Joseph Smith Lesson #2: God the Eternal Father

This lesson was taught on 10 February 2008 by Sondra Soderborg.

Three things Joseph learned about God from the First Vision:

1) The Father and the Son are individual beings

2) Their power is greater than the power of evil

3) We are fashioned in God's image

Some questions from the lesson to ask yourself:

1. Why are these three truths so important?  How has knowing these things about God changed your life?

By comprehending the character of God we better understand ourselves.  Read John 17:3 ("And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true god, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.")  Coming to know God is our purpose, and through that we come to know ourselves.  God wants us to know and understand ourselves.

2. What things do you know for a certainty about God's character?

-He has a vital respect for agency

-He is profoundly gentle.  Sondra shared an experience in which she felt called to repentance by the Spirit, but at the same time she was aware of God's gentleness and reassurance, which replaced the sense of mistake and softened the blow of the initial realization of error.  

-He loves us unconditionally

3. Is there something you have learned about yourself through understanding the nature of God?  

4. Is there a change in yourself you've sought to make because of your knowledge of the nature of God?  

The lesson closed with a reading of Moroni 7:48 ("pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.")