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Acknowledgments
We express our sincere thanks to the editors and design staff of Covenant Communications for their outstanding professional service in bringing forth this publication. In particular we recognize the committed service of Shauna Humphreys, Peter Jasinski, Annalisa Wiggins, and Linda Prince. In addition, may we express our appreciation to our wives, Patricia P. Pinegar and Carol Lynn Allen, and other family members for their devoted support and encouragement in the completion of this work over a period of many years.
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Authors
ED J. PINEGAR is a retired dentist and log-time teacher of early-morning seminary and religion classes at Brigham Young University. He teaches at the Joseph Smith Academy and has served as a mission president in England and at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He has been a bishop and a stake president and is a temple sealer. Ed and his wife, Patricia, have eight children, thirty-five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren and reside in Orem, Utah.
RICHARD J. ALLEN is a husband, father, teacher, and writer. He has served on several high councils, in several stake presidencies, and as a bishop. Richard’s teaching assignments in the Church have included service as a full-time missionary, instructor in various priesthood quorums, gospel doctrine teacher, and stake institute director. He has served as a faculty member at both Brigham Young University and Johns Hopkins University. Richard has coauthored many articles, manuals, and books and has served on a number of national educational boards. He and his wife, Carol Lynn Hansen Allen, have four children and five grandchildren.
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Introduction
Upon the loom of the Lord is woven the fabric of our lives—formed of myriad shining threads, each representing a different principle of the gospel of hope. From faith to forgiveness, from reverence to revelation, from motherhood and fatherhood to peace and patience—all of these themes and dozens of others are the pervasive spiritual themes of our daily lives. To understand such principles and apply them consistently and valiantly for the blessing of mankind is the substance of our mortal experience and the undergirding of our quest for perfection. By striving to live the gospel of Jesus Christ in all of its dimensions, we prepare ourselves for the transition to a higher mode of discipleship in which we become more and more like the Savior and Redeemer, taking on His nature and attributes, grace for grace—as the scriptures declare, “line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!” (D&C 128:121; see also Isa. 28:10, 13; 2 Ne. 28:30).
This volume is designed as a practical roadmap for traversing the landscape of our mortal experience in consistent daily alignment with gospel values. Each of the over one hundred articles (presented alphabetically) is constructed so as to illuminate one of the key principles and themes of the gospel in a proactive, accessible way. Following a concise defining statement, each article provides an array of pertinent scriptural references and applications, quotations from modern prophets, ideas for daily living (organized in succinct bullet format), one or more vignettes illustrating the theme, and a brief concluding summary. The format lends itself to ready-reference application for personal or group study, family home evening presentations, talks or lessons, and doctrinal research.
This organizing structure makes it easy for you, as reader, to identify one or more categories that you may want to work on. By striving for daily improvement, we can all harvest great blessings. The benefits of living the gospel of Jesus Christ include peace, joy, wisdom, hope, enduring relationships of harmony with loved ones, and an inner confidence with the potential to “wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45). Living the gospel grants a clarity of vision that opens up the vista of hope for ultimate redemption, as the audience of King Benjamin learned: “And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy” (Mosiah 5:3–4). Above all, living the gospel brings into the present moment—immediately—the efficacy of the atonement on behalf of the faithful and devout: “Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you” (Alma 34:31).
The authors express the hope that this volume will serve as a useful adjunct learning system to assist the reader in the practical application of the principles of the restored gospel. We say “practical application” since it is our conviction that the essence of learning and education extends beyond the mere internalization of concepts—as important as that is—to embrace the active expression of principles and doctrines in an exemplary way. Alfred North Whitehead confirmed this perspective when he stated, “Education is the acquisition of the art of the utilization of knowledge” (The Aims of Education and Other Essays [New York and London: Free Press, 1969], 4; emphasis added). President Harold B. Lee taught: “Your place in the celestial kingdom will be measured by what you do. The Lord’s judgment will be according to the deeds of men and women done in the flesh—not by what they profess. It isn’t enough just to be good in this church. The all-important thing is that we do good” (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], 143). And King Benjamin solemnly proclaimed: “And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10).
Let us all, therefore, make a stronger commitment to incorporate into our behavior the principles in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is anchored. Let us believe and then do. Let us strive on a daily basis to fulfill the commandment of the Savior: “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (3 Ne. 12:48).
This process of perfection will not happen all at once, but one day at a time, as we strive earnestly to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3; see also Matt. 4:4). What we see now in but luminous outline form, by the vision of faith (“through a glass darkly”—1 Cor. 13:12), will, through obedience and action, become ever more clear and familiar to our awakening eyes: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 Jn. 3:2–3).