Gospel Principles

Elder Bednar spoke in the most recent general conference about how gospel principles should guide us to make correct choices and exercise our agency. He stated, “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.” He gave examples of how leaders have taught principles to help us judge for ourselves what is right and wrong instead of giving specific rules to follow. For example, President Nelson taught that instead of following some list of what to do or not to do on the Sabbath, we should ask ourselves this question: “What sign do I want to give to God?” Answering that question will help us know for ourselves how we spend our time on the Sabbath. Similarly in other aspects of the gospel, we should seek to understand the principles that should govern our actions and then use our agency to determine for ourselves how to act.

                Elder Bednar quoted as way of introduction to his talk the widely cited statement from the Prophet Joseph Smith about how he governed so many people: “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.” This idea of governing ourselves using principles is of particular importance for us as parents to raise children empowered to make choices on their own. When they are very young we must give them straightforward rules, e.g. “don’t hit each other” or “share with your siblings” or “don’t eat in living room”, etc. As they grow older, though, we must help them understand principles that they can use to determine what is right and how to act. We teach them the “first” principles of the gospel, namely “to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God.” We also “teach [our] children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:25, 28). Understanding faith in Jesus Christ helps them to learn what is right and wrong as they seek to do the kinds of things He would do. They can learn to ask the question, “What would Jesus do” to help them navigate difficult choices. Understanding the doctrine of repentance helps them know how to improve themselves and make things right when they do wrong. When they wonder what to do when they have mistakes they can follow principles of confess and forsaking their sins to find peace. Understanding how to pray helps them know how to be guided by the Lord in their lives and make difficult decisions. And as they cultivate a desire to walk uprightly before the Lord they will be able to easily see what they should and should not do. As my children grow older, I realize that I need to focus much more on teaching them principles to empower them to choose wisely instead of trying to tell them exactly what they should or shouldn’t do.

                The Savior gave all of us one of the simplest and yet most profound principles to live by that should help us in nearly all the decisions we make which involve other people. He taught this: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). Instead of telling us exactly how we should act in a myriad of circumstances in relation to others, He gave us this way to figure out what we should do: we ask ourselves how we would want to be treated and then use that to guide our actions towards others. It is so simple that we can teach it even to little children, and yet it is so profound that it should cause all of us to reflect upon it daily as we make choices. I hope I can learn to truly follow this principle and help my children do the same. As we learn in general to apply the “doctrine and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ” we can build a foundation of “direction for our lives and of enduring joy in mortality and eternity.”