'Great plan of eternal God'
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At the April 1987 general conference, President Ezra Taft Benson said: "I am deeply concerned about what we are doing to teach the Saints at all levels the gospel of Jesus Christ as completely and authoritatively as do the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. By this I mean teaching the `great plan of the Eternal God,' to use the words of Amulek." (Alma 34:9.)
President Benson said: "The Book of Mormon Saints knew that the plan of redemption must start with the account of the fall of Adam. In the words of Moroni, `By Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, . . . and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man.' (Morm. 9:12)."Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ.
"No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind. And no other book in the world explains this vital doctrine nearly as well as the Book of Mormon.
"Brethren and sisters, we all need to take a careful inventory of our performance and also the performance of those over whom we preside to be sure that we are teaching the `great plan of the Eternal God' to the Saints."
President Benson asked: "Now, what should be the source for teaching the great plan of the Eternal God? The scriptures, of course - particularly the Book of Mormon. This should also include the other modern-day revelations. These should be coupled with the words of the apostles and prophets and the promptings of the Spirit."
