Doctrine
Gospel principles are doctrine, but not all doctrine of the kingdom are gospel principles. A principle is a standard or rule wherein one governs their self. Gospel principles give understanding for the application of concepts that provide moral character of an individual. Gospel morality prepares the mind and soul of the saint to receive greater light and truth through study and revelation from God.
Doctrine of the kingdom is a body of teachings that include both principles and the fulness of the everlasting covenant that come from God. Christ declared, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me" (John 7:16). If anyone should do God's will, they "shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself." Those that speak for themselves, "seeketh" their own "glory," but he that seeketh God's will "the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him" (John 7:17-18).
Gospel doctrines belong to God who is the fountain head of all truth. They come from him. He reveals them to his chosen servants the prophets. Beginning with Adam, God has opened the heavens and communicated with man, even down to our dispensation starting with Joseph Smith. God has instructed them and given them commandment to teach His doctrine to the children of men. Those duly authorized agents that have proceeded Joseph Smith do the same. God expects us to believe in his doctrines. As Elder Bruce R. McConkie has taught, "There is no salvation in believing a false doctrine. Truth, diamond truth, truth unmixed with error, truth alone leads to salvation. What we believe determines what we do. No man can be saved in ignorance of God and his laws. Man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge of Jesus Christ and the saving truths of his everlasting gospel" (BYU Speeches, Jun. 1980).
The doctrines of God revealed to his servants the prophets become scripture. As the apostle Paul taught, "all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16). The fulness of the gospel of Christ is restored in these last days, to "bring to light the true points of my doctrine" (D&C 10:62). Christ's church is restored with apostles and prophets as it was in the meridian of time so that, "we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. 4:14). Those that adhere to God and His doctrine are to "speak to you...by doctrine" (1 Cor. 14:6). That we are commanded to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom" (D&C 88:77). The doctrine of God is restored once again to man so that we "may be perfected in understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth" (D&C 97:14). For we will be judged on how we use God's doctrine, "that every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment" (D&C 101:78).
Concerning Christ's doctrine he declared, "This is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them" (3 Nephi 11:32-39).
True saints of Christ who progress and grow in the doctrine of God, have "the doctrine of the priesthood...distil upon [their souls] as the dews from heaven" (D&C 121:45).
Doctrine of the kingdom is a body of teachings that include both principles and the fulness of the everlasting covenant that come from God. Christ declared, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me" (John 7:16). If anyone should do God's will, they "shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself." Those that speak for themselves, "seeketh" their own "glory," but he that seeketh God's will "the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him" (John 7:17-18).
Gospel doctrines belong to God who is the fountain head of all truth. They come from him. He reveals them to his chosen servants the prophets. Beginning with Adam, God has opened the heavens and communicated with man, even down to our dispensation starting with Joseph Smith. God has instructed them and given them commandment to teach His doctrine to the children of men. Those duly authorized agents that have proceeded Joseph Smith do the same. God expects us to believe in his doctrines. As Elder Bruce R. McConkie has taught, "There is no salvation in believing a false doctrine. Truth, diamond truth, truth unmixed with error, truth alone leads to salvation. What we believe determines what we do. No man can be saved in ignorance of God and his laws. Man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge of Jesus Christ and the saving truths of his everlasting gospel" (BYU Speeches, Jun. 1980).
The doctrines of God revealed to his servants the prophets become scripture. As the apostle Paul taught, "all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16). The fulness of the gospel of Christ is restored in these last days, to "bring to light the true points of my doctrine" (D&C 10:62). Christ's church is restored with apostles and prophets as it was in the meridian of time so that, "we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. 4:14). Those that adhere to God and His doctrine are to "speak to you...by doctrine" (1 Cor. 14:6). That we are commanded to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom" (D&C 88:77). The doctrine of God is restored once again to man so that we "may be perfected in understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth" (D&C 97:14). For we will be judged on how we use God's doctrine, "that every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment" (D&C 101:78).
Concerning Christ's doctrine he declared, "This is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them" (3 Nephi 11:32-39).
True saints of Christ who progress and grow in the doctrine of God, have "the doctrine of the priesthood...distil upon [their souls] as the dews from heaven" (D&C 121:45).