The Gospel: An Exposition of its First Principles: Revised and Enlarged Edition

In Short

This foundational text provides a structured exposition of the core doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Written for a youth audience in the late 19th century, it organizes complex theological arguments—ranging from the nature of the Godhead to the mechanics of the Atonement—into a coherent system of belief. By framing the gospel as an ancient, restored truth, the work serves as both a manual for the faithful and an intellectual defense of the faith, emphasizing personal transformation through rigorous adherence to divine law.

The Story

The narrative of this work is the unfolding of a grand, cosmic plan for the salvation of humanity. It begins with the fundamental premise that the gospel is not a modern invention but an eternal system of truth, understood by prophets from Adam and Enoch to Moses and the apostles of the New Testament. The author posits that this same system has been restored in the modern era through the agency of Joseph Smith, re-establishing the direct lines of communication between heaven and earth.

Central to this progression is the person of Jesus Christ. The argument moves from the pre-existence of spirits to the necessity of the Atonement, where the author carefully balances the claims of divine justice and mercy. Because humanity inherited mortality and death through the fall of Adam, it required an infinite sacrifice to satisfy justice and unlock the gates of immortality. The author depicts Christ not as a distant deity, but as an elder brother and a loving father-figure whose voluntary suffering provides the path for every human soul to return to God’s presence.

As the text progresses, the focus shifts to the practical application of this theology. It argues that belief alone is insufficient; one must enter into a covenant relationship with God. This involves a sequence of essential ordinances: faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost. The author explicitly rejects the practice of infant baptism, insisting that baptism requires the conscious, rational capacity to repent. Once these requirements are met, the believer is urged to move beyond spiritual childhood. The journey does not end at baptism; rather, the believer is charged to add virtue, knowledge, and charity to their faith, gradually evolving into a being who reflects the character of the Divine.

The scope of this plan extends beyond the living. The author addresses the perceived injustices of traditional theology, which often condemned those who died without hearing the gospel. By introducing the concept of vicarious ordinances performed for the dead, the text reconciles the demands of justice with the reach of divine mercy, suggesting that the work of salvation connects generations across the veil of death. The arc concludes with a discussion of the relationship between man and God. By establishing that humans are the literal offspring of the Divine, the author elevates the human potential, arguing that through obedience and the power of the Holy Ghost, individuals may labor toward a state of godliness, ultimately becoming joint heirs with Christ and growing to resemble their Creator.

How It Unfolds

The call to clarity The text opens by identifying a gap in the religious education of the youth, arguing that they often misunderstand the gospel because it has not been presented to them as a consistent, logical system. The author sets the tone by insisting that religion should be simple enough for the ignorant and the learned alike to grasp.

The architecture of redemption The middle chapters analyze the mechanics of the Atonement, contrasting the rigid demands of justice with the restorative power of mercy. This section establishes the theological framework for why a savior was necessary and how his sacrifice satisfies the legal requirements of the universe.

The path of the candidate The narrative moves to the "first principles," detailing the specific steps required of the believer. Each chapter explores the necessity of faith, the nature of true repentance, and the formal authority required to perform baptism.

The expansion of the spirit The later portions of the book describe the role of the Holy Ghost as the medium of communication between God and man. This section also explores the doctrine of salvation for the dead, providing a lens through which the author views the interconnectedness of all generations.

The culmination of the argument The final chapters return to the nature of man, articulating the belief that humans are the offspring of God. The work ends by framing the ultimate goal of the believer: to progress through virtuous living toward a state of equality with the Divine.

The People

The text is driven by the actions of three central figures whose roles define the trajectory of the gospel. Joseph Smith stands as the modern conduit, the man through whom the ancient, restored truths are brought back to the earth, particularly through his translations of the Book of Abraham. Jesus Christ is the protagonist of the redemption story, characterized as the "Elder Brother" who possesses the power to satisfy the claims of justice and who acts as the bridge between humanity and the Father. Finally, the human seeker—the reader—is the central participant. This figure is tasked with moving beyond a passive acceptance of doctrine to a state of active, godly development, where the "bag of sand" baptism is discarded in favor of a life defined by the continuous acquisition of spiritual gifts and knowledge.

In Its Own Voice

"Religion, my honored friend, is surely a simple business, as it equally concerns the ignorant and the learned, the poor and the rich."

The author uses this epigraph to justify the project of explaining complex theology in accessible, plain language.

"You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost."

This blunt assessment of a central ordinance highlights the author’s insistence that external rites are meaningless without the accompanying spiritual intent.

"He delights not in their destruction, but would have all men to be saved; and for that purpose has established the gospel."

This passage anchors the entire theological system in the concept of a benevolent, fatherly God who actively desires the success of his offspring.

What It's Really About

The central question beneath the prose is how a finite, imperfect human can reconcile their nature with an infinite, perfect Deity. The author argues that this is not achieved through mystery or philosophical abstraction, but through a legal and biological relationship. By defining humans as the actual offspring of God, the book reconfigures the purpose of life from mere survival or moral conformity into a process of "god-making." The underlying theme is the elimination of distance; the gospel is presented as a set of tools designed to close the gap between the mortal condition and the divine potential, turning the believer into a literal heir to the power and nature of the Creator.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American religious thought will find this a vital primary source for understanding the development of Latter-day Saint theology in the late 19th century. It is a work of immense confidence; the author writes with the tone of a teacher who believes he has solved the fundamental riddles of existence through logic and scripture. The text feels remarkably cohesive, moving with a steady, systematic energy that rarely falters in its pursuit of clarity.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the specific challenges of the period. The prose is dense, occasionally academic in its use of footnotes and citations, and reflects a Victorian-era style that can feel remote. Furthermore, the book’s stance on contemporary scientific debates—such as its skepticism toward Darwinian evolution—positions it firmly within the intellectual conflicts of the 1890s. It does not invite the reader to doubt or to wander; it is a prescriptive document that demands a specific kind of engagement. If you are looking for a window into the mind of a 19th-century theologian who sought to merge the "new" restoration with the "ancient" gospel, this book provides an exceptionally clear, if narrow, view of that intersection.