Governing Principles.

Today I had a fantastic ride through the north Scottsdale desert with Rod , a friend from high school and his friend that he rides regularly with.



He rides an electric pedal assist mountain bike.  It is smooth and powerful with its assistive technology. It gives the average rider the strength of a professional, maybe more.

We kidded around as I huffed and puffed and he cruised up the hills without any effort.  As I thought about my bodies cardiovascular system it occurred to me that my bike was electric assist also.  After all the human body is an electrochemical miracle. The problem is that mine has a limiter on it of 170 beats per minute.

Many people may not be aware that their cars and many other mobility devices with motors have governors or limiters built into them to protect the user by limiting their power or speed.  The concept of governing for our freedom would be a different discussion.

He said that his electric bike has a governor that limits the speed to a certain 20 mph.  I told him that mine limited my heart bpm to 170.   I thought it was humorous.  Maybe not.

As I thought about it though, I pondered our human potential and some teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to which we both belong.

Rod and I are both converts to the church.  I joined at 17 and he did at 40 unbeknownst to each other.  We connected again here in Arizona about 10 years ago.

What do we understand our potential to be?  We believe in a personal loving Heavenly Father in whose image we are created.  This means our spirit is the literal offspring of divine parentage.  With this heritage and the grace of his Son, Jesus Christ there are no limits on our potential to become like them.  That is the essence of their perfect love and the plan for which we are here on earth.

What governors has God given us to “govern” our mortal existence and protect us from extending beyond certain limits?

I thought about the power to create life.  How do people use that power?  It has brought us here and can bless all of our lives.  The first factor is that we do not have a desire to use it until we reach a certain level of maturity.  At that point, God gives us guidance but allows us to act with no governor to stop us other than our own desires and discipline.

This is where the principle of self-governance begins.  If you are fortunate to be familiar with the 7th commandment of the 10 God gave us, and understand it as Latter-day Saints do, you would see that it was given to protect us not restrict us.  

He gave it so we could have strong relationships in our marriages and families built on a foundation of love, trust, and respect for life itself and for each other.  There is no other instance in which self-governance in observing and obeying a principle will bless the world more and bring peace to individuals and families.

The “word of wisdom” (not partaking of certain body harming substances)is also a self-governing principle. Its purpose is not to spell out a detailed list but to guide us in understanding how obedience to certain principles opens our mind to an additional understanding of how to care for our body,  mind, and spirit.

Like the 7th commandment, the desire to partake of substances that damage our bodies doesn't usually occur until we are able to experience emotional stress or distress that we try to change through substance use or abuse.  Again at an age of understanding the governor is removed and we are now acting on our own volition.

The concept of tithing is also a governing principle.  If we give 10 percent of what we earn voluntarily we most likely focus on living a different lifestyle.  The principle is not designed to make us rich but it can.  The key factor is that it brings spiritual blessings and a prosperity that money cannot buy.

When I look at the Latter-Saints and a certain unity they have, I often asked why some criticize the conformity to certain of these principles and others that we hold as guidance from God.

They do stem from a concept taught by the prophet Joseph Smith when he was asked how he led such a diverse group of people in a newly formed frontier church.

The Latter-day Saints are still just as diverse as any other group of people.  We just have a common set of governing principles that many strive to live by. 

The answer Joseph gave and subsequent prophets leaders have  continued to teach is: “I teach the people correct principles and allow them to govern themselves.”  That is the principle I have learned from Latter-Day Saint leaders. Self-governance is freedom and comes from understanding our purpose in life.  I contribute my happiness in life to this principle and the gospel of Jesus Christ.