Most of the time when we hear the phrase “A Principle with Promise,” we think of D&C Section 89 and the promise that we can “run and not be weary.” However, some kind of promise is associated with every gospel principle—there is at least one consequence that accompanies every principle, and the accompanying consequences follow obeying the principle. Does anyone doubt that maintaining good health can allow us to ‘run and not be weary?’

On the other hand, the concept does seem transactional, as if principles are like some kind of vending machine. To me, this makes some sense, because many interactions are transactional — often because they don’t involve relationships. Most things based on physics are by nature transactional—so yes, the promises do follow principles in such cases. So therefore, its no surprise that the idea that promises follow principles can appear in every part of this lesson, and for that matter every lesson at Church. Let’s look at the promises in this lesson.

 

The Lord gave me the Word of Wisdom to help me be healthy in body and spirit.

Since biology is often more complex than simple transactional physics, it’s harder to be sure that the promises of health will follow the principle exactly as we imagine. We all know of otherwise healthy people struck by an aggressive cancer or difficult disease. While modern science has certainly made biology more transactional than it was when the Word of Wisdom was given, we still face disease with some trepidation, and we still find that we need faith in the principles of the revelation.

The Word of Wisdom is a topic of many LDS poems, some of which I’ve used as examples in other lessons. This poem, by the English convert John Jaques, most remembered today for the hymn “Oh say, what is truth.” Here Jaques points out that the Word of Wisdom is observed by faith, before we receive the promised health.

 

The Word of Wisdom

by John Jaques

The “Word of Wisdom.” Was it given

To be observed, or not?

Is it a precept sent from heaven.

To purge out the old Gentile leaven,

That should not be forgot?

 

God’s Judgments. Prophets oft have spoken

How fearful these will be.

Of old the Covenant has been broken,

And surely signs and times bear token

We shall the Judgments see.

 

This is the foredoom’d generation,

But faithful Saints shall stand;

For God has prepar’d a salvation,

When scourges, dire in visitation,

Shall desolate the land.

 

The “Word of Wisdom.” It was given

To be observed in faith.

It is a precept sent from heaven,

To purge out the old Gentile leaven,

And stay the hand of death.

 

Saints! Wisdom’s Word be not refusing,

But lay it well to heart.

Gentiles their bodies are abusing:

Israel should take delight in choosing

First-—Wisdom’s better part.

 

Ere the destroyer shall be closing

Our probatory state,

Let us all cease our vain opposing.

Or, (temporal salvation losing,)

We may repent too late.

1852

 

The First Presidency holds the “keys of the kingdom.”

The idea that the structure of the Church is a kind of principle, let alone one with a promise, may seem unlikely to some people. Can a gospel principle really be found in an organization? With today’s disillusionment towards institutions, this is not surprising. However, I think this view of institutions is short-sighted. While organizations are made of human beings, that is exactly their strength, since humans can change, and by changing make the organizations better. To the extent that any organization is established by God, and therefore rooted in gospel principles, it is capable of providing the results that God wants.

A good example is discussed in the following poem by the indefatigable Parley P. Pratt. Here Pratt sees God’s organization on earth, the Kingdom of God, as providing the environment he seeks. But more than that Pratt is looking for the keys — the way that the organization is directed and controlled, or in other words, the way that humans are involved in the Kingdom. Pratt’s influence on LDS literature is surprising — he published the first collection of LDS poems (The Millennium, 1835), the first published work of LDS fiction (A Dialogue between Joseph Smith and the Devil, 1844), and many hymns.

 

Where are the Keys of the Kingdom of God?

by Parley P. Pratt

Holy, happy, pure, and free,

Bless’d indeed, and dear to me

Are thy lov’d ones, Deseret—-

Friends I never shall forget,

While—far off—my pilgrim feet shall roam.

Where-—O where! is holy ground?

Where—-O where!-—does truth abound?

Where-—on earth, is freedom found,

Deseret, beyond thy bound—-

Where-—far off—-my pilgrim feet shall roam.

Is it found on yonder shore,

Mid the heaps of shining ore?-—

No-—the sons of truth divine

Worship not at mammon’s shrine,

Where-—far off—-my pilgrim feet shall roam.

Is it found on yonder isles,

Where eternal verdure smiles,

Mid the fields of evergreen,

‘Neath the beauteous sky serene?

Where—far off—my pilgrim feet shall roam.

Shall I turn to China’s coast,

Scan the ancient Bramin’a host?

India’s spicy isles explore?

Search the Moslem records o’er,

Where—-far off—-my pilgrim feet shall roam?

Round the sphere, to Europe turn?

Of the Christian fathers learn?

Range the realms of Popery,

Searching still for “Peter’s Key,”

Where—far off—my pilgrim feet shall run-

Search the earth, explore the sea!

Who can solve the mystery?

Who, with keys of truth divine,

Bids the light in fulness shine,

Where—-far off—-my pilgrim feet shall roam

Vain the search, through every realm.

Deseret is at the helm.

There the kings majestic stand.

Holding keys for every land,

Where—-far off—-my pilgrim feet shall roam.

1851

 

“All things shall work together for [my] good.”

