Elder David A. Bednar on doctrines and principles

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"Stated succinctly, a gospel principle is a doctrinally based guideline for the righteous exercise of moral agency. Principles derive from broader gospel truths and provide direction and standards as we press forward on the covenant path....

"Learning, understanding, and living gospel principles strengthen our faith in the Savior, deepen our devotion to Him, and invite a multitude of blessings and spiritual gifts into our lives. Principles of righteousness also help us to look beyond our personal preferences and self-centered desires by providing the precious perspective of eternal truth as we navigate the different circumstances, challenges, decisions, and experiences of mortality....

"Gospel principles are for me and you what a helm is to a ship. Correct principles enable us to find our way and to stand firm, steadfast, and immovable so we do not lose our balance and fall in the raging latter-day storms of darkness and confusion."

- David A. Bednar, "The Principles of My Gospel," General Conference April 2021, Sunday afternoon

In this talk during the April 2021 General Conference, Elder Bednar reviewed one of the crucial aspects of the Gospel: the distinction between doctrines, principles, and guidelines. He described the critical importance of learning, understanding, and living the principles, and benefits that come from doing so:

Using examples from previous leaders, he illustrated his message:

• Joseph Smith, the fundamental message about how he would "teach... correct principles and let [the church members] govern themselves."
• Dallin H. Oaks and his illustrative messages about how principles apply to Aaronic Priesthood duties.
• Russell M. Nelson's recent insights about both the "sign" we give to God as we respect the Sabbath, and the concept from the last conference of letting God prevail in our lives.

It's always very worthwhile to ponder what the guiding principles are in our lives, especially the doctrinally-based ones. The more we understand about the principle itself and the doctrine underlying it, the more power we will find in obeying and following.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2020)

Elder Marvin J. Ashton on being fully committed to the gospel

Elder Marvin J. Ashton (1915-1994) served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1971 until his death in 1994 at age 78.

"I’m thinking of a five-year-old boy who fell out of bed during the night and came crying to his mother’s bedside. To her question, 'Why did you fall out of bed?' he replied, 'I fell out because I wasn’t in far enough!'

"It has been my experience over the years that, generally speaking, those who fall out of the Church are those who aren’t in far enough.

"In a simple statement, the difference between those committed and those who are not is the difference between the words want and will. For example, 'I want to pay tithing, but our funds are so limited,' or 'I will pay my tithing.' 'I want to go to sacrament meeting if I have time,' or 'I will go to sacrament meeting.' 'I would like to be a good teacher, but the children are so noisy,' or 'I will be a good teacher.'

"To reap the full benefits of life, we must fill our days with commitment to worthy goals and principles. There is no other way. As these commitments lead us to action, we will find added growth and dimension which will guide us toward a productive life here on earth and open the door for eternal life with our Father in Heaven."

- Marvin J. Ashton, "The Word is Commitment," General Conference October 1983
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Ashton's analogy of the boy falling out of bed is interesting—they boy said he fell because he wasn't in far enough, and Elder Ashton applies that to people who "drop out" of participation in the Church. What does it mean to be "in far enough"? Perhaps to be more thoroughly involved, more deeply committed, more deeply converted. As our membership in the Church becomes a more significant and meaningful part of our life, we'll understand the analogy better.

Elder Ashton continues by suggesting a characteristic of a member who is "in far enough"—the level of commitment that is demonstrated by our attitude towards assignments or obligations, as expressed in the words want and will. Do we just desire to do good things, or are we committed to make them happen?

Blessings come to us when we "fill our days with commitment to worthy goals and principles" that will then lead us to action and growth.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder LeGrand Richards on laying a solid foundation

Elder LeGrand Richards (1886-1983) served as the Presiding Bishop of the Church from 1938-1952, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He died in 1983 at age 96.

"Today I thought I would like to say a few words about the kind of a foundation we have for our faith, and what we live for, and what our aims and our ambitions really are. I think of the time the beautiful temple here on this block was erected, over a hundred years ago. When the foundation was being laid, we are told that it was sixteen feet wide, and at one time President Brigham Young came and saw the workmen throwing in chipped granite. He made them take it out and put in those great granite blocks with this explanation: 'We are building this temple to stand through the millennium.' Isn’t that a good thought? Each one of us ought to want to build our lives and help our families to build their lives so that we can stand through the millennium....

"The kind of foundation upon which we build our lives is just as important for our eternal happiness as is the kind of a foundation upon which they built that holy temple that it might stand through the millennium."

