FAIR's Rising Generation

Okay so you know by now that I’m 18 and I’m preparing to leave on a mission within the year. In order to get ready I’m doing a lot of study on various subjects that I think will help prepare me for the next two years. I’m going to share what I’ve learned on this blog because I’m hoping that other future missionaries will benefit from it.

So the first book on my reading list was written by Randy Bott and it’s called Preparation Precedes Power; How Successful Missionaries Prepare to Serve. Last night after reading a chapter in that book I did this exercise where I wrote out what I think the Gospel is using Bott’s “Eight Points” for a guide.

I copied this from my journal to here.

Okay, so say I’m already on a mission and someone comes up to me and asks me the question, “What are you doing?” I’ll probably tell them that I’m preaching the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, or something to that effect. Then if they press the issue and ask what the gospel is…well, I need to be prepared to give a clear and concise response. Randy Bott suggested these 8 points in his book:

Atonement – the core doctrines of the Gospel, everything Mormons believe in, hang on our faith in the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane and upon the cross at Calvary. At the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ took upon himself all of the sins and pains of the world so that the world could repent and fulfill their divine destinies. He came to save mankind, but then, as was planned from the beginning, he was crucified and resurrected within three days. In one lifetime, the Redeemer of Man overcame the bondage that was sin and the bondage that was death for the sake of every soul on Earth, and He alone could have done that.

Resurrection – eventually we all realize we were born to live for a short time, just to die and be seperated from everything we’d accomplished and everyone we’d loved. However that is not a permanent end for us. For a time we will remain in a world of spirits awaiting the time when we will be resurrected, as Jesus was, and then we will stand in judgement.

Judgement – a body was an important component to the nature of our Heavenly Father, and we all wanted to become like our beloved Father, so a plan was formulated. We would be born on Earth and we would be given a chance to learn how to use our body and spirit together to accomplish good. It is very important that we use our time on Earth well, because when our time is up we will die and be judged as to how far we’ve come.

Faith In Christ – our faith in Christ is what motivates us to action. Once someone is really aware of their divine origin and destination, and they put faith in the sacrifice that He made for us, then their eyes will be opened to the path that lies ahead. No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God. Since it is our divinely appointed mission to return to be with Him and because all of us have sinned then we need to repent in order to progress.

Repentence – no unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of God–or in other words, eventually we must all repent. However if we don’t repent in this life, then we must do so in the next and forfeit the blessings that we could have received if we had been diligent in this lifetime. If we do not repent of our wrong doings in this life, then we will face condemnation for them when we are judeged in the next. God commands us to repent! If we do, then he promises great blessings.

Baptism – God has commanded all men to come and be baptized by those who hold authority and power over His priesthood. When we are baptized, we are symbolically reborn–all of our old sins which we have repented of are washed away and we are given a clean slate. Then we are set apart as a member of God’s church and blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost. All must be baptized in order to be granted the blessings of the atonement which allow us to enter into our God’s presence.

Gift of the Holy Ghost – the Holy Ghost is a spirit who can enter into our hearts bringing with it feelings of peace and comfort. Those who possess this gift are granted that they may have his presence always so long as they honor their baptismal covenants. Even those who are baptized will commit a sin here or there, and that is why members take the sacrament every Sunday; by doing so they are renewing the baptismal covenants and showing God that they are committed to trying again. When we disobey God’s commandments then we are no longer worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost and we will no longer feel that peace. In this way the Holy Ghost is like a compass and we can use him to determine how to make better choices that will lead us to Eternal Life.

Enduring to the End – once you have been baptized you are now equipped for the road that lies ahead. The destination at the end of your journey is your own to choose. If you heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost and adhere to your baptismal covenants, then you will eventually have Eternal Life and you will be blessed with other good things in the mean time. However, if you step off the path, you will lose those blessings unless you confess and forsake your sins again. By the process you may have all of the blessings promised by God, which is equal to everything He has.

That’s the first time I’ve ever written that out. I feel way more prepared, but I can’t shake the feeling like something is missing…or even some things.

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