The Proper Order for Teaching the Truth

I have wondered how effective Mormon missionaries are in teaching people in France and other European countries. To them Mormonism is just another religion, an American religion and a fairly new one at that. And to them it doesn't matter if the name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For nations who view religions as authoritative and restrictive, and whose history with religion has been tainted by the merger of religion and the monarchy, whose aim was to hold power over the people, another religion is just that--another one. 

I have personally asked many French people if they believe in God or in a hereafter, and the response has been more yes than no. But ask them about religion and the response has been more negative than positive.

I believe there is a better way to teach them--a way that does not say Mormonism or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or religion. This better way is using a method given us as the proper order in which to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, or in other words the proper order for teaching the truth. 

One of the biggest obstacles to teaching the truth is that each of us is born into the world as if we are coming in the middle of a play. We don't know the plot, the beginning or the end of the play, or whether there is any plot or purpose. We don't know the characters or the participants. We are observers and see and experience everything around us from an extremely limited perspective. As a result we are content to see ourselves as observers because then there is no obligation except to watch and craft our own worldview. 

In addition, the perspective of those who nurture and teach us is also a closed perspective--observers teaching observers. Sure we can participate in activities, make choices and have values (or not), but we are participating in a make-believe world, even though called the 'real world' it is not. Our role, therefore, is to broaden the perspective of others and help them understand the plot and their role in the play, without which, we have almost no hope of doing more than inviting them to join an organization, another religion.

Is there, however, an order to teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ? And if so can we find that order in the scriptures? Indeed we can, many times, throughout the Book of Mormon. I would, however, like to begin with the pattern Ammon used in teaching King Lamoni (Alma 18:24-39). Ammon begins by asking the king a question: "Believest thou that there is a God" (Alma 18:24)? This should be the first question anyone should ask when teaching someone the Gospel because it not only asks for a response, but gives the teacher some knowledge about the person being taught. In our story King Lamoni did not know what Ammon meant and told him so. Ammon then changed the question and asked, "Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit" (Alma 18:26)? King Lamoni answered yes. Ammon then explained to Ammon that "this is God" (Alma 18:28). Notice that Ammon just accepted Lamoni's God. We could, for example, ask if they believe in a higher power.

This approach will also be effective if the person you are teaching responded to your question "do you believe in God?" by saying no.  In this case you can explain that a person's belief is not relevant.  The question is not whether one believes there is a God, but whether there is God. Saying one does not believe is the same as saying one does not know if there is or there is not a God. So for purposes of this discussion ask them to assume there is a God or a higher power, with the explanation that they can come to know there is a God, and then tailor Ammon's approach accordingly.

Ammon then asks "Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?" Lamoni answered, "Yes, I believe that he created all things which are in the earth but I do not know the heavens" (Alma 18:28-29). (To the professed non-believer, we can say "Assume that this God created or organized all things which are in heaven and in the earth.) Ammon then said unto Lamoni, "The heavens is a place where God dwells and all his holy angels." 

"Is it above the earth?" Lamoni asks, and Ammon said, "Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning" (Alma 18:30-32). 

King Lamoni then said, "I believe all these things which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from God" (Alma 18:33)?

Ammon answered him, "I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true; and a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God" (Alma 18:34-35).

What follows is a pattern used also by Aaron in teaching Lamoni's father (Alma 22), and the pattern used by many of the Book of Mormon prophet writers, which suggests that this is the proper pattern to follow when teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is defined by Christ in 3 Nephi 27:13-21. What Ammon and the others do by "beginning at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam" is to cast those being taught as actors or characters in the play or story, and not just as observers. The account continues--after beginning at the creation of the world and of Adam, Ammon "told him all things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem" (Alma 18:36). 

Ah, the records!  So critical, for without the records we would never know the play, its plot, its characters, its props, nor our role as participants in the play.

Note that nothing has been said about a church or religion.

This is where the teacher must have the knowledge to teach what is in the records concerning the creation, the fall of man and why the records were kept. We would, however, rehearse even down to the time of Joseph Smith and the restoration of the Gospel in the last dispensation, and emphasize the Book of Mormon records and how they were written, preserved and brought forth to Joseph Smith. Note that what is important here is not the origin of the Book of Mormon but what it says, so emphasize that the truth of the Book of Mormon is found in its pages, which, again, in order to teach what is there, one must know what is there.

