A Small Masterpiece
By Davis Bitton

What will the year 2004 be remembered for?  One answer might surprise you.

President Gordon B. Hinckley has not only led the restored church through a time of international growth, not only sponsored an amazing program of temple building throughout the world, not only established a Perpetual Education Fund that will bless thousands of future church leaders.  He has also produced, or caused to be produced, a small masterpiece.

I refer to the little book True To the Faith, published in English by the Church in 2004.  It is available through Church Distribution and will, I anticipate, be translated into other languages.

The opening page is a statement from the First Presidency.  Thus Presidents Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust had a hand in it and may have written parts of it.  Others probably read over the manuscript, made suggestions, and even wrote parts of it.  But my instincts tell me that the driving force was none other than President Hinckley.  One recognizes his gift of expression.  He knows just how something needs to be said.

True To the Faith is not written in the dry style favored by many serious writers.  On the contrary, its intention to be helpful to the individual reader.  “This book is designed as a companion to your study of the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets,” the introductory message begins.  “We encourage you to refer to it as you study and apply gospel principles.”

You, you, you ― the second person pronoun appears throughout the book.  Quickly one accepts this small volume as an intimate personal guide.

I can give only a few examples of its treasures.

“Adversity” ― now there is a topic we can all relate to.  Here it is all placed in the context of the purpose of our mortal life.  Different types of adversity are mentioned, requiring different responses.  Trusting in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is needed.  The final section of this sweet, comforting analysis is “Finding Peace and Joy during Adversity.”

“Agency” goes over another principle we all understand.  We are free to choose but not free to choose the consequences of our actions.  And there is no encouragement of those who see themselves always as victims, blaming everyone but themselves.  “You should not blame your circumstances, your family, or your friends if you choose to disobey God’s commandments.” 

“Atonement of Christ” is appropriately given extensive treatment for a work of this kind.  But what can be said in six pages?  A lot.  The need is set forth, how Jesus Christ is our only hope, his atoning sacrifice, its effect on our salvation, and finally a section on “Finding Peace and Healing through the Atonement.”  For pondering, for clarification, for teaching, these are power-packed, comforting pages. 

“Chastity” receives an extended discussion.  All generations of human history have struggled with sexual sins, but our current world has taken immorality to a new level.  In no-nonsense fashion, this discussion defines terms, lays out the standard, recognizes the underlying importance of thoughts, and cautions against pornography in its different forms.  Whatever our lapses of behavior, we cannot say the commandment is unclear.  The “new morality” gains no purchase here.  As human beings, we err.  The solution is not rationalization, a smirking, shrugging dismissal of the commandments, but repentance.  Loving encouragement is extended.  We seek to be pure as God is pure and to be worthy of his holy house. 

“Hope,” as we know, is along with Faith and Charity one of the three Christian virtues.  This discussion starts by noting that in our everyday usage the word “hope” suggests uncertainty.  We can think of many examples, as in, “I hope the weather is good for the weekend.”  Such is decidedly not the meaning of the word in the scriptures.  In the context of the gospel, hope is something firm, a source of confidence, a handmaiden of faith.  In a world where many young people see no meaning, what a wondrous, triumphant thing it is to experience hope as an anchor to our souls.

“Jesus Christ.” The entire proclamation entitled “The Living Christ” by the First Presidency and the Twelve is quoted.  The intense sincerity of the words is powerful.  This article should probably be read in conjunction with “Atonement of Christ,” already mentioned.

“Marriage.”  Without evasion, the article begins: “In the world today, many people dismiss and even mock marriage and the family.”  Against such pernicious attacks, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles “provide the consistent voice of truth.”  A cross-reference takes us to “Family,” where the Proclamation on the Family is quoted in its entirety.

Marriage is then treated under the following subheadings: The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, Preparing for Marriage, Counsel for Those Who Do Not Marry, Achieving a Happy Marriage.  Choice sentences pop up repeatedly. “If you are married, remember that the friendship and love between you and your spouse should be your most cherished earthly relationship.”  “Remember that marriage, in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither person exercising dominion over the other, but with each encouraging, comforting, and helping the other.”

“Temples.”  Beautiful explanations are given of ordinances for the living and the dead, worthiness, temple clothing, the temple garment.  The final paragraph hits you right between the eyes as it declares the blessings of temple attendance.  The Lord “will bless you in all aspects of your life.  Your labors in the temple will strengthen you and refine you spiritually.”

“Tithing.”  Is this payment an obligation, a requirement, a burden of membership?  Here is how the article begins: “One of the blessings of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the privilege of paying tithing.  By living the law of tithing, you participate in building up the kingdom of God on the earth.”  Blessing.  Privilege.  After a detailed explanation, we read: “Trust in the Lord.  He gave the commandment for our benefit, and He made the accompanying promise.”

Many other examples could be cited.  

This book does not pretend to say everything that could be said.   History and biography are not included.  For some topics, the treatment here is a point of departure, and other, more ample articles, conference talks, or books can be recommended.  But for what it is, True To the Faith should not be dismissed.

What earlier volume summed up the principles of the gospel so tellingly?  Parley P. Pratt’s Voice of Warning (1837) and Key to the Science of Theology (1855) did some of this, but the former is primarily a missionary tract and the latter, for all its fervor, does not always stay grounded on the basics.  (Don’t you love the modest subtitle to that second work?  Designed as an introduction to the first principles of spiritual philosophy; religion; law and government; as delivered by the ancients, and as restored in this age, for the final development of universal peace, truth and knowledge.)

For many years Compendium of the Faith and Doctrines of the Church, first published in 1857 by Franklin D. Richards, was used as a handy-dandy guide by Latter-day Saints, especially missionaries.

In 1888 came The Gospel: An Exposition of its First Principles by B. H. Roberts.  In 1899 James E. Talmage published The Articles of Faith.  Both these works are still valuable.    Other examples of lesson manuals and general introductions, including even weighty alphabetical doctrinal treatments, could be cited for the twentieth century.

But let us not compare apples and oranges.  As a work of 190 pages discussing the most important gospel principles in short compass, the articles arranged alphabetically, True To the Faith is in a class by itself.  Issued by the First Presidency in 2004, it is intended for our benefit in our day as we stand at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

In every instance True To the Faith comes through with flying colors.  Concise, informative, clarifying, thoughtful, inspiring, these articles can serve as subjects for family discussion, sources for sacrament meeting talks, and material for individual reading and reflection.  If it does not become a favorite throughout the church, I shall be surprised. 

For members of the church, young and old, who value their membership and are anxious to honor their covenants, this wonderful little handbook is a vade mecum, a pearl of great price.  To be sure, those four words have already been used as the title for another small volume, appropriately so.  But for me they also describe True To the Faith.  It is a little gem.  Do not fail to own it, consult it, and let it bless your life.