This section of the D&C was composed by Oliver Cowdery prior to meeting with Joseph Smith, then adjusted to reflect the restoration of a New Testament model church being sought after the LDS Campbellite converts like Sydney Rigdon.
READ
D&C 21:1, 4-5
What do
these verses teach about how we should regard the words of the prophet Joseph
Smith?
READ
D&C 20:2-4
Why was
Joseph Smith called the first elder?
Why was
Oliver called the second elder?
To what
does the word “this” refer in the first phrase of verse 4?
What
does it mean to say that something is “according to the grace of our Lord”?
What
does the phrase “to whom be all glory, both now and forever” mean? What does
that phrase tell us?
The
Gospel of Christ
READ
D&C 20:5-12
What
does it mean to receive a remission of sin?
What
does the phrase “vanities of the world” mean?
Do we
know to what angelic visitation verse 6 refers?
What
does this teach us about how the Lord calls people to His holy work?
How can
commandments inspire us?
What
does it mean that Joseph was given power to translate “by the means which were
before prepared”?
The
Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is contained within the Book of Mormon;
what is it?
What are
the purposes of the Book of Mormon?
When
verse 10 says the Book of Mormon was given by inspiration, is it referring to
the inspiration the Lord gave the Book of Mormon prophets or to the inspiration
He gave to Joseph Smith in the translation process?
How did
the coming forth of the Book of Mormon prepare the way for the restoration of
the gospel?
When the
verse says the Book of Mormon “is confirmed to others by the ministering of
angels,” of whom is it speaking?
Who is
it that declares the Book of Mormon to the world?
What
proves to the world that the scriptures are true?
Verse 12
tells us that something mentioned in the sentence (verses 5–12) shows the Lord
is the same God yesterday, today, and forever; what shows us that?
READ
D&C 20:13-16
Those
who receive it and work righteousness will receive a crown while those who
don’t receive it will be condemned; what is “it”?
What has
God spoken?
READ
D&C 20:17-28
By what
things do the “elders of the church” (v16) know there is a God in heaven?
How do
the things they have seen and heard testify not only of God’s existence but
that He is the Creator, that we are made in his image, and that He gave
commandments for us to love and serve Him and to worship only Him?
What
does “from everlasting to everlasting” mean?
What
does the phrase “He created man, male and female, after His own image and in
His own likeness” imply?
How does
transgression of holy law make mankind fallen?
Transgression
of the laws (commandments) mentioned in verse 19 caused the fall; specifically,
which of the laws mentioned were transgressed and how?
The word
“wherefore” means something like “because of this;” because of what?
What
does it mean to “suffer” (allow, permit) temptation, if He gave it no heed?
Verses
23–28 are one long, complex sentence; how would you paraphrase it?
What
does it mean to say that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God?
What
does it mean to say that God is infinite, eternal, without end?
READ
D&C 20:29-36
Are verses
17 through 36 a creed?
What
does it mean to repent?
What
does it mean to believe on Jesus’s name?
What is
worship?
What
does it mean to endure to the end? What does it mean to endure in faith?
What is
justification?
What
does it mean to say that justification is just and true?
How does
justification occur through grace?
What is
sanctification?
What
does it mean to say that sanctification is just and true?
How does
sanctification occur through grace?
Why does
the phrase “to all those who love and serve God with all their might, mind, and
strength” refer to sanctification and not justification?
What
does it mean to fall from grace?
What
does the phrase “fall into temptation” mean?
What
should we pray for to avoid falling into temptation; of what should we take
heed?
That the
sanctified also have to take heed seems to indicate that verses 32 and 33 are
primarily about those who are not sanctified; who is being referenced here?
Verse 35
is a testimony of something—what and how is the Revelation of John relevant
here?
What has
the Lord spoken and how do we render honor, power and glory to his name?
The
Church of Christ
What is the
difference between the Gospel and the Church?
Why does
the Lord have a Church?
Why is
ministering to others so important?
What is
the Lord’s objective with regards to any Church He commissions to be built on
earth?
What is
Zion?
READ
D&C 20:1
Why was
the Church first called the Church of Christ?
Why was
the name of the church changed?
READ
D&C 20:38-45
What
reasons might there be for why the gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred by the
laying on of hands?
Is there
a difference between confirming someone a member of the Church by the laying on
of hands and giving the gift of the Holy Ghost?
What is
“the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost”?
Roles
& Responsibilities in the Church
READ
D&C 20:46-52
Why is
there so much structure with regards to the duties of the members vis-à-vis the
offices in the Church?
Why are
priests to visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray?
READ
D&C 20:53-59
Why do
Church members need strengthening at the hands of other members?
What
does it mean to “warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite” people to “come
unto Christ”?
READ
D&C 20:60-67
What is
the Law of Common Consent?
Why are
licenses to perform the duties of a calling and certificates for ordination
voted on by the Church members?
READ
D&C 20:68-70
What is
a “member”?
What are
some of the duties of Church members?
What
does verse 68 tell us about missionary work?
What is
a godly walk and conversation?
How can
our works and faith be “agreeable” to holy scripture?
How do
we walk in holiness before the Lord and why do you think the metaphor of walk
is used so much to describe our life in the Church and/or the Gospel?
Ordinances
in the Church of Christ
READ
D&C 20:37
How does
one humble themselves before God?
Why
should people “witness before the church that they have truly repented of all
their sins” if God is the only one who can grant forgiveness?
What is
a broken heart and contrite spirit?
How does
one take upon themselves the “name” of Christ?
How do
they witness that they “are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus
Christ”?
How do
they show that they have “a determination to serve Him to the end”?
What
works manifest “that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the
remission of their sins”?
If these
are the qualifications for baptism into Christ’s Church, what does this imply?
READ
D&C 20:71-74
What
does this revelation and current Church practice require us to say “having been
commissioned of Jesus Christ” while the Lord told the Nephite disciples to say
“having authority given me of Jesus Christ” (see 3 Nephi 11:25; Mosiah 18:13)?
READ
D&C 20:75-79
Why do
the sacrament prayers follow immediately after the discussion of baptism?
Why
should we all kneel (priest and Church) when the sacrament is blessed?
What
does the sacrament prayer have to do with “justification” and “sanctification”
as mentioned in verses 30 and 31 of this section?
What
does it mean to bless and sanctify something “to the souls” of those who eat or
drink it?
Why might
the blessing on the bread use “partake” instead of “eat”?
What
does it mean to eat or drink in remembrance of something?
The prayer
on the wine asks that only those drinking it will remember Jesus; the prayer on
the bread asks that they also are willing to take his name on them and keep his
commandments; why that difference?
Does the
fact that one of these prayers is always said before the other explain any of
the differences between them – how?
Why
should we use water instead of wine?
Why
should we use wine instead of water?
READ
D&C 20:81-84
Why does
the Lord want a list of names of Church members kept?
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