February 2016 Newsletter Article

The topic in the Come, Follow Me curriculum this month is "The Plan of Salvation". The primary focus of the outlines is on learning, living, and sharing the principles of the plan, rather than its mechanics. This focus encourages us to use our agency to make changes rather than following a technical checklist. Joseph Smith said "I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves". This is because of the example of our Heavenly Father.

Alma taught his son, Helaman, about how Ammon and the sons of Mosiah had success teaching the Lamanites. He said "…their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer"(Alma 37:9). They taught the Lamanites about Christ and their Heavenly Father. This knowledge and joy led the Lamanites to repent and become converted. As our knowledge of Heavenly Father and Jesus increase, we find the individual path and plan for our salvation becoming illuminated. Our will reflects God's will, and we begin to see and treat ourselves and others as he does. When this happens, all will be edified and uplifted together.