The Fab Four

So, let's be real right now, I absolutely love the Beatles. I am actually quite obsessed with all of the music they have made. I could never describe the way I feel when I hear one of their songs come on the radio- my heart skips a beat! Each of their albums holds a different memory and place in my heart from different times and phases of my life. I could go on forever about my love for them but there's something that I love more- more than the Beatles you ask? Yes, and it is the gospel of Jesus Christ! The gospel is something that has completely changed my life. Follow along with me as I compare the two...

The Beatles were made up of 4 extremely talented and magical individuals:
-George Harrison

-Paul McCartney

-John Lennon
-Ringo Starr

Now, the Beatles had an incredible run of amazing music, movies and tours but after a good amount of time they ended up splitting up, went their different ways and did some wonderful things on their own. Although Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey and Imagine are incredible songs, I think most Beatles fans would agree that none of their solo projects could compare to the music that they made when they worked together.  It is the same with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is made up of 4 main principles and we need ALL of them!

What exactly is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is our Heavenly Father’s plan for the happiness and salvation of His children." To me, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the way back to our Heavenly Father. The gospel is composed of all of the things we must understand, live and do to receive the gift of eternal life.

 

The 4 main principles in the gospel of Jesus Christ are:

-Faith

-Repentance

-Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost

-Enduring to the End

Let's go over each principle to better understand the need for each one, shall we?

When you hear the word faith, what does it mean to you?

In the Book of Mormon we read:

 

 "Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen." Ether 12:6

"And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."Alma 32:21

 

So faith is something that we hope for and cannot see BUT know is true. Faith in Jesus Christ, to me, is having a perfect hope and knowledge that He is my Savior even though I cannot physically see Him at this time. This faith has been a product of studying the scriptures, praying and living according to this belief. 

 



 

Repentance is a product of our faith in Jesus Christ.

So what exactly is repentance?

"To repent we need to recognize and feel sorry for what we’ve done wrong, do whatever is possible to repair the damage it may have caused, and to leave our sinful behavior behind. Repentance can be difficult and requires a lot of honesty, but the joy and freedom we feel when we turn away from our sins are well worth the effort. Because Christ suffered for our sins, we can be forgiven when we repent."*

 

I want to testify that repentance is one of the greatest blessings that God could ever give us. Through repentance I have been freed from my guilt and sorrows and have been able to put my past behind me and leave it there. Repentance has allowed me to start over new, everyday, and become a better person. Repentance is the key to allowing Christ to change our hearts and our lives.

 

Faith leads to repentance which then leads to baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have put these two together because one is not complete without the other!

 

"Baptism is a promise or covenant we make to follow Jesus Christ throughout our lives. When we develop faith in Him and repent of our sins, a person who has God’s authority to baptize immerses us in water and raises us back up.

Jesus was baptized when He was on earth. He has asked us to follow His example and to be baptized (see 2 Nephi 31:12). He has promised that if we follow His example and keep the promises we make when we’re baptized, we will have His Spirit to guide us through this life."*

 

Baptism is the first gate that we enter onto the straight and narrow path back to God. It shows Heavenly Father that we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and we promise Him that we will do all that we can to keep the commandments and live in harmony with His teachings.

 

After we are baptized we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

"After we are "born of water," or baptized, we can be "born […] of the Spirit" by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. A person with God's authority puts his hands on our heads and gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:17). The Holy Ghost is a Spirit. He is the third member of the Godhead, along with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and walk humbly before God, He can always be with us. We call it a gift because the Holy Ghost is given to us from God to guide us as we face difficult decisions, comfort us when we are sad, influence our minds and feelings, and help us recognize when something is true."*

 

 The gift of the Holy Ghost is something that I am forever grateful for. I know that it is a gift that God wants for each and every one of His children because it brings us peace, guidance, comfort and His influence into our lives.

 

 

When one has developed faith in Jesus Christ, repented, was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, have they reached the end of their path to God? No! They must endure to the end!
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a life long pursuit.

 

In the Book of Mormon, the ancient prophet Nephi expounds on this:

 "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

 

 

 

I want to testify that we cannot live by one or two of these principles, we need to live by all of them! John, George, Ringo and Paul needed each other to make incredible music as the Beatles, and we need each of these principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ to return to God and live with Him forever. I can promise that living by these principles will bring you true and everlasting happiness and peace!

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