Lesson Summary Jan/12/2014 - Ronny Cerniga

Chapter 1: Our Father in Heaven
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 35–47

1) Beginning with Joseph Smith’s First Vision, the true knowledge of God has been restored in our day.

Joseph Smith beheld the Father and the Son; therefore he could testify with personal knowledge that the scriptures were true wherein we read: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him...” [Genesis 1:27.] This was to be understood literally, and not in some mystical or figurative sense.5

2) To exercise faith in God and worship Him, we must have an understanding of His characteristics.

He has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s (D&C 130:22), and he is the literal and personal father of the spirits of all men. I say also that he is an infinite and eternal being, and as an unchangeable being, he possesses these perfected powers and attributes from everlasting to everlasting, which means from eternity to eternity.

3) God is a personal being and the Father of our spirits.

We are the spirit children of God our Heavenly Father. … We are members of his family. … We dwelt with him for long ages in our premortal life. … He ordained a plan of progression and salvation which would enable us, if faithful and true in all things, to advance and progress until we become like him.

4) Heavenly Father loves us and is interested in each of us.

Man is the most important of all our Father’s creations. "...all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them"([Moses 1:35–37).

5) Heavenly Father weeps over His disobedient children.

“And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should choose me, their Father; but behold they are without affection, and they hate their own blood” (Moses 7:32–33). Make sure to remember the moments you have felt love from our Heavenly Father or others. Focus on the good.

6) Heavenly Father has provided the way of redemption so we can be brought back to His presence.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he received from his Father the power to ransom men from the spiritual and temporal death brought into the world by the fall of Adam. I say to you, and to the whole Church, and, for that matter, to the whole world, that a gracious and loving Father has in these last days spoken again from heaven to his servants the prophets.