Nephi wrote that the gospel is plain and precious. President Wilford Woodruff declared: “The Lord has a great many principles in store for us, and the greatest principles which he has for us are the most simple and plain.” 1 Here are five scriptures which bring us back to the gospel basics.

Mosiah 3:17

And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

I believe that the most essential knowledge that we can have is that we need the Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him, we would be in for a miserable eternity. He is the only way, the one true path and though many of us will try to “fake it until we make it”, there is no other way besides His way.

Matthew 22:36-40

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

In this scripture, I would have my children understand that we need to set our hearts upon God more than anything else and to just love others, not judge. The most amazing people I know, the ones who make the biggest difference are those can see past sins and weakness and recognize the beautiful child of God beneath it all. The ability to love is the most effective tool anyone can use as we share the gospel.

Alma 34:8-10

“And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. 

For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. 

For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.”

As Alma went forth among the apostate Zoramites, he and Amulek first taught them how to pray and communicate with their Heavenly Father, then they taught the people about their need for a Savior. If our children will understand why we need a Savior so desperately, keeping the two great commandments put forth by the Lord will be far easier and the need for communication with heaven will make sense. 

Alma 44:4

“Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.”

I would teach my children to do everything they can to be faithful to our God. His causes are just. We don’t just endure the gospel, we should be living it cheerfully and with gratitude for all that He does to care for us. He will support us in our trials and afflictions, as long as we continue to choose Him.

2 Nephi 2:27-28

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

I would have my children understand that it is for them to choose whether they wish to side with Christ or not. The battle waged in heaven before we came here was about that very thing; our choice. The Lord will not force us to obey, that was satan’s plan. We will never grow to become like our Heavenly Father in the eternities if we don’t learn to choose and follow Him here on earth. This mortal experience is miniscule in comparison to eternity, but it is so critical. Ultimately, we all choose our eternity by a lifetime of actions.

1. “Remarks,” Deseret News, 1 Apr. 1857, 27