Why We Study the New Testament?
Both ancient and modern prophets have stressed the value of
the scriptures in helping us come to know God. Jesus taught,
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).
The Apostle Paul taught Timothy about the value of holy writings:
• They are able to make one “wise unto salvation”
(2 Timothy 3:15).
• They are “given by inspiration of God” (v. 16).
• They are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction
for instruction in righteousness” (v. 16).
• They help the righteous become perfect and “throughly
furnished unto all good works” (v. 17).
The prophet Mormon wrote:
“Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
“And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right
hand of God in the kingdom of heaven” (Helaman 3:29–30).
The scriptures help us “divide asunder” (overcome) the lies
and temptations of the devil and follow a course that will “land us in” (bring us to) the celestial kingdom.
Elder Boyd K. Packer taught:
“In the New Testament course, you learn of the birth and
ministry of Jesus the Christ and His divine Sonship. You learn
about ordinances, about baptism by immersion for the
remission of sins.
“You read of the call of the Twelve and follow their ministry.
You learn of the fatherhood of God. You learn of the Holy
Ghost, the Comforter, and personal revelation.
“You relive the days of the Betrayal and the Crucifixion, and
learn transcendent truths of the Atonement and the
Resurrection. You learn of love and law and why a Redeemer.
“From the four Gospels to the book of Revelation, the
teachings of the Master and of His Apostles—the Lord Jesus
Christ’s gospel—are opened to you” (in Conference Report,
Mar.–Apr. 1990, 49; or Ensign, May 1990, 38).
The following doctrines, all taught in the New Testament,
show why a careful study of the New Testament is not only
meaningful but crucial:
• God is literally our Father in Heaven.
• Heavenly Father created the heavens and the arth through
His Son Jesus Christ.
• Heavenly Father sent His Son into the world that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
• Heavenly Father has given all judgment to the Son.
• God can and does intervene directly in the lives of men.
• Heaven is divided into different kingdoms of glory.
• We receive blessings from God by making and keeping
sacred covenants.
• Idolatry in any form is spiritually destructive.
• Jesus Christ’s Second Coming is prophesied, including events of the last days.
Being far removed in time and culture from the New
Testament period brings special challenges to those who
study the Bible. In addition, the record we now have is not
complete. Many parts “which are plain and most precious”
were taken away (1 Nephi 13:26). Much that was lost has
been restored by the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith
Translation of the Bible, and other modern revelations (see
1 Nephi 13:33–41). Further, some portions of the Bible are
cloaked or hidden in symbolic language.
Such prophetic cloaking has been useful because those who sought to remove the “plain and precious” parts have left many of the more obscure passages relatively intact. Thus, many great truths have been preserved to be read and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost and the “spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:4) that God has made available to the Saints of the latter days.
Modern revelation testifies that the Fall was good, necessary, and a planned step in the eternal progression of all of Heavenly Father’s children. The Old Testament explains what happened in the Fall but not why it happened or what it means for us. One reason for this may be the loss of many plain and precious truths from the Bible (see 1 Nephi 13:25–29). As members of the Church, we can better understand the doctrine of the Fall because much of what was lost has been restored in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
We cannot completely understand the importance of the Fall in Heavenly Father’s plan unless we understand that because of the Fall, Adam and Eve would die both physically and spiritually (see Moses 3:17). Spiritual death means to be shut out of the presence of God (see Moses 5:4). Physical death is the separation of the spirit and the body. Although Adam and Eve did not immediately die physically when they ate the fruit, a change occurred in them that would cause them to eventually die. Eventually, they would die physically just as God said. Adam and Eve did not have the power to overcome physical or spiritual death.
Knowing these truths helps us understand why they, and we as their children, need a Savior and the Atonement. Adam and Eve were taught about the Atonement after the Fall. We read some of those teachings in Moses 5.
Before the Fall:
1. No physical death; Adam and Eve would have lived forever (see 2 Nephi 2:22).
2. No spiritual death; they lived in God’s presence—faith was not required (see Alma 32:21).
3. No progression toward godhood possible because of limited agency (see 2 Nephi 2:22).
4. They could not have children (see 2 Nephi 2:23).
5. They were innocent, knowing neither good nor evil, joy nor misery (see 2 Nephi 2:23).
6. They lived in a paradise where everything was provided without effort (see Moses 3:8–9).
After the Fall:
1. All things became mortal and could die physically (see 2 Nephi 9:6).
2. Adam and Eve were cast out of God’s presence and became spiritually dead (see D&C 29:40–42).
3. Eternal progression according to Heavenly Father’s plan became possible (see Moses 5:11).
4. They could have children (see Moses 4:22; 5:11).
5. They knew good and evil and could experience joy and misery (see Moses 5:11).
6. The earth also fell, so we must work for what we need (see Moses 4:23–25).
Scripture Mastery Focus
Moses 1:39
39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Moses 7:18
18 And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.
Abraham 3:22–23
22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.
Genesis 1:26–27
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.
