The Fulness of the Gospel?

[mormonmusic]

Hopefully this subject hasn't been beat to death recently, but it's on my mind.

I have a question about the statement that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the gospel". I've always been a bit perplexed on that one, because the Book of Mormon does a VERY good job of explaining the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, but doesn't mention any of the other ordinances, like endowments, celestial marriage, etcetera. Or if it does, it's probably in such an implied fashion as to be a stretch (in my view).

So, can anyone help me understand how this statement is true? I'm a Gospel Essentials teacher and I skipped the lesson on the Scriptures because I didn't want someone to ask me that question (I think the lesson says the BoM contains the fulness of the gospel).

So, how does the BoM contain the fulness of the gospel when it says so little about the temple ordinances?

[By the way, many of you gave me really good advice about being a Gospel Essentials teacher when I started a few months ago. It's been going VERY, very well. My class keeps getting fuller and fuller every Sunday. The Spirit has been really powerful to the point of people in tears so often -- I can't believe how blessed I've been as a teacher, and how inspired the class has been in their participation. And I've ended up confirming one person and conferring the priesthood on another, and speaking at the baptism of yet another person in the class -- given the relationships formed in the teacher/class participant relationship that's been developed). I really enjoy gospel teaching, especially when there are non-members in front of me very Sunday...it's fabulous]

[Moksha]

Mormonmusic, way to go teaching that class. I really enjoyed it. I asked a lot of questions when I was in that class. I really appreciated having an instructor that was not only well versed, but was able to think outside the box as well. I was also glad he was patient and kept his inclination toward defensiveness to a minimum.

I imagine other class members with a long term background in Mormon teachings also learned something by exploring the reasons behind what they would otherwise take for granted about the very basics. One subject I was very anxious to know about was Mormon cosmology. The teacher put that one on hold and came back the next Sunday in full instructional mode. Made me happy to receive such satisfactory answers. The other students learned stuff they never knew that day as well.

Such a question as you pose should have a chance for discussion. If the teacher censors himself from asking about the rudiments, wouldn't the class suffer as a result?

[Maya]

I been asking the same question ina way... My answer has been that the BoM prepares the way to understand thd fulness of the gospel. If we would have the Jewis way of explain the BoM it would tell us MUCH more, as shown in the Jewish perspective of BoM on this site. After all it IS a Jewish or Israelian record that should be interprated accordingly. I dont think we can fully understand its writtings without the Jewish perspective and most of all the Holy Spirit.
By now the Jewish pesrpective in explainint then BoM or even Bible has been neclected adn I believe that is why there is soooo many things yet not revieled to us. If we think we can find teh fullness without knowledge on Jewish traditional recordkeeping and traditions I think we sre wrong. Ofcourse the Holy Spirit WILL help us and may even be enough to get the fulness, but I still think there lies a LOT of secrets in the Bom that we have no idea about., BUT it does NOT mean taht all Jewish commentsw would be right! Maybe the fullness lies in receaving of the Holy Spirit? And because of the BoM we are able to better acnolige the SH in our life.
The BoM is absolutely the way to fulness, the key, but do we understand ALL of it? I think it would be arrogant to claim that we do. We have barely opened its treasurs.
Those who seek shal find.....
One of the problems is that we may find ... but the others cant see it and stample our ways wrong ... That is why we have a Prophet who can tell things to EVERYBODY in the RIGHT time, when most are able to comprihend it, and take it as a truth. That is why we should never impose our ideas to anyone... and that is why we, with ideas, are so darn alone sometimes, with no one to talk to...
Maya the superspeculator has spoken

[mysticmorini]

Originally Posted by mormonmusic

Hopefully this subject hasn't been beat to death recently, but it's on my mind.

I have a question about the statement that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the gospel". I've always been a bit perplexed on that one, because the Book of Mormon does a VERY good job of explaining the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, but doesn't mention any of the other ordinances, like endowments, celestial marriage, etcetera. Or if it does, it's probably in such an implied fashion as to be a stretch (in my view).

So, can anyone help me understand how this statement is true? I'm a Gospel Essentials teacher and I skipped the lesson on the Scriptures because I didn't want someone to ask me that question (I think the lesson says the BoM contains the fulness of the gospel).

So, how does the BoM contain the fulness of the gospel when it says so little about the temple ordinances?

Oh but it does, I posted a thread on here a while back that talks about temple imagery in the book of mormon, for that matter temple imagery is in the old testament and new testament. its not so much of a stretch you just have to have the eyes to see and the ears to hear.

[tubaloth]

If I still had Gospelink installed I could probably copy and paste some from other books.

The answer actually is kind of simple, which maybe isn't what we are looking for.

I have a question about the statement that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the gospel".

The reason the book of mormon gets this is because the people in the book of mormon had the fulness of the gospel. Now there is a difference of having it, and teaching it. Just because not everything about the gospel was taught in the book of mormon doesn't mean they didn't have it.

Lehi through his linage didn't have the Aaronic priesthood but had the higher Melchizedek priesthood. This is different then those in the old Testament. So in a way when we compare the Old Testament to the Book of Mormon, those in the book of Mormon had the fulness of Gospel.

The same holds true after Christ came and visited them. He taught them all they needed to know and where a people with the fulness of the gospel.
Now just because temple endowment process isn't explained doesn't really prove anything. It was a people living the gospel to its fulness.

Thats the reason the Book of Mormon was given for our day! It is in our day when we also have the fulness! We can see what happens when we live the fulness of the gospel!

[pam]

I've never thought of the Book of Mormon as containing the fullness of the gospel as described in the OP. My perception when hearing this term is that the fullness of the gospel has been restored again upon the earth. That we have been given the keys to perform all the ordinances to gain salvation. That the power and authority of the Priesthood has been restored .

The Book of Mormon to me has a purpose and that is to to convince all that Jesus is the Christ and manifesting Himself to all nations. It's also a witness to the many truths held in the Bible. That it also restores some of the truths that were lost in the Bible through errors in translation.

JMHO

[Dravin]

Originally Posted by President Benson

The Book of Mormon is also the keystone of the doctrine of the Resurrection. As mentioned before, the Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon contains the “fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:9). That does not mean it contains every teaching, every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation. And they are taught plainly and simply so that even children can learn the ways of salvation and exaltation. The Book of Mormon offers so much that broadens our understandings of the doctrines of salvation. Without it, much of what is taught in other scriptures would not be nearly so plain and precious.

From here: LDS.org - Ensign Article - The Book of Mormon Keystone of Our Religion

[pam]

Thank you Dravin. My wording in my post didn't exactly state what I was really trying to say...But I think one paragraph in that talk pretty much states what I was trying to say or at least where my thoughts were.

The Book of Mormon is also the keystone of the doctrine of the Resurrection. As mentioned before, the Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon contains the “fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:9). That does not mean it contains every teaching, every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation. And they are taught plainly and simply so that even children can learn the ways of salvation and exaltation. The Book of Mormon offers so much that broadens our understandings of the doctrines of salvation. Without it, much of what is taught in other scriptures would not be nearly so plain and precious.

[Dravin]

/me nods.

Another way to look at it (which just may be rewording) is fullness can imply breadth (which is what I think Mormonmusic is talking about) but it can also imply depth (which is what I think President Benson in the quotes is talking about). The Book of Mormon teaches the Good News, that Christ came and died for our sins and that Christ's atonement can apply to us and how in a very full way.

[marts1]

I was thinking the same. I don't know of any other scripture that explains so well, the most important event that took place on this planet, during those last few days that Christ endured.