Guiding Principles Help Answer Gospel Questions

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By Ryan Jensen, Church News

Resources found in the updated Topics and Questions in the Gospel Library app and in the Gospel Library on the Church’s website are designed to help answer an individual’s gospel questions and to help others find answers to theirs.

Finding answers to gospel questions using reliable sources can lead to increased faith in Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His Church. The Prophet Joseph Smith had questions that led him to the divine restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. For Joseph, seeking answers was a lifelong pursuit.

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Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “To come unto Christ, we need to develop testimonies of the living reality of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of His restored gospel. Such testimonies come by a witness from the Holy Ghost accompanied by diligent study.”

“For those who have questions, President Russell M. Nelson has counseled, ‘Seek guidance from voices you can trust’ and ‘Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources,’” Elder Renlund said. “We owe it to our members and seekers of truth to provide reliable, trusted and faithful sources. Topics and Questions is a wonderful place to start. The associated guiding principles are like a ‘user’s manual’ for approaching the material in Topics and Questions.”

The five guiding principles for those seeking answers to their own questions are:

1. Center your life on Jesus Christ.
2. Be patient with yourself and others.
3. Recognize revelation is a process.
4. Consult reliable sources.
5. Work to understand the past.

Applying these principles can help individuals live the gospel while also seeking answers to questions and strengthening their testimony. The process of obtaining and strengthening a testimony looks different for each individual and requires a different amount of time for each person.

Five years ago, Gospel Topics was launched to help both members and friends of the Church find answers to questions. Gospel Topics and Questions with the guiding principles is an update of that material.

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Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy, said, “Sincere questions need good resources and the guidance of the Holy Ghost to be answered. Many faithful individuals have sincere questions about various aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ or His Church. With so many competing voices with confusing messages in the world, the guiding principles shared on the updated Topics and Questions section of ChurchofJesusChrist.org and Gospel Library help those with sincere questions turn to the Lord and seek answers through diligent learning led by the Spirit.”

In addition to the Guiding Principles for those seeking answers to their own questions, the update includes five guiding principles for helping others with questions. These are:

1. Respond with love.
2. Listen with humility.
3. Trust in the Lord.
4. Nourish your own faith.
5. Assist them throughout their journey.

Elder Bragg said, “Family members and friends may want to help others as they search for answers. These additional guiding principles give suggestions for helping them.”

These principles can help facilitate ministering in love when helping those who have questions.

“The Topics and Questions and guiding principles are accompanied by study guides for 40 topics. Individuals may use them to guide their study of those topics. Additional study guides will be published shortly,” said Elder Kevin W. Pearson, General Authority Seventy. Each study guide provides links to scriptures, videos, prophetic teachings and other materials.

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