Introduction

What is Principles with Promise?

Principles with Promise is a new kind of scriptural concordance – a principle based topical guide. It is a compilation of action-based principles and their associated promises found in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ  practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Principles of all kinds have been extracted and catalogued from the laws, ordinances, commandments, and doctrines regarding our personal journey here on the earth and also the life to come.

Principles with Promise is something quite different from most concordances, but familiar at the same time. Principles with Promise primarily catalogs principles of action – the things we should do or should not do – all according to the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by His disciples, the prophets of God, and God himself.

What are principles and how were they selected?

Principles are unchanging, universal, God given laws that govern human behavior and growth, both spiritual and temporal.  They are fundamental truths that characterize our relationships with God and our fellowman, the world we live in, and the heavens above.  They consist of everything from the physical laws of nature to all of the laws, ordinances, commandments, and guidance intended by God for the welfare, happiness, perfection, and salvation of the human spirit.

Principles exist as simple statements of truth or as self-evident statements of fact.  They are found as directives like commandments that require action or as guidelines that follow the cause and effect construct, the if-then principle, or simply, the principle with promise.  Many of the principles catalogued in Principles with Promise include these if-then principles.  If you do something (the principle), then you will realize some benefit or consequence for your action (the promise). 

Principles with Promise personifies this eternal, yet restored principle; “There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated – and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”  D&C 130:20.

We are guided by the scriptures and counseled by our leaders and teachers to live gospel principles more fully.  This is often said in summary about the topic being presented or declared as more general, overarching guidance.  However, at times we may have wondered which principles they are referring to, and of course, what are they that we might live them more fully? With this in mind, Dr. Steven R. Covey has said, “When we value correct principles, we have truth - a knowledge of things as they are.”  Therefore, I am certain that I am not alone in listing these principles to know them better – seeking a knowledge of things as they truly are. 

Each principle was extracted from the scriptures with the greatest of care – one verse at a time, and cataloged under one or more key words using the conventions found in typical scriptural concordances or topical guides.  If a particular verse appeared to be an action statement, a statement that described something we should to be doing, it was catalogued under the primary topic it addressed. For example, if an action statement was referring to faith, it was filed under a collection of verses that also spoke to some aspect of faith – what it is, how to obtain it, exercise it, experiment with it, grow it, etc. 

Later, having accumulated more than four thousand principles under nineteen hundred key words, similar principles and references were grouped together as seemed appropriate. Very rarely did a single verse address only one topic area or one action, and therefore, more often than not, principles are catalogued and cross referenced under several of the key topic areas they address (nouns) as well as the associated actions required (verbs).  Promises are then found as part of the verse or more often in the supporting references listed.

Principles cataloged in this publication include the statements of action along with their associated promises, while others are simple facts about a topic. Some principles are explained in lengthy dissertations about different aspects of that topic, and that same dissertation may also include several related principles as well. Other principles are represented as commandments, simple declarations of truth, or are worded as corollary statements of the actual principle – statements of what not to do rather than statements of what to do.

Often times, the scriptures describe the principles that are being practiced by the people of that day and they are presented here as examples of the principle in action. Some principles are presented in the form of a question – prompting introspection, or they are found in a story, parable or in songs; all designed to teach us these precious truths. Other principles are more hidden and harder to find, scattered throughout the scriptures, and must be pieced together to make sense and sometimes are the treasures we find for ourselves.  Lastly, several principles are fragmented beyond recognition and leave room for debate – which in my mind beckons the need for clarification by God’s servants, the prophets – even latter-day prophets.

How do I use Principles with Promise?

These principles are not new. They have been set forth throughout the dispensations of time by God and His servants, all for our benefit if we but choose to follow them.  Some of the best talks I have heard have addressed specific principles and are accompanied by that noticeable Spirit of testimony.  To me, these kind of talks, lessons or dicussions about principles are further witnesses that these principles are indeed true and worthy of our consideration.

Principles with Promise can be used in several different ways.  We often seek out specific principles when we are asked to prepare a talk on a particular subject or give a lesson in church. We use our familiar resources, such as the Latter-day Saint Topical Guide and Bible Dictionary, and scores of good references to search for the scriptures that support our topic, and we locate the desired scriptures via an index of key words. There are also very capable computer programs that do the same thing, find the scriptures related to the topic – then the rest is up to us, to develop the message we are inspired to deliver.

This book can also be used like any other topical guide or concordance in this manner.  If you want to research a particular topic, you similarly enter Principles with Promise under that topical word, like charity, grace, or hope, and identify the principle or set of principles you wish to understand or include in your research, whether it be for personal edification or in preparation for a talk on Sunday or other teaching assignment. 

At one baptism I was asked to speak on the gift of the Holy Ghost, so I listed out all sixty plus principles on that topic and determined which three or four principles I would present that day.  This simplified my research by having the principles sorted out for me already, and the rest was relatively easy as the topic focused on those principles as the message was delivered. 

During a missionary discussion with my friends, I once listed all forty plus principles on the subject of Teach, Teacher, Teaching to illustrate the ‘much, much, more’ available through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I stripped away the scriptural reference information so you could not tell what volume or chapter of scripture the principles came from.  I made a short quiz out of the list and asked which principles they agreed with or recognized from the Bible.

Surprisingly, my investigator friends agreed with most or all of them, considering them as being Biblical in nature regardless of where they came from (nine of the forty principles were from the Old and New Testaments).  I have also given the same test to our local missionaries and found that even the most seasoned missionary was challenged as to which volume they belonged to.  Be creative and have some fun with friends and family to better learn the principles themselves.

The most important way to use Principles with Promise, or a way in which I have benefited the most in my studies, is by listing the principles on a particular topic beforehand and having them collectively in front of me at one time, I am better able to ponder that subject area in a more focused manner.  As I review and ponder each principle, then move from one cross-referenced subject to another, a new level of understanding evolves as ideas and thoughts come to light that may not have been previously known – even new meanings. 

This method of studying gospel principles is where I have found that the promises of searching, pondering and praying yields its sweetest fruit. And, I have often said to my friends, that when this book is published, I will finally have the time to study it in this manner of prayerful consideration. Much of this research cataloguing is already done and the opportunity to focus on your selected topic area is here.  And as a friend of mine once said, “Some of us may think we know what the principles means, but isn’t it more important to know what the Lord means about the principle?”

Principles with Promise gathers them together in one place and provides an easier way to research, learn and understand these eternal truths. It is like peeling back the layers of an onion; as we sincerely seek to know things as they truly are, we will find new understandings and truths according to the laws that govern our lives, even eternal life. 

Finally, if you desire to get the most benefit using Principles with Promise, as well as with the scriptures themselves, an ancient prophet once counseled: “And now, if ye believe all of these things, see that ye do them.” Mosiah 4:10.

That's where the adventure really begins...

Principles with Promise: A Companion Study Guide for the Book of Mormon (SB)

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