Principles Worth Passing On

This book is my attempt to hurl a stone at the Goliaths of our day and to help my posterity recognize and slay the Goliaths in their own lives that seek to destroy them. I also hope that others outside my family will want their own posterity to know this information.

Great are the destructive forces and challenges we and our descendants face in our day. Although life is amazing and good for those who strive to make correct choices, all of us confront spiritual traps full of sophistry-unlike any other generation in history. The alluring, captivating power of the adversary is strong, and both we and the rising generation need divine support and help from the heavens as we confront the spiritual dangers and battles in which we are all engaged. I have written this book in the hope that it will help my posterity and yours choose wisely and make sound judgments and decisions

In Chapter 3, I reason with my posterity-and with yours-concerning the reality of God. In Chapter 2, I reason with them concerning the reality of the adversary and his numerous hosts, helping them understand why Satan hates us, wars against us, and strives to destroy us, bring us into bondage, and make us depressed and miserable like himself. In Chapter 1, I focus on why justice, punishment, mercy, deliverance, and our need for a Savior are so essential, and I hope to help prepare them for our future judgment when all men and women will stand before God to account for their conduct in mortality. In Chapter 4, I teach them what the scriptures reveal about "overcoming" rather than simply accepting ourselves as we are. In Chapter 5, I help them understand that everyone has blindness concerning themselves and that our focus should be on recognizing and overcoming our own shortcomings instead of dwelling on the flaws and sins of those around us. In Chapter 6, I explain why they should consider paying tithing. In Chapter 7, I reason with them about the importance of praying fervently every day, living honestly, honoring the Sabbath day, staying out of debt, and avoiding stealing. In Chapter 8, I speak to married couples who love each other about the reality of eternal marriage. Chapter 9 is written especially for my own posterity and contains important thoughts I want them to know concerning my faith. In Chapter 10, I offer practical advice on dating, marriage, motherhood, fatherhood, important issues to discuss before marriage, social contagion and attention-seeking, education, and many other general recommendations.

My hope is that the principles contained herein will bless the lives of my family members and yours.