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Guide Home > Scripture and Influential Writings > Book of Mormon > Fulness of the Gospel
Additional TopicsThe following are additional topic areas related to Fulness of the Gospel. If there is a bracket number after the topic, that number indicates how many actual articles there are related to that subject. If the link for the topic is not live, it simply means the topic is a 'planned area' for future growth. FAIR ResourcesThese links are either to Web pages hosted on the FAIR Website, or to FAIR Papers. FAIR Papers are short articles about specific topics or questions, written by members of FAIR. These articles can be downloaded and read in PDF format and are intended to be distributed by e-mail or print for the general use of our patrons. (To read FAIR Papers you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. It can be downloaded free from the Adobe Web site.) Click on a title below to visit a FAIR Web page or to read the latest version of a FAIR Paper. "Book of Mormon and the fulness of the gospel," FAIR Wiki (City Unknown: FAIR) This FAIR Wiki article examines the claim that the Book of Mormon doesn't really contain the "fulness" of the Gospel as it claims. Michael R. Ash, "The Book of Mormon," Mormonism 201 (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR) Ash rebuts the charges made in Mormonism 101 concerning the Book of Mormon (including issues, such as, the Three Witness, the Fullness and the Fullness of the Gospel). Michael Parker, "The Book of Mormon and the Fulness of the Gospel," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, May 2003) How can the Book of Mormon "contain the fulness of the gospel" if there are important LDS doctrines that are not mentioned in it? Ensign ArticlesThese articles cited below provide information on the topic of this page. The Ensign is one of the official publications of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When you click on one of the article links below, you are whisked to the article found in the archives of the Church's Web site. Daniel H. Ludlow, "Why do we say that the Book of Mormon contains "the fullness of the gospel" (D&C 20:9) when it doesn't contain some of the basic teachings of the Church? Why doesn't it include such doctrines as the three degrees of glory, marriage for eternity, premo," Ensign, September 1985. Other ResourcesThe resources listed below are related items available on the Web that should be of interest. These links are to information not located on the FAIR Web site. "Book of Mormon Answers," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies (Provo: FARMS, 1998), 60-69 How can the Book of Mormon contain the "fulness of the gospel"? And isn't the comparison of the Book of Mormon to Isaiah's "familiar spirit" (29:1-4) a comparison to witchcraft? Ehab Abunuwara, "The Book of Mormon Contains the "Fulness of the Gospel"," (Provo, Utah: FARMS) FARMS research article on the Book of Mormon Containing the "Fulness of the Gospel." Stephen R. Gibson, "Where Is The Book of Mormon's "Fulness of the Gospel?"," One-Minute Answers to Anti-Mormon Questions (Bountiful, Utah: Horizon Publishers) The Book of Mormon is supposed to contain the "fulness of the gospel" (D & C 20:9), yet it mentions nothing about temple marriage, sealing ordinances, or baptism for the dead. According to Mormon theology, aren't these part of the fulness of the gospel? Noel B. Reynolds, "The Gospel of Jesus Christ as Taught by the Nephite Prophets," BYU Studies, Vol. 31:3 (Provo, UT: BYU, 1991) While all the elements of the gospel as it is defined in the Book of Mormon occur in the New Testament, the formulaic relationship the Book of Mormon ascribes to them is not so obvious. Yet, once the Book of Mormon definition is understood, there is little difficulty accommodating New Testament usages to it. The Lord has repeatedly stated that the Book of Mormon contains “the fulness of the gospel” (D&C 20:9; 27:5; 42:12). On three separate occasions reported in the Book of Mormon, the basic elements of the gospel are explained by either a prophet or Jesus himself. In each case six central elements are repeated several times in language that is varied to enrich their meaning (2 Ne. 31:2–32:6; 3 Ne. 11:31–41; 27:13–21). Each of these long passages is framed by affirmations that “this is my gospel” or “this is my doctrine.”These core texts present the gospel message as a six-point formula, which Joseph Smith abbreviated as the “first principle and ordinances of the Gospel” (History of the Church 4:541). The function of this formula is primarily explanatory and pedagogical, as it does not tell converts to Christ “all things what [they] should do” (2 Ne. 32:5). Rather, this is the function of the Holy Ghost, whose guidance the follower of Christ must constantly seek (2 Ne. 32:1–5). Noel B. Reynolds, "The True Points of My Doctrine," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies (Provo: FARMS, 1996), 26-56 In a 1991 BYU Studies article, I identified and analyzed three core Book of Mormon passages in which the gospel or doctrine of Jesus Christ is defined. Each of these passages presents the gospel as a six-point formula or message about what men must do if they will be saved. In the present article I go on to examine all other Book of Mormon references to the six elements in this formula. Faith is choosing to trust in Jesus Christ in all that one does. Repentance is turning away from the life of sin by making a covenant to obey the Lord and remember him always. Baptism in water is the public witnessing to the Father of that covenant. The baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost is a gift sent from the Father in fulfillment of his promise to all his children that if they will repent and be baptized, they will be filled with the Holy Ghost. It brings the remission of sins with its cleansing fires. The recipient of these great blessings must yet endure to the end in faith, hope, and charity. W. John Walsh and Michael B. Parker, Does the Book of Mormon Teach the "Fulness" of the Gospel?. Two articles that examine the claim that the Book of Mormon doesn't contain the fullness of the Gospel because it supposedly doesn't teach many uniquely LDS doctrines.
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