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Our Heavenly Father
Gospel Principles
Lesson 1


'''Intro:  God is knowable'''

This material may be redundant for members who have been active for decades. Nevertheless, may well be new learnings even for them. 
	No new doctrines in this lesson
	Maybe new connections between facts & principles you already know
	We’ll talk about why we believe what we believe
	Why it’s important 
	why it’s unique in Christendom,

1)  '''NT,   John 17:3'''
 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

2) '''PGP,   Moses 1:39''' ''God is good, thinking only of us (he serves us!)''   Repeat
 39 For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

3) '''BofM,  Alma 30:44'''
44 ...all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

''How many have been in a beautiful place in nature and felt it testified of god?
	beauty, peace, purity, power, goodness     God’s handy-work
	Picture of earth from space
	Music
	Movie, “sound of music”
	Episcopal choir
	Tabernacle Choir''


'''Nature of the Godhead: 3 separate individuals'''

The God and the Godhead
	Trinity from Nicene Council
	321 A.D. 



''Read vs 4 thru 8 together''

3) '''PGP,  Articles of Faith 1'''
 1 WE believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

4) '''NT, John 8:28''' Separate individuals: Christ’s father is not himself
 28 I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things

5) '''NT, John 17:20-21''' Separate individuals: God and Christ, one in purpose, just like the Church should be one with Christ
 20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 
 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

6) '''NT, Matthew 26:39''' Separate individuals: Christ asking God for release, but subjecting his will to the father
 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].

7) '''NT, Matthew 3:16-17''' Three separate individuals
 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 
 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 


'''God is the ruler of Heaven and Earth'''

''Read 8-10 together''

8) '''D&C 20:17'''
 17 ...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;
''
God created and formed the earth, everything on, in, and above it. 
	All plants, animals, birds, fishes, etc. 
	He created man, i.e. provided that all mankind can have a physical body.''  


9) President Brigham Young,  Discourses of Brigham Young, p 18-23 
''God is the one supreme and absolute being in whom we believe and whom we worship. He is the Creator, ruler and Preserver of all things. 
''
10) '''BofM,   Mosiah 4:9''' ''(He created all things that are created)''
 9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.


'''What Kind of a Being is God?'''

''He has a physical body

Because we know we are made in the image of God, we know he has physical body like ours
''
11) '''OT,   Genesis 1:26-27''' ''God has a physical body, is not some incomprehensible being''
 26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
 27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

''The resurrected Christ had a physical body: He pointedly showed the marks and hands to Apostles.'' 

12) '''PGP,   Moses 6:9''' ''God created our bodies''
 9 In the image of his own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created and became living souls in the land upon the footstool of God.

'''
God is Good'''							
	
13) '''PGP,   Moses 1:39''' ''God is good, thinking only of us (he serves us!)   Repeat''
 39 For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

14) '''PGP,  Abraham 3:18-19''' ''Intelligence of God & man''
 18 ... if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent that the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, (Intelligences) have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are...eternal. ( i.e. our intelligences before we became spirit children of our Heavenly Father)
 19 And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all.

15) '''NT,  John 3:16'''  ''God of Love''
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 


16)''' BofM,   Mormon 9:9''' ''Unchanging God''
 9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?


17) '''BofM,   2 Nephi 9:17''' ''God of Justice''
 17 O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be fulfilled.
	
18) '''BofM,   Alma 26:35''' God Almighty
 35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

19) '''D&C 109:77''' ''God Eternal''
 77 O Lord God Almighty, hear us in these our petitions, and answer us from heaven, thy holy habitation, where thou sittest enthroned, with glory, honor, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice, judgment, mercy, and an infinity of fulness, from everlasting to everlasting.

	
'''How We Can Know God.''' 

20) '''NT,   John 17:3'''	''life eternal is to know God (Repeat)''
 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

21) '''NT,   Matthew 22:37''' ''by love''
 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
	
22) '''NT,   John 14:15''' ''by love and obedience''
 15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

23) '''NT,   1 John 2:3''' ''by obedience''
 3 ¶ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.