Ammon "also rehearsed unto them (for it was unto the king and to his servants) all the journeyings of their fathers in the wilderness, and all their suffering with hunger and thirst, and their travail, and so forth. And he also rehearsed unto them concerning the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, yea, all their rebellions did he relate unto them; and he expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time" (Alma 18:37-38). Lamoni at this point probably could begin to experience his lost and fallen state, and the importance of the records which had been kept, which witness and testify of these events.  Ammon told of the rebellions so that Lamoni could understand his place in the history of his people.  We can also do the same by teaching them of the history of Adam's prosperity found in the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price before Enoch and each dispensation to and including Joseph Smith. (See Post entitled "Why Are There So Many Religions in the World."

"But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them" (Alma 18:39).

Note the comparison to what Aaron, with a little more detail recorded, taught Lamoni's father. "...he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king--how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen. And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name. And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king" (Alma 22:12-14).

Peter is reported to have said that "the teaching of all doctrine has a certain order, and there are things which must be delivered first, others in the second place, and others in the third, and so all in their order; and if these things be delivered in their order, they become plain; but if they be brought forward out of order, they will seem to be spoken against reason" (Clement of Rome). 

When we study how Ammon, Aaron and others in the Book of Mormon taught we see this order beginning with God and the story of Adam. In fact Enoch used the same pattern to teach others (Moses 6:47-49). The fall and its effects on us is always taught in the Book of Mormon before teaching of the atonement, for without the fall, there is no need for an atonement. 

As Amulek taught the Zoramites, "For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which is expedient should be made" (Alma 34:9 emphasis added). 

Another example is Alma teaching his son Corianton. Clearly the atonement cannot be taught properly without teaching about the fall of man, but even more important, teaching in the proper order helps each to experience his/her lost and fallen state, and to experience his/her need for the atonement. In fact the Lord has told us to teach our children using this same order (Moses 6:58-59). We have to become characters in the story, just as Ammon and Aaron made King Lamoni and his father participants in the plan of redemption. 

We learn of our condition when we were born, which is the condition of all.  Because that Adam fell, we are, and by his fall came death, and we are made partakers of misery and woe. Satan comes among us and tempts us to worship him and we become carnal, sensual and devilish and are cut off from the presence of God. See how each of us is a participant since all share the same conditions.

As participants we learn that we have only two choices, it being designed this way by God, good or evil. He defines good as the righteousness of God and evil as anything that is contrary to the righteousness of God, or which teaches us not to believe in God. We learn of the justice and mercy of God, and that we choose one or the other. We learn that because of the fall, the demands of justice must be met, but we can come to know that Christ will meet those demands for us if we but repent and turn to Him--His mercy will claim us and because of His righteousness (not ours) we will be found guiltless when we stand before Him to be judged. It is all in the records that have been kept and preserved for us.

You can see the pattern, but not the detailed word of God that they used to flesh out their teachings to Lamoni and his father.  Moreover, before we can use this method we must do as Ammon and Aaron did. For they "had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught they taught with power and authority of God" (Alma 17:2-3 emphasis added). You must "first seek to obtain (His) word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my spirit and my word, yea, the power of God, unto the convincing of men" (D&C 11:21 emphasis added).

Without His word, which He tells us is His Spirit "yea, the power of God" we will be as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals, and not teach with His power, regardless of priesthood keys. Once you have obtained His word, you shall have "much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth..by the power of His words... (Alma 17:4 emphasis added). 

Other examples in the Book of Mormon include Lehi teaching his son Jacob in 2 Nephi 2. Jacob's teachings in 2 Nephi 2.  Alma teaching Zeezrom in Alma 12, and Alma teaching his son Corianton in Alma 42.

After having so many examples why do we persist in teaching that our church is the 'true' church as if an organization can be true? Why do we begin with Joseph Smith rather than Adam? Why do we rely on what others teach rather than what God has revealed? Answer. We are ignorant of the word of God. (See Post entitled "Unaware ")