The Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Chapter 1

Greater than Gold 

          After praying for another divine manifestation, Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni.  Joseph later wrote,

"He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang.  He also said that “the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;" JS-H 1:34

           From this, we know that whatever the Fulness of the Gospel is, it is contained in the Book of Mormon.  This message was so valuable that it was worth more than the gold plates it was written on.  Joseph spent the next few years preparing to receive these plates of Gold.  Today, few people realize how valuable that message is.  It is the key that unlocks all the blessings of the kingdom of God and the powers of heaven.  Even today, this message is rarely understood or applied by mankind.   That message is, “The Fulness of the Everlasting Gospel”.

           If Moroni is correct, then anything we consider to be included in the Fulness of the everlasting Gospel must be found in that book.  This means that doctrines including Celestial Marriage, Degrees of Glory and other basic doctrines of the church are not part of the fulness of the everlasting Gospel, unless you can find them in the Book of Mormon.  (We cannot.)

           In our experience, there are many both in the church and outside the church that do not understand the fullness of the gospel and so do not know how to walk the path required to obtain the promise of eternal life which is known in the church as “receiving ones calling and election made sure.  This book’s purpose is to explain:

    1. What the Fulness of the Gospel is.
    2. Why it is the Fulness of the Gospel and key to ALL things.
    3. How the Fulness of the Gospel leads directly to Calling & Election.
    4. How people really receive their Calling & Election made sure.

           At this point, we would like to re-iterate something.  The Book of Mormon was not just the history of the people on the American continent, but it has a greater purpose.  It was created and given to “bring to light the true points of Christ’s doctrine” and particularly it is the main tool of the restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Christ taught this through the prophet Joseph Smith who recorded,

"I am he who said—Other sheep have I which are not of this fold—unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not.

 

And I will show unto this people that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob;  And I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did in my name;

 

Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me.

 

And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention;  yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine;  and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.

 

Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery; " - D&C 10:59-64

           Even before finding the plates Joseph recounted being told by Moroni that they contained the fullness of the everlasting Gospel.  Moroni also told young Joseph something that many of us overlook.  Moroni specifically told Joseph who had taught this important information. Joseph wrote,

“He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;" JSH 1:34

           That should narrow our search down to only the time period in which the Savior was present and teaching the people directly.  The answer to our question must be found between 3Ne. 11, (When Christ arrived), and 3Ne. 28:12, (When Christ Departed.)

           A quick search for the exact phrase, “this is my gospel”, throughout the entire canonized scriptures on the Church website, (scriptures.lds.org), will yield the following resulting scripture references: 3Ne. 27:20-21, D&C 39:6, 33:11-13

"Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel;  and ye know the things that ye must do in my church;  for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do;  for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;"(3Ne.27:20-21)

 

"And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom." (D&C 39:6)

 

“Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.  Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel;  and remember that they shall have faith in me or they can in nowise be saved;  And upon this rock I will build my church;  yea, upon this rock ye are built, and if ye continue, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."  (D&C 33:11-13)

           After comparing the above scriptures with each other, we begin to see three common elements which make up “The Gospel of Jesus Christ”.  They are:

    • Repentance
    • Baptism by water
    • Baptism by Fire and the Holy Ghost (also called the reception of the Holy Ghost in 27:20-21)

           Take notice of the verses from 3Ne. 27:20-21.  They were spoken by Christ as he was teaching personally among the Nephites.  This message was actually repeated multiple times by Christ as he taught the people.  An account of another such instance is written in 3Ne. 11:31-40 in which he concludes by saying,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.  And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock;  but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them."  3Ne 11:39-40

           These are pretty strong words by Christ!  As we ponder the implications of this message, questions begin to form.  The two questions we would like to address immediately are:

  • With all the doctrines and teachings in the scriptures and church, how can these three principles constitute the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
  • We 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?