- LeGrand Richards, "Laying a Foundation for the Millennium," General Conference October 1971
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Richards loved to teach from the scriptures, and loved stories and analogies—often from his own missionary experiences. He was one of the leaders who spanned the early part of the dispensation; when he was born, the Salt Lake temple had not yet been dedicated, and so in a way he had a personal connection to that building and to this story of its construction:

So the importance of a firm and solid foundation can't be understated, when you are planning on building a long-lasting structure. That was critical for the temple; it is even more critical for our lives and our futures, and for our families. We should think carefully about what kinds of foundational principles are in place that we depend on in our lives. Those underlying beliefs and practices become more and more critical as the years go by.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson on the challenges of society and moral discipline

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (born January 24, 1945) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"In most of the world, we have been experiencing an extended and devastating economic recession. It was brought on by multiple causes, but one of the major causes was widespread dishonest and unethical conduct, particularly in the U.S. housing and financial markets. Reactions have focused on enacting more and stronger regulation. Perhaps that may dissuade some from unprincipled conduct, but others will simply get more creative in their circumvention. There could never be enough rules so finely crafted as to anticipate and cover every situation, and even if there were, enforcement would be impossibly expensive and burdensome. This approach leads to diminished freedom for everyone. In the memorable phrase of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, 'We would not accept the yoke of Christ; so now we must tremble at the yoke of Caesar.'

"In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay. Societies will struggle in vain to establish the common good until sin is denounced as sin and moral discipline takes its place in the pantheon of civic virtues.

"Moral discipline is learned at home. While we cannot control what others may or may not do, the Latter-day Saints can certainly stand with those who demonstrate virtue in their own lives and inculcate virtue in the rising generation."

- D. Todd Christofferson, "Moral Discipline," General Conference October 2009
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

Elder Christofferson's premise is that financial, economic, and societal challenges are the result of "widespread dishonest and unethical conduct." Governments respond by trying to enact more regulations to control behavior; but that only evokes more creative misbehavior. As the rules and controls pile up, we not only struggle with the burden of enforcement, but inevitably see a loss of general freedom.

It's been said that "you can't legislate morality." You can only attempt to control behavior. But the underlying motivations must come from a well-defined moral foundation in order to truly find peace and success:

And so it becomes ever more critical to "inculcate virtue in the rising generation." Without that foundation being established, society will continue to struggle mightily to define a proper course.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President Howard W. Hunter on commitment to a Christian life

President Howard W. Hunter (1907-1995) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1959.  He served as Church President from June 5, 1994 to his death on March 3, 1995.

"A successful life, the good life, the righteous Christian life requires something more than a contribution, though every contribution is valuable. Ultimately it requires commitment—whole souled, deeply held, eternally cherished commitment to the principles we know to be true in the commandments God has given. We need such loyalty to the Church, but that must immediately be interpreted as a loyalty in our personal habits and behavior, integrity in the wider community and marketplace, and—for the future’s sake—devotion and character in our marriages and homes and families.

"If we will be true and faithful to our principles, committed to a life of honesty and integrity, then no king or contest or fiery furnace will be able to compromise us. For the success of the kingdom of God on earth, may we stand as witnesses for him 'at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death.' (Mosiah 18:9.)"

- Howard W. Hunter, "Standing As Witnesses of God," General Conference April 1990
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

What does it mean to be a Christian? What kind of effort is involved? President Hunter suggests that it's more than a casual or occasional contribution; it requires "whole souled, deeply held, eternally cherished commitment" to the commandments and principles we have been given:

One who has that level of commitment will be noticed not just in Church settings, but "in the wider community" as we stand up for the principles of truth and defend virtue. We truly should be "witnesses of God" in all situations of our lives and let our light shine in the world around us.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Richard G. Scott on the principles behind acquiring spiritual knowledge

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928-2015) served as a Seventy from 1977-1988, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He passed away in September 2015 at the age of 86.

"As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Carefully separate them from the detail used to explain them. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances. It is worth great effort to organize the truth we gather to simple statements of principle. I have tried to do that with gaining spiritual knowledge. The result is now shared in hope that it will be a beginning place for your study. That statement of principle is:

"To acquire spiritual knowledge and to obey it with wisdom, one must:

• In humility, seek divine light.
• Exercise faith in Jesus Christ. 
• Hearken to His counsel. 
• Keep His commandments.

"As spiritual knowledge unfolds, it must be understood, valued, obeyed, remembered, and expanded."

- Richard G. Scott, "Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge," Ensign, November 1993, p. 86
Click here to read the full article

There are two interesting aspects to this excerpt. The first is the challenge—identify principles that lie behind knowledge; separate them from details used to explain. The description of principles as "concentrated truth" should make them vitally important to us; understanding them enables us to make decisions quickly and easily.

Elder Scott then demonstrated his instruction by sharing his formation of the principle of how to acquire spiritual knowledge, encouraging us to consider its application. His principle provides a good summary of steps that can lead to the gift of knowledge. But obtaining knowledge is only the start; then the knowledge needs to be "understood, valued, obeyed, remembered, and expanded" in order to bring full benefits. That's a description that merits further pondering!