Doctrines, Principles, and Applications

Examples of Doctrines (eternal revealed truth): 

 • We are spirit children of a loving Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother 

 • We chose to follow Christ in our pre-mortal existence as spirits 

 • As a result of the choice above, we were born into mortality to receive mortal bodies and be tested to see if we can live by faith and follow the doctrinally based principles 

 • Our bodies are temples housing spirits with divine origin and potential 

 • Christ lovingly atoned for our mistakes and was resurrected to enable our mortal bodies to become immortal 

Examples of Principles (doctrinally based guidelines for righteously exercising agency): 

 • The 10 Commandments o You shall have no other gods before Me.

    o You shall not make idols. o You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

    o Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. o Honor your father and your mother.

    o You shall not murder, nor do anything like unto it.

    o You shall not commit adultery (no sexual relations outside the bonds of holy matrimony).

    o You shall not steal.

    o You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

    o You shall not covet.

 • The first four (but not the only) principles of the Gospel (or good news of Christ’s atonement)

    o Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ

    o Repentance

    o Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins

    o The laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost 

Examples of Applications (behaviors growing out of principles but can change based on needs and circumstances):

 • How long church meetings are

 • What the study subject is for ‘Come Follow Me’ 

 • How one should dress when attending BYU 

 • Who gets what priesthood authority and when 

 Elder Packer said: “True doctrine understood (and believed) changes behavior better than teaching behavior changes behavior.” 

 He also said: “Preoccupation with unworthy behavior (excessive scolding) can lead to unworthy behavior. That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel.” 

 We will be blessed by following the teaching of the current prophet and other current church leaders. Living prophets are more important for us than dead prophets.