God’s Plan and Your Role in His Work of Salvation and Exaltation

You have been called to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thank you for your service. You will bless lives and experience joy as you serve faithfully.

This handbook will help you learn principles of Christlike service and understand your responsibilities. You will be most effective when you align your service in the Church with the work of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This chapter will help you gain a vision of:

• God’s plan of happiness.

• God’s work of salvation and exaltation.

• The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Heavenly Father provided the plan of happiness to enable us to enjoy all His blessings. His work and glory is to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Immortality is to live forever with a resurrected physical body. Eternal life, or exaltation, is to become like God and live in His presence eternally as families.

Jesus Christ is central to God’s plan. Because of Heavenly Father’s infinite love for us, He sent His Son to redeem us from sin and death through His atoning sacrifice (see John 3:16). Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ ensures that each of us born on earth will be resurrected and gain immortality.

To receive eternal life, we must “come unto Christ” (Moroni 10:32). The Savior’s Atonement makes it possible for us to be cleansed from sin and have our hearts changed so we can receive eternal life and a fulness of joy.

Heavenly Father wants all of His children to become like Him and return to live with Him. This is possible only through His Son, Jesus Christ (see John 14:6). By choosing to come unto Christ and helping others come unto Him, we participate in God’s work of salvation and exaltation. This work is guided by the two great commandments to love God and to love our neighbors (see Matthew 22:37–39).

We come unto Jesus Christ by exercising faith in Him, repenting, and making and keeping sacred covenants (see 3.5). In doing so we enter a covenant relationship with God that allows us to draw closer to Him and receive His mercy, forgiveness, and strength in greater abundance (see Exodus 19:5; 3 Nephi 20:25–26). Keeping our covenants with God helps us become like Him and prepares us to live with Him eternally.

Covenants are central in God’s work of salvation and exaltation.

In Heavenly Father’s plan, we make covenants as we receive priesthood ordinances that are necessary for salvation and exaltation. These ordinances are:

• Baptism.

• Confirmation and gift of the Holy Ghost.

• Conferral of the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordination to an office (for men).

• Temple endowment.

• Temple sealing.

As we keep the covenants associated with these ordinances, we can become more like God and receive the blessings of eternal life (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–22; see also 3.5.3 in this handbook).

God’s work of salvation and exaltation includes four divinely appointed responsibilities. Participating in these responsibilities helps us keep our covenants with God. We also support others as they make and keep sacred covenants. These responsibilities are outlined below.

1.4.1

Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Living the gospel of Jesus Christ includes:

• Exercising faith in Christ, repenting daily, making covenants with God as we receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation, and enduring to the end by keeping those covenants (see 1.2; 3.5.3).

• Learning and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and at church.

• Becoming self-reliant in providing for ourselves and our families, both spiritually and temporally.

Jesus Christ established His Church to make the blessings of eternal life available to all through sacred ordinances and covenants (see 3.5.3). Through His Church He enables individuals and families to receive these blessings and to assist God in fulfilling His work of salvation and exaltation (see Ephesians 4:11–13; see also 2.2 in this handbook). To help accomplish this divine purpose, Jesus Christ, through His Church and its leaders, provides:

• Priesthood authority and keys.

• Prophetic direction.

• Scriptures.

• Gospel learning and teaching support.

• Service and leadership opportunities.

• A community of Saints.

1.5.1

Priesthood Authority and Keys

Through the priesthood, God accomplishes His work of salvation and exaltation. The priesthood authority and keys needed to offer ordinances and covenants and to direct God’s work on earth were restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith (see Doctrine and Covenants 110:11–16; 112:30; see also 3.1 in this handbook). This authority and these keys are held by Church leaders today. These leaders call and authorize others to assist in God’s work (see Doctrine and Covenants 107:8, 65–67).

1.5.2

Prophetic Direction

Through His chosen prophets, God reveals truth and provides inspired guidance and warnings (see Amos 3:7; Doctrine and Covenants 1:4). This guidance helps us enter and remain on the path leading to eternal life.

1.5.3

Scriptures

Under the direction of the Lord’s prophets and apostles, the Church provides and preserves the word of God as found in the holy scriptures. The scriptures testify of Christ, teach His gospel, and help us exercise faith in Him (see Jacob 7:10–11; Helaman 15:7).

1.5.4

Gospel Learning and Teaching Support

The Church supports individuals and families in their responsibility to learn the truths of the gospel and teach these truths to family members and others (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:77–78, 118; see also 2.2.3 in this handbook).

1.5.5

Service and Leadership Opportunities

Through callings and assignments in the Church, God gives members opportunities to serve and lead. The Church provides structure to help care for members in need and to give humanitarian relief to others (see Mosiah 18:27–29).

1.5.6

A Community of Saints

As a community of Saints, Church members gather regularly to worship God and to remember the Savior by partaking of the sacrament (see Moroni 6:4–6; Doctrine and Covenants 20:77). Members also care for and minister to one another (see Ephesians 2:19).

As a leader in the Church, you are called to teach and support those you serve as they assist God in His work of salvation and exaltation (see 1.2). Having a clear understanding of God’s work, of what He invites you to do, and of the purpose of His Church will help you focus your efforts in bringing souls to Christ.

Prayerfully seek to know how you can help bring about God’s purposes in the lives of those you serve. God will direct you through the promptings of the Holy Ghost (see 2 Nephi 32:5). Laboring with the Lord in His vineyard will bring you great joy (see Jacob 5:70–72).