving ordinances of the gospel. Jesus had conferred the priesthood authority on them. As long as they remained on the earth, functioning under the authority Jesus gave them, unity of doctrine and uniformity of the ordinances prevailed. The gospel message, which they were to take to all the world, was the same to everyone everywhere. People were not taught different gospels and then given a choice. There was only one plan for all.
One church, one authorized ministry, one orthodox gospel doctrine, and one Holy Ghost characterized the church of Jesus Christ in His time. "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.' (1 For. 14:33) Thus God's revelation to leaders of the church of Jesus Christ was reasonable, consistent, and unified... Confusion is the field where Sarah operates to deceive and lead mankind astray.' Delbert L. Stapley
Paul taught 'we are justified through and by faith, which is he first principle of the gospel. In other words, faith is the principle that activates the power of the atonement in our lives and we are put back into a proper relationship with God (justification) as faith activates that power.. So Paul taught these people- who thought they could be saved by some power that was within them, or by observing the law of Moses...the fact that if it were not for the mission of Jesus Christ...they could not be redeemed. Gerald Lund
Perhaps in this simple statement, They shall live by faith', we understand the difference between a religion that is frail and ineffectual and one that has power to transform lives...Men and women of faith earnestly walk the path of discipleship and strive to follow the example of their beloved Savior, Jesus Christ. Faith motivates and indeed inspires us to incline our hearts to heaven and to actively reach out, life up, and bless our fellowmen." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
If you choose to keep looking to the law, remember that you are then bound to live the whole law as your source of salvation, you are in essence rejecting Jesus Christ as your source of salvation. Paul had taught that none of us can keep the whole law perfectly. It is through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. -David A. Bednar
Sister Kimball -correct Priesthood authority. I know that is true. We can say it in a loving manner.
God can give us strength beyond our own. Non Nobis
1. Ask in faith
2. Seek divinely appointed sources
3. Keep an eternal perspective
Works and faith like scissors. We need both.
Faith - faithfulness - learning to speak the language of the Lord quote by Penelope Woodward Bernard Johnson
"Kent and I regularly go to the temple where every effort is made to accommodate all kinds of languages - even sign language -that understanding may be given and received and that all may be edified.
If you wish to converse with God then you must communicate in His language - the language of humility, obedience, purity, love, light, goodness, charity and service - you must come to his feet with a broken heart and a contrite spirit: "Behold, when ye shall rend that veil...which doth cause you to remain in that awful state of blindness of mind..when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know..." Ether 4:15
Also, many answer may be given us in the course of our being faithful Christians, so we have to continue to live the language of God and be on the lookout for those answers to be communicated in His language in His own time and place."
Keeping covenants - works
Beautiful communication with God. They were given the full covenantal law. They lived the higher law.
By living the laws we don't offend the Spirit.
Sacrament- take His name upon us
Expand our ability to bless and serve others. Purpose of the church is to help us build our relationship with Jesus Christ.
We become more of what we want to be.
Willingness to change- accept in humility. "Thy will oh Lord be done."
Make course correction as needed.
