Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

By Jim Greer

LW contributor

President Dallin H. Oaks, addressing Temple Square missionaries, discouraged church members from referring to theirs as the “only true church.” He said that doing so offends those of other churches and philosophies. Such an attitude implies arrogance and projects a notion that we hold a monopoly on truth or are better than others.

Oaks explained that the doctrine of the restored gospel is “comprehensive, universal, merciful and true.” It has revealed that all of God’s children “will be resurrected and go to a kingdom of glory more wonderful than any mortals can comprehend.”

This knowledge of God’s great love is central within his plan of happiness, which prescribes a life focused on the atonement and resurrection of Christ. This gospel that relies on ancient and modern Scripture affirms the necessity of priesthood authority, which graciously returned to the Earth in the early days of the restoration.

Perhaps the supreme revelation of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is knowledge of “the nature of God and our relationship to him,” explained Oaks. Through Joseph Smith’s first vision, we learned that heavenly father and Jesus Christ are separate, distinct beings. United in one purpose, but individual personages. “The father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the son also.”

Jesus Christ, our older spiritual brother, is the only begotten son of the father in the flesh. We declare that through his atoning sacrifice, all of God’s children can return to their presence. “This is the central message of the prophets of all ages,” Oaks affirmed.

As spirit children of the father, we are endowed with the power of revelation and inspiration. These fundamental spiritual gifts were given to guide our personal lives and direct the course of the church. The process of receiving revelation was recorded in Doctrine and Covenants, chapter 9: “Behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right” (D& C 9:8).

To ensure that we always have the spirit with us, “we must always be worthy by regularly and appropriately partaking of the sacrament,” Oaks said.

The appropriate method of administering the sacrament has been revealed so that we may renew covenants. “When we renew our baptism covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism,” Oaks said. “In this way we are made clean and can always have his spirit to be with us.”