It seems like more complex systems require more faith, since it’s harder to know how the connection between the principle and the promise works. So, when we’re talking about “all things” the resulting complexity overwhelms our ability to see how the promise comes from the principle. Yet despite this, we’re told that “all things shall work together for [our] good”—an idea that is so complex that I assume we have to take it on faith.

Regardless, the idea behind this statement implies a certain positive outlook on life — something that seems right and logical, given a belief in Heavenly Parents who want what is best for us, and who have created a system for our good. In the following poem, poet Emmeline B. Wells, the long-time General Relief Society President and also the publisher of the Woman’s Exponent, muses on life and how the trials we face are actually for our good.

 

Trials and Happiness

By Emmeline B. Wells

When all is beautiful, and bright and fair,

And tranquil flows the pleasant stream of life;

We may forget its sorrows, toil, or care.

Perchance e’en bitterness, and pain, and strife.

Some precious lessons, trials may have taught;

We may be purer, wiser and more just,

Some beauty in our souls may have been wrought,

Through faith in God, obedience and trust.

 

And tho’ we did not clearly understand

The voice that whispered thrillingly,’ ‘be still,*’

Yet we are sure, there was a guiding hand,

That buoy’d us up life’s duties to fulfill.

And when our weary feet had found a place,

Where we might rest upon the great highway;

Then we have gathered courage, strength and grace.

To bear the burdens of another day.

 

And thus we struggle on ‘gainst adverse powers,

For earth-life is not perfect, nor complete;

Yet there are hallowed moments, blissful hours,

Wherein we quaff ambrosial nectar sweet,

And stand as ’twere upon enchanted ground.

Breathing an atmosphere of purity,

While love and beauty everywhere abound.

And joy, and light, and heavenly charity.

 

The past with all its dreariness and pains,

Sinks into insignificance compared to this;

And for the time a brilliant summer reigns,

That floods the soul with light and happiness;

Then hope sits high within the human heart,

Waving her banner o’er the buried past,

And we seem strong, to choose “that better part.”

Knowing in pleasant lines our lot is cast.

 

Our vision of the infinite—afar

Is quickened; and we draw so near—

We almost see the gates of life ajar—

And angel voices chanting praises hear.

And we interpret—-in our own, poor way

Some of the doubts and mysteries we’ve seen—

But in the light of an eternal day,

Then we shall know, why, all these things have been.

1880

 

Who was Vienna Jaques?

While it might seem purposeful to provide a poem by John Jaques for a section discussing Vienna Jaques, the connection is merely coincidence; they are not related. Instead, the dedication of Vienna to building the Church is an example of the principle of consecration, another principle with promise, and also a principle with complex connections to what is promised. We would do well to have faith like she did.

As mentioned above, Jaques was an English saint and hymn writer. Here he explains the idea of stewardship and consecration, suggesting that these are simply recognizing and returning to the Lord what is His anyway. Given this, what exactly is the promise we get? If everything is returned to the Lord, the promises resulting from the principles can’t really be the same kind of physical things we get in this life, can it?

 

Consecration

by John Jaques

“The silver, gold and precious stones,”

Thus saith the Lord, “are mine;

The cattle on a thousand hills

I own by right divine.

 

“The forests, rich-stored mountains, plains,

The fertile valleys too,

The earth, and all that is therein

Are but my righteous due.

 

“And men themselves belong to me—

They hold from me a lease

Of health and strength and even life,

Which at my word may cease.”

 

Then why should men so much desire

To sieze on all they see,

Cheat, covet, and appropriate

To self so greedily?

 

The Saints have learned a purer faith—

They own the Lord’s just claim;

They’re stewards o’er what they possess,

And hold it in His name.

 

Their flocks and herds and lands and wealth,

Their wives and children dear,

Their all, themselves, they bring to Him—

Thus they His rights revere.

1856

 

“The Spirit manifesteth truth.”

Perhaps this poem answers the dilemma from the previous section. Its principle, that the spirit leads to the truth, is another complex idea that connects obscurely to its promise. But Joseph L. Townsend sees in the promise of this principle nothing less than union with God. If all things work together for [our] good, and if we are merely stewards over what we are given from God, then maybe the ultimate promise, what comes from all gospel principles, is this union with God — what we might call Exhaltation.

 

The Spirit of Truth

By Joseph L. Townsend

Spirit of Truth, Thou holy inspiration,

Thou art my light, my source of advice!

Rest Thou on me, direct my life’s probation,

My Comforter, my Pearl of Great Price!

Ever to Thee my heart-thoughts are turning,

Seeking Thine aid from sin to be free:

Oh! with what love Thou answerest my yearning,

Heaven is near, when thinking of Thee!

 

Visions of glory awaken my reflection,

Fill all my soul when by Thee inspired.

Love then becomes a holier affection,

God and the Savior the friends most desired.

Thoughts most ecstatic, my soul ever thrilling,

Come at the dawn and at evening apace;

Ever from Thee within my heart instilling

Faith unto faith, and grace unto grace!

 

Till I am one with God and Thee abiding,

Heaven my home for all eternity,

Lift Thou my soul, while in Thee I’m confiding,

Sanctify all of my being in Thee!

Thou art the Power, above all, independent,

Yet seeking all who answer Thy love—

Thou Flame of Glory, immaculate, transcendent,

Gift from the Throne of Heaven above!

1914