Brigham Young once said, "Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 17, p. 46). In presenting this booklet to you, I am only doing what Brigham Young himself said to do: taking up the Bible and comparing the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it to see if that religion will stand the test. Whether or not it will stand the test will also determine whether or not it can also lead us to eternal life.

Brigham Young once said, "Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 17, p. 46). In presenting this booklet to you, I am only doing what Brigham Young himself said to do: taking up the Bible and comparing the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it to see if that religion will stand the test. This comparison is important because in the Bible, Jesus said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent" (John 17:3). We obtain eternal life by coming to know the only true God, the God proclaimed by the Bible. If the God proclaimed by the religion of the Latter-day Saints is that same God, then the religion of the Latter-day Saints can lead us to eternal life. But if the God proclaimed by the religion of the Latter-day Saints is not the only true God, but a different god, then that religion cannot lead us to eternal life. Let us, then, look at what the religion of the Latter-day Saints teaches about God and about the way we can obtain eternal life and see if it agrees with what the Bible teaches.

The prophet Brigham Young taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in a basic, practical way that gave inspiration and hope to the Saints struggling to build a home in the wilderness. Though more than a century has now passed, his words are still fresh and appropriate for us today as we continue the work of building the kingdom of God. President Young declared that as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we possess the “doctrine of life and salvation for all the honest-in-heart” (DBY, 7). He promised that those who receive the gospel in their hearts will have awakened “within them a desire to know and understand the things of God more than they ever did before in their lives” and will begin to “inquire, read and search and when they go to their Father in the name of Jesus he will not leave them without a witness” (DBY, 450). This book reflects the desire of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to deepen the doctrinal understanding of Church members and to awaken within them a greater desire to know the things of God. It will inspire and motivate individuals, priesthood quorums, and Relief Society classes to inquire, read, search, and then go to their Father in Heaven for a witness of the truth of these teachings. Each chapter contains two sections—“Teachings of Brigham Young” and “Suggestions for Study.” The first section consists of extracts from Brigham Young’s sermons to the early Saints. Each statement has been referenced, and the original spelling and punctuation have been preserved; however, the sources cited will not be readily available to most members. These original sources are not necessary to have in order to effectively study or teach from this book. Members need not purchase additional references and commentaries to study or teach these chapters. The text provided in this book, accompanied by the scriptures, is sufficient for instruction. Members should prayerfully read and study President Young’s teachings in order to gain new insights into gospel principles and discover how those principles apply to their everyday lives. By faithfully and prayerfully studying these selections, Latter-day Saints will have a greater understanding of gospel principles and will more fully appreciate the profound and inspired teachings of this great prophet. The second section of each chapter offers a series of questions that will encourage thoughtful contemplation, personal application, and discussion of President Young’s teachings. Members should refer to and carefully reread his words on the principle being discussed. Deep and prayerful study of these teachings will inspire members to greater personal commitment and will help them resolve to follow the teachings of the Savior, Jesus Christ. If individuals and families prayerfully follow the principles in this book, they will be blessed and inspired to greater dedication and spirituality, as were the early Saints who heard these words directly from the lips of the “Lion of the Lord” (HC, 7:434)—the prophet, seer, and revelator, President Brigham Young.

A Study Guide and a Teacher’s Manual Gospel Principles was written both as a personal study guide and as a teacher’s manual. As you study it, seeking the Spirit of the Lord, you can grow in your understanding and testimony of God the Father, Jesus Christand His Atonement, and the Restoration of the gospel. You can find answers to life’s questions, gain an assurance of your purpose and self-worth, and face personal and family challenges with faith.

OUR DEAR YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN, we have great confidence in you. You are beloved sons and daughters of God and He is mindful of you. You have come to earth at a time of great opportunities and also of great challenges. The standards in this booklet will help you with the important choices you are making now and will yet make in the future. We promise that as you keep the covenants you have made and these standards, you will be blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, your faith and testimony will grow stronger, and you will enjoy increasing happiness.

A dying father's testimony to his children about faith, covenants, and eternal life. Navigate the Strait is an insightful look at one man’s journey through an active life of teaching in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is ending in the slow, downward spiral of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Yet his happy, sustaining faith and his love for his “all caring” Tiffany and their three children, Lincoln, Edison, and Abigail, drive his passion to finish this book. He wants his family and friends to KNOW him better after the disease will likely take his life. This book is a must for anyone who wants to teach, understand, or gain the strength to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.. You will find in it stories, ideas, and teaching examples that express the doctrine of Christ in simple ideas that make life betterI’m just a normal guy with a testimony of Jesus Christ. Then I got ALS. Bummer. ALS is taking away everything that I am good at: speaking, typing, fixing things, hugging my wife and children. I am writing this book with one finger on a mouse or with my eyes controlling my iPhone. On the bright side, I finally have something in common with Stephen Hawking.Now that my disease has reduced my life to complete dependence on others, what am I worth? Well… I am still a good teacher. I love my Savior. I love the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I look at the gospel in a nonlinear fashion, thinking critically about how gospel teachings connect to one another and to our personal struggles. If all truth is circumscribed into one whole, we need to think deeply, and sometimes creatively, about how the gospel connects to us and to others. Since ALS will take my life, I will likely not be around to teach these ideas to my kids in the moment they need a lesson. I pray that this little book of “Dad’s testimony” will help my children and grandchildren as they grow and need answers to their questions.If you happen to read it, and if it helps you on your journey, that’s great too. When we meet, let me know what you liked.Most of my writings are about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While I present many ideas within the framework of church doctrine and culture, I hope that anyone can learn something useful from what I have learned. I am no scriptorian. I have never taught religion at BYU. I don’t know the location of the Ark, the lost tribes of Israel, the Book of Mormon cities, or Nikola Tesla’s death ray. These ideas are my own, based on my prayerful study of doctrine and scriptures. But don’t just take my word, go to the source and see for yourself! If anything in this book conflicts with living prophet, then I am wrong. Stick with the prophet. I do know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. I know that he loves you and me—even when life gets hard. If you have never looked into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I encourage you to visit ComeUntoChrist.org to learn the basics. You can ask questions and even invite missionaries to visit your house and share a message with your family. You will discover that the kingdom of God has been restored to the earth in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You will hear about a living prophet of Christ on the earth who speaks with authority like Moses, Elijah or Peter. And you will learn more about Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon as a companion to the Bible. That is what we mean when we say ”it’s true.”This book is my attempt to dive deeper into those simple truths. It is organized by topic, so feel free to jump around— and to jump out to the scriptures. I hope this book makes you happy.