THIRD YEAR
The Doctrine of Deity
Compiled and Edited by
B. H. ROBERTS
Of the First Council of The Seventy
"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the Only TrueGod, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent."—Jesus.
"It is the First Principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty theCharacter of God."—Joseph Smith.
Salt Lake City
1910
The Seventy's Course in Theology, Third Year, treats directly ofthe Doctrine of Deity. In structure and treatment of the theme, itfollows the general plan of the First and Second Year Books. Thereforewhat was said in the Introduction to the First Year Book to "ClassTeachers;" and on the "Manner of Lesson Treatment;" "Home Reading andPreparation;" "Scripture Reading and Special Texts;" and on "Lectures,"will be available here. As quite a number of the Quorum members willnot have First and Second Year Books, it is recommended that thePresidents or Class Teachers bring the suggestions under the aboveheadings to the attention of the classes, and read them in class. Anentire class session indeed, could be well spent in consideration ofmethods of work.
One modification only is suggested in methods of work. Where theSeventies meet in classes that are only fragments of quorums, ininstances where the number of meetings does not average more than fromthree to six or eight, it is thought that better results would beobtained if such a class would convert the occasion into a lesson-studymeeting, for three lessons in the month, and instead of trying todeliver the lesson statement in lecture form, remain seated around thetable and read the lesson, hunt up the citations given, and discuss thenotes—in a word study the lesson together and profit by each other'sassistance. Then, on the fourth lesson of the month—when the Seventiesare supposed to meet in quorum capacity, the usual quorum methods couldbe followed.
The importance of the Subject, "The Doctrine of Deity:" Of theimportance of the subject treated in this present Year Book, butlittle need be said, as its importance is largely self-evident; but tominds that do not so conceive it, perhaps its importance will be madeapparent by such expressions as these:
"This is life eternal that they might know Thee, the only true God,and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."—Jesus, the Christ.
"It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty theCharacter of God; and to know that we may converse with Him as one manconverses with another."—Joseph Smith, the Prophet.
Far be it from me to hold that faith in God, and participation insalvation, depends upon a scientific knowledge of the being, and thekind of being, God is. The Soul of man, self-conscious of the beingof God, and enlightened, if only in a general way—in a way far fromwhat would be regarded as well-arranged knowledge—may yet have faithin God. So that I am not holding that the very definite knowledge weare seeking through this treatise, is necessary to first steps in whatmust always be a progressive faith. I do not address the men for whomthese Lessons are prepared from the standpoint that I would have themunderstand in order that they may believe; but rather that they mayunderstand—as clearly as I can help them to understand—that whichthey already believe. Also that they may more distinctly teach thatwhich they believe, for surely well-ordered knowledge can hav