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21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help You Live By the Spirit
“As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles,” counsels Elder Richard G. Scott. “Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.”
In this exciting book, Elder Scott offers 21 principles distilled from his life experiences. These “concentrated truths” will help you understand more fully how to be guided by the Spirit. Elder Scott's brief explanations open the way for your own discovery and exploration.
“I bear witness that Jesus Christ knows you personally,” Elder Scott writes. “He will provide answers to every difficult problem in your life as you trust Him and do all you can to understand and apply His doctrine and strive to live by the Spirit.” 21 Principles will be a valuable tool in that quest.
In this exciting book, Elder Scott offers 21 principles distilled from his life experiences. These “concentrated truths” will help you understand more fully how to be guided by the Spirit. Elder Scott's brief explanations open the way for your own discovery and exploration.
“I bear witness that Jesus Christ knows you personally,” Elder Scott writes. “He will provide answers to every difficult problem in your life as you trust Him and do all you can to understand and apply His doctrine and strive to live by the Spirit.” 21 Principles will be a valuable tool in that quest.
105 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
36 people are currently reading
823 people want to read
About the author
Richard G. Scott
7 books28 followersRichard Gordon Scott was sustained an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 1 October 1988. He was called as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on 2 April 1977, and served as a member of the presidency of that quorum from 1 October 1983, until his present calling.
He graduated from George Washington University as a mechanical engineer, served a full-time mission to Uruguay, and worked in the naval and land based fields of nuclear energy.
Elder Scott lived most of his childhood in Washington, D.C. He married Jeanene Watkins on 16 July 1953 in the Manti Temple. She passed away 15 May 1995. They are the parents of seven children.
He graduated from George Washington University as a mechanical engineer, served a full-time mission to Uruguay, and worked in the naval and land based fields of nuclear energy.
Elder Scott lived most of his childhood in Washington, D.C. He married Jeanene Watkins on 16 July 1953 in the Manti Temple. She passed away 15 May 1995. They are the parents of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
May 1, 2013
This book is so POWERFUL!
Elder Scott teaches:
"As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances."
Here are a few of the principles taught in the book:
Access personal revelation
Act upon that revelation
Accept God's will
Understand that adversity is a necessary part of life
Hold true to correct principle
Value the sanctity of womanhood
Personal stories help illustrate each principle...
My favorite is the story of where Elder Scott took 100 little circles and wrote a message one word at a time to his wife. Then he scooped them up and put them in an envelope hoping to get a laugh from his wife.
After his wife passed away Elder Scott found these little circles carefully pasted onto a page where the message could be enjoyed over and over again.
You can just feel the love Elder Scott has for his wife.
Each principle if studies and applied will bring you greater happiness.
Elder Scott ends with this powerful testimony:
"I testify that as you are prayerful and seek the guidance of the Spirit, you can identify over a period of time important things the Lord wants you to accomplish....There may be some challenging growth experiences and some sadness, but your life will be crowned with success and joy."
A truly wonderful book!
Elder Scott teaches:
"As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances."
Here are a few of the principles taught in the book:
Access personal revelation
Act upon that revelation
Accept God's will
Understand that adversity is a necessary part of life
Hold true to correct principle
Value the sanctity of womanhood
Personal stories help illustrate each principle...
My favorite is the story of where Elder Scott took 100 little circles and wrote a message one word at a time to his wife. Then he scooped them up and put them in an envelope hoping to get a laugh from his wife.
After his wife passed away Elder Scott found these little circles carefully pasted onto a page where the message could be enjoyed over and over again.
You can just feel the love Elder Scott has for his wife.
Each principle if studies and applied will bring you greater happiness.
Elder Scott ends with this powerful testimony:
"I testify that as you are prayerful and seek the guidance of the Spirit, you can identify over a period of time important things the Lord wants you to accomplish....There may be some challenging growth experiences and some sadness, but your life will be crowned with success and joy."
A truly wonderful book!
August 30, 2020
Loved these sweet short devotional. Shared some with my family. I could hear him saying the words as I read. Beautiful book.
September 30, 2020
Really loved the messages in this book. I also really loved the format with the different principles. Principle 11 was definitely written for me this time.
