Home » Discuss Elliaison Books and Articles » The Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ » Greater Than Gold (Discuss points related to this chapter.)
| Greater Than Gold [message #8] |
Fri, 11 June 2010 15:50  |
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Elliaison_Admin
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Please use this topic to discuss thoughts, questions and comments relating the chpater, "Greater Than Gold".
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| Re: Greater Than Gold [message #559 is a reply to message #8] |
Tue, 26 June 2012 20:20  |
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JulesGP
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Location: Davis County, UT
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When I read this chapter, I was so excited! I've been searching for the answer for SO LONG to my question: "What IS the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?" Maybe it seems like a simple answer to those who frequent this forum (and then maybe it's simple to most everyone else, and I'm the one who just didn't GET it....  )
It seems like so many people throw out generic terminology that melds the Gospel with the Church, and makes them one entity, and muddies the definition of the Gospel. Even though we believe that Joseph Smith worked to restore the Fullness of the Gospel to our people, IT isn't really defined - again, "the fullness" is used as a blanket idea. So it was confusing to me. But I thought that if it was SO important that it took something as important as the work that Joseph Smith did to bring it to us, and if the BOM contains "the fullness" we speak of, then I need to know what it IS.
I asked several people over the last couple of years that I considered to be knowledgeable or who I feel have a much greater understanding of the Gospel than I do, but nobody could give me a solid answer, and nobody could back their answer up. I received answers across the board as to the definition of "the fullness" that included: having a temple marriage/sealing, receiving your own endowment, living plural marriage, following the prophet and being an active Mormon, the whole BOM as a book is the fullness, just making it to the Celestial Kingdom (with no further explanation), etc. Nobody ever said to me that the Fullness of the Gospel was "...as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants....".
I've been led to the Sermon at Bountiful, (and realized the similarities with the Sermon on the Mount) over and over during this quest the last few years, and somehow I felt that the answer was there, but I still couldn't quite "GET" it. This chapter layed it out... A, B, C! It's right there, so clear and so simple! Frankly I'm baffled as to why my the answer to my question wasn't this simple from the beginning.
So as the book says (the one by Elliaison  ), anything that is not contained in the teachings of the Savior (3 Nephi 11 - 3 Nephi 28:12) is supplemental to the Gospel, but not essential parts of the Gospel itself, and he is very specific about what IS and IS NOT the Fullness of the Gospel!
Regarding the questions at the end of the chapter:
"With all the doctrines and teachings in the scriptures and church, how can these three principles constitute the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?"
Just to summarize my understanding here, first we repent, which will cleanse and prepare us for the next step. Then we are baptized, where we covenant with God to do His will. Then we receive the Holy Ghost who (if we are living up to our covenant in step 2), leads us and helps us attend to all the other details on the way to meeting our Savior. I do feel that OTHER things are given way too much emphasis - over and above these basic important steps. And it seems that GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS of of these three steps, is carried in one fell-swoop when we join the church (which somehow got lumped in to THE GOSPEL), and they are not really understood.
"I have known many people who have repented, been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and then eventually have fallen away. How can this book be the rock or sure foundation?"
This seems like an extension of what I was saying in response to the first question. These things are kind of thrown at us when we join the church, but the understanding is not offered that this is the Fullness of the Gospel. The fact that we are supposed to use these things to receive our C&E is not made clear. It seems as if other things are emphasized more, like serving a mission, temple marriage, being "really good" so you can be bishop or RS pres someday..... THOSE are not THE goals, but they are given that level of importance, as if they ARE the goals.
I think that there is MUCH more to "receiving the HG" than a vague recollection of my Grandpa saying something to that effect in the blessing when I was confirmed a member of the church as a child. I was never taught that FOR ME, receiving the HG was much greater than just a "warm feeling" when the church leaders spoke. I was never taught that this meant to develop an ongoing personal relationship with a member of the Godhead who would literally confirm to me that I could return to the presence of the Savior, and my Father. I think that it's easy to fall away when we don't do that, let alone understand it!
Assuming that the term "this book" in the second question is referring to the BOM, I think that the book can be "the rock" because it:
1) Gives us the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his own words.
2) Testifies over and over of these truths by those who have received their C&E.
3) Tells us over and over (by words and by example) how to apply these truth - again, by those who HAVE received their C&E.
Assuming that the book being referred to was the Elliaison book, it can be "the rock" because it (in summary) does the same things that I listed above. Essentially, it echoes the message of the BOM in a condensed form - by others who have also received their C&E.
I'm sorry all - for the long winded post. You will find that I have a difficult time saying things in twenty-five words or less.... Now working on my post for the next chapter..... 
~Jules
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| Re: Greater Than Gold [message #560 is a reply to message #559] |
Tue, 26 June 2012 23:01 |
Seeker
Messages: 244
Registered: June 2010
Location: Las Vegas
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Quote:"I have known many people who have repented, been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and then eventually have fallen away. How can this book be the rock or sure foundation?"
Quote:Assuming that the term "this book" in the second question..
I have an original copy and a latest version copy. I checked both and neither one says, "This book". They both say,
Quote:"I have known many people who have repented, been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and then eventually have fallen away. How can this be the rock or sure foundation?" I read it to be referring to the 3 principles of repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost as if it is saying:
I have known many people who have repented, been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and then eventually have fallen away. How can repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost be the rock or sure foundation?
???Can you verify that your copy says "this book"??? If it does, I believe it is a type'o...
~ Seeker
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| Re: Greater Than Gold [message #561 is a reply to message #560] |
Tue, 26 June 2012 23:07 |
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JulesGP
Messages: 357
Registered: May 2012
Location: Davis County, UT
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Seeker wrote on Tue, 26 June 2012 23:01Quote:"I have known many people who have repented, been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and then eventually have fallen away. How can this book be the rock or sure foundation?"
Quote:Assuming that the term "this book" in the second question..
I have an original copy and a latest version copy. I checked both and neither one says, "This book". They both say,
Quote:"I have known many people who have repented, been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and then eventually have fallen away. How can this be the rock or sure foundation?" I read it to be referring to the 3 principles of repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost as if it is saying:
I have known many people who have repented, been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and then eventually have fallen away. How can repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost be the rock or sure foundation?
???Can you verify that your copy says "this book"??? If it does, I believe it is a type'o...
UGH... MY typos. I didn't even proofread my own message  OK, maybe I will have to redo my answers to the questions then. Thanks Seeker
~Jules
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| Re: Greater Than Gold [message #563 is a reply to message #561] |
Wed, 27 June 2012 07:31 |
Seeker
Messages: 244
Registered: June 2010
Location: Las Vegas
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Senior Member |
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hehehe, np, I had to go look it up because I read what you said and thought, "hmmm, neither this book nor the BOM is the Fulness of the gospel but both contain it and teach it really clearly."
Back to the point of your initial post...
Your not the only one. I was born and raised in the church, my father serving as a bishop multiple times. I was a leader in seminary and an excellent missionary in many respects. I taught the missionary discussions countless times. With all my study and training I did not learn what the fulness of the gospel was until this book laid it out. I am sure that some have learned it from the scriptures or some other source. But I didn't.
I was also pleasantly shocked when I read Moroni's statement about the book of Mormon like I was reading it for the first time. I had read it many times before and heard it in seminary, church and other classes but I never realized what it was really saying.
I also really like the title of this chapter and how it points out that the value of the Book of Mormon was not in the gold on which it was written, the great value was in the words and concepts which were on the gold.
~ Seeker
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| Re: Greater Than Gold [message #661 is a reply to message #602] |
Tue, 17 July 2012 21:49 |
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JulesGP
Messages: 357
Registered: May 2012
Location: Davis County, UT
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Senior Member |
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Quote:2 Nephi 32:3-4 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
Just ran across this scripture - another affirmation of "the fullness"!
~Jules
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I typed the question and then read it from my post instead of the book, so when I read it, I thought it sounded funny but decided to attempt an answer anyway. I agree that both contain it and teach it clearly - and hopefully that part came across in my post. 
