This week I learned about doctrine and principles.
I’d like to talk
about how doctrine is different from typical beliefs that people have. As I’ve
gotten older, I’ve been surprised to hear people say that they were changing
the congregation they usually go to, or changing to a new Church or a new
religion. The reasons are varied, just as we are varied as people with
different backgrounds and different teachings we were raised around. Some of
the reasons I’ve heard were, “I didn’t like the new Father who came and changed
the core beliefs of our religion and started preaching his interpretation.” Another
person said, “I liked that the minister said we could drink beer and still get
to heaven.” That last one made me laugh along with the person who said it. This
is why doctrine is different from interchanging beliefs people have changed and
interpreted in different ways.
The following examples are from my instructor Brother Graf.
He taught me, “A Doctrine is a fundamental, unchanging truth of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. Some examples of different doctrines are:
·
“Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost”
·
“Heavenly Father has a body of flesh and bones”
·
“Baptism is necessary to enter the kingdom of
God”
·
“All men will be resurrected”
These examples are doctrine that doesn’t change just because
a new law has been passed or because people no longer want to accept the
belief. They are truths that are established and decreed by God the Father and
His Son, Jesus Christ. For me, having doctrine that comes right from God, given
through ordained Prophets is a comfort. I don’t need to be confused and
constantly change what the world decides is now acceptable or not. I know what
God wants from me. I also have a way to test if I want to believe and follow
the doctrines. I have found as I really study out in the Holy Bible and the
Book of Mormon and other scripture and read and study the words of God, I can
start to understand what the doctrine can add and improve in my life. I can
also pray directly to my Heavenly Father and ask Him to know if what I read and
study is true. I can tell you from personal experience that our Heavenly Father
greatly wants to talk with us, His children, and it pleases Him to answer us
with comfort, peace, inspiration, and understanding through the Holy Ghost.
Brother Graf continued by teaching me what a Principle is.
He taught, “A principle is an enduring truth or rule individuals can adapt to
guide them in making decisions. Gospel principles are universal and help people
apply the doctrines of the gospel to everyday living. This means that a gospel
principle usually suggests action as
well as the consequences that follow.”
So what we can
understand from these words is that a principle leads us to action and helps us
know how we can live the doctrine.
A couple of ways the scriptures teach doctrine and
principles is by teaching doctrine and principles in a stated way. A stated way
is easier to recognize because you usually see these keys words: behold, therefore, thus we see,
and wherefore and if/then statements. If you read this
words, pay close attention to what follows because it will be an unchanging and
enduring truth that can bless our lives.
In closing, I’d like to share an example from my own reading
of the Book of Mormon that shows a couple of examples of stated doctrine
taught. The scripture is found in 1 Nephi 17:3. Within this verse you’ll see thus we see, wherefore, and if/then statements of doctrine/principles.
It reads:
“And thus we see that
the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God (then) he doth nourish them, and strengthen
them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded
them; wherefore, he did provide means
for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.”
I love the doctrine and principles stated that our God rewards
our obedience by nourishing and strengthening us and providing means that help
us to be able to keep His commandments.
I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he loves
us and will bless us as we try our best to keep the commandments of God. I
invite each of you to study and look for doctrine and principles, in the
scriptures, that will bless you and guide you throughout your lives.
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