May 10, 2020
Absolutely and Whole-heartedly Recommend this book!! Simple, Powerful, Profound. Planting these principles in my heart one by one has Changed me.💗. Yeah. Do Read.
November 19, 2018
I will read this book over and over and over again!
April 1, 2013
What a great book!!! Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book:
The Lord will not force you to learn. You ust exercise your agency to authorize the Spirt to teach you. As you make this a pratice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily.
And another:
Don't give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now.
Very powerful messages from Elder Scott's life!
The Lord will not force you to learn. You ust exercise your agency to authorize the Spirt to teach you. As you make this a pratice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily.
And another:
Don't give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now.
Very powerful messages from Elder Scott's life!
August 28, 2016
I have read this book 3 times and highlighted almost the entire book. I love it so much. Such practical advice and easily applies to my life. I love Elder Scott!
September 27, 2016
I always loved Elder Scott's General Conference Talks. Every sentence was full of information. I feel like this book is the same way. I was highlighting the whole book it felt like. Great great book
May 3, 2018
An inspirational book with doctrines and principles to direct us on the path to righteousness. I enjoyed the simplicity of the passages and the examples given throughout the book. I really enjoyed principle eleven and principles twenty and twenty one the most, they were the ones that spoke loud and clear to my heart.
Excerpt from Principle 11: Please learn that as you wrestle with a challenge and fell sadness because of it, you can simultaneously have peace and rejoicing. Yes, pain, disappointment, frustration, and anguish can be temporary scenes played out on the stage of life. Behind them there can be a background of peace and the positive assurance that a loving Father will keep His promises. You can qualify for those promises by a determination to accept His will, by understanding the plan of happiness, by receiving all of the ordinances, and by keeping the covenants made to assure their fulfillment.
Excerpt from Principle 19: Material things do not of themselves produce happiness and satisfaction and the joy of attainment on earth. Nor do they lead us to exaltation. It is nobility of character, that fabric of inner strength and conviction woven from countless righteous decisions, that gives life its direction. A consistent, righteous life produces an inner power and strength that an be permanently resistant to the destructive influence of sin and transgression. Your faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments will strengthen your character. Your character is a measure of what you are becoming. It is the evidence of how well you are using your time on earth in this period of mortal probation.
Principle 20: Forced obedience yields no enduring fruit. That is why both our Father in Heaven and the Savior are willing to entreat, to prompt, to encourage, and to patiently wait for us to recognize precious spiritual guidance from Them.
Principle 21: It is important not to judge ourselves by what we think we know of our own potential. We should trust the Lord and what He can do with our dedicated heart and willing mind.
Excerpt from Principle 11: Please learn that as you wrestle with a challenge and fell sadness because of it, you can simultaneously have peace and rejoicing. Yes, pain, disappointment, frustration, and anguish can be temporary scenes played out on the stage of life. Behind them there can be a background of peace and the positive assurance that a loving Father will keep His promises. You can qualify for those promises by a determination to accept His will, by understanding the plan of happiness, by receiving all of the ordinances, and by keeping the covenants made to assure their fulfillment.
Excerpt from Principle 19: Material things do not of themselves produce happiness and satisfaction and the joy of attainment on earth. Nor do they lead us to exaltation. It is nobility of character, that fabric of inner strength and conviction woven from countless righteous decisions, that gives life its direction. A consistent, righteous life produces an inner power and strength that an be permanently resistant to the destructive influence of sin and transgression. Your faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments will strengthen your character. Your character is a measure of what you are becoming. It is the evidence of how well you are using your time on earth in this period of mortal probation.
Principle 20: Forced obedience yields no enduring fruit. That is why both our Father in Heaven and the Savior are willing to entreat, to prompt, to encourage, and to patiently wait for us to recognize precious spiritual guidance from Them.
Principle 21: It is important not to judge ourselves by what we think we know of our own potential. We should trust the Lord and what He can do with our dedicated heart and willing mind.
November 6, 2018
I miss Elder Scott!! Some great gems in this slim little book. I was familiar with some of this (a lot of this material must have been taken from conference talks) but it was good to revisit.
"Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain ... When there is suffering and pain, pondering and prayer will help us understand what we are to learn from the challenges we are asked to overcome." (p. 55)
"Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain ... When there is suffering and pain, pondering and prayer will help us understand what we are to learn from the challenges we are asked to overcome." (p. 55)
May 31, 2018
Although an easy read, this book is full of wise counsel that should be pondered and considered thoughtfully by anyone who desires to have more peace and happiness in their life. Elder Scott writes as he used to speak; gently, with much love and in a straight forward and personal way that makes you feel as though you are spending time with a close friend. Elder Scott shares 21 principles that he has learned during his life that helped him live by the Spirit and experience an incredible life full of love and happiness. There are power in his words because he’s lived them and learned from them.
August 30, 2021
I give this 5/5 stars for the doctrinal truths and testimony shared. I give the book itself 3/5 because it is less of a book and more of a helpful Index. I wouldn’t recommend reading it from beginning to end but to flip pages to the specific principle you might wish to study. I say this because there is no flow between chapters, so you can really start at any chapter and go from there with no problem. (It kind of reminds me of a version of True to the Faith).
I personally will probably never read this all the way through again. I just don’t feel that would be effective. I will, however, definitely be referring back to specific principles as I study similar topics throughout my life.
I personally will probably never read this all the way through again. I just don’t feel that would be effective. I will, however, definitely be referring back to specific principles as I study similar topics throughout my life.
December 29, 2017
I selected this book as one written by someone I admire. I love Elder Scott! I didn't even realize this book existed. Elder Scott gives 21 snippets-- none are even 10 pages long-- on insights he has gained through Gospel living. He shares personal experiences to help make some thoughts easier to understand. He speaks often of consistently being obedient, consistently living in accordance with what we believe, and the strength that comes from so doing. If you want a read that gives you a boost in just a few minutes of reading, you may like this.
May 29, 2019
Richard G. Scott was one of my favorites apostles. Without exaggeration, the past 18-months has been the hardest of my life. I picked up this book that had been sitting in my “to read” pile for several years. I savored each of these principles. Principle 17 felt like it was written just to answer some of my deepest concerns and heartbreak. I loved every word and made so many notes in the margins. I also loved that the cover of the book was one of Elder Scott’s watercolors.
November 10, 2019
This is a collection if talks Elder Scott has given over the years. Some spoke to me more than others. I’d probably be better off purchasing this book and referencing it as needed than reading it straight through on my Kindle. That said, a lot of it was very applicable to some situations I am dealing with right now, and are probably applicable to a lot of situations.
February 19, 2021
Elder Scott had long been the general authority whose remarks I most eagerly awaited in General Conference. He has compiled in this book the principles he so diligently lived and taught throughout his service. His testimony supercharges my desire to know and to trust my God, my Savior, the Holy Ghost, and myself.
August 27, 2018
This book came to me at a time when I most needed to know of these principles. They have lifted me up, given me courage and hope, and I am so glad I took the opportunity to read it. Such a short book, but so powerful.
February 5, 2020
Oh my, what a marvelous book! It should be required reading for everyone who wants to live a more spiritually fulfilling life. Wonderfully powerful, yet worded so lovingly. I just love Elder Scott. Excellent x 10.
April 4, 2018
Excellent!
May 9, 2018
I love Elder Scott! This little book is a read and re-read kind of book. Loved it!
January 20, 2020
Excellent message to get one back on track spiritually. Plenty to ponder and apply to help one draw closer to Christ and live gospel teachings.
January 24, 2020
I love Richard G. Scott. I love this book and will be re-reading this one. Highly recommend!
May 18, 2020
Simple, but to the point. It's a great starting place for digging in to the scriptures and making connections. I'll pick this up again to search for principles I didn't see the first time.
September 8, 2020
Life-changing
January 17, 2021
Good before bed book.
March 30, 2022
Beautiful truth. I like that he shares bite sized pieces of truth divided into 21 parts so you can take in a little every day.
Read
April 6, 2022Fantastic book. I will read it again and again.
February 27, 2023
Many excellent gospel principles taught by Richard G. Scott. Worthy of repeated study.
September 4, 2023
helpful words of wisdom
Great advice from a kind and spiritual man. He lived the principles reviewed in this book and exuded a peaceful and joyous countenance
Great advice from a kind and spiritual man. He lived the principles reviewed in this book and exuded a peaceful and joyous countenance
January 1, 2024
There are nuggets or principles of truth scattered throughout this little gem.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews