By These Things We Know There is a God in Heaven

I think that generally when we consider section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants we focus on the instruction on administering the Church. In it we have details on the correct mode of baptism, how to administer the Sacrament, the duties of various offices in the priesthood, and other similar instructions. These of course are vital for us to know, especially when it comes to properly performing essential ordinances. We shouldn’t let those instructions, though, overshadow the first 36 verses of the revelation that give a powerful testimony of the fundamental principles of the gospel.

               This first part of Doctrine and Covenants 20 testifies boldly of the core message of the Restoration and focuses on the most important knowledge that we should have. First, it bears witness that the Book of Mormon is true, testifying that God gave Joseph Smith “power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon; Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also.” One of the fundamental purposes of the Book of Mormon is this: “Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever.” Because of the Book of Mormon we know that the Bible is true and that just as in Biblical times, God calls prophets to do His work today. From the Book of Mormon we also know something even more foundational to faith: “By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them; And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness.” The Restoration in general and the Book of Mormon in particular witness to us of the most basic tenet of faith: there is a God in heaven who is unchangeable and who made the earth and us. Because we have a tangible book that brings us His words, we know of a surety that God our Father lives.

               A witness of the Book of Mormon and a knowledge that there is a God in heaven lead us to then to a knowledge of the other essential part of the gospel: the suffering and triumph of the Savior. We read, “Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him. He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them. He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day; And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father.” The restored Church emphatically declares that the Biblical witness of the Savior— that he lived a perfect life, was crucified, and then was resurrected—is true. This knowledge then leads to an understanding of our most important purpose in life to prepare for the next: “As would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved…. All men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.” That is the path to our heavenly home, and this foundational revelation received early in the church witnesses to our need to follow that simple path of faith and repentance as we worship the Father in the nae of Christ.