A Few Things I Want My Children To Know

There is very little disagreement that the most sacred and important responsibility we have in life is to teach our children. What they become depends in large part on how we teach them and what principles and values we instill in them. In this day and age there are so many voices influencing what our children think and feel, it is no small feat for them to determine what is real. As adults, it is increasingly more difficult to know what is right and what is true. Evil is celebrated and considered virtuous in this day and age. Even the most grounded people with experience and discretion must be careful to not slowly diverge from the truth. That is why listening to the Spirit and following the living prophet represent the only hope any of us have to survive the world in which we now live. If it is difficult for adults, imagine the challenge our children face and the enormous obstacles they will have to overcome to not be misled or deceived.

Because of our immense responsibility to our children, and to the world and society that they will inherit, we do what we can to raise them well. We take them to church. We hold family home evening. We have family scripture study. We do all we can to help them develop faith and gain a firm testimony of the Gospel. These are the most important things we can do for our children, and for our world. With God's help we will be successful in this most important endeavor. Nothing is more critical!

Lately I have felt that while my wife and I continue to work to teach the Gospel to our children and accomplish all those things outlined above, there are a few other things that I want to impart to my children. Particularly, there are some fundamental principles relative to government and political freedom that I want them to know. There is so much that has been said by so many. I want my children to read and study and learn for themselves, but I also want to help ensure they don't get lost in the labyrinth of ideas that are based on faulty principles and distorted values that are becoming so prevalent in society. While I feel we should encourage our children to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions, I want them to know what their dad believes. It is very important to me that my children understand what I think about important issues, and why.

To accomplish this I have started to write some of my fundamental beliefs about government and freedom. These are basic principles that I believe should shape the decisions and policies made by our elected representatives, and upon which our country should remain grounded.
These are not unique ideas that I came up with. They have been expounded by wise men and women for many years. They are the basis of our Constitution and represent what I believe to be timeless pillars to which our society must adhere. Although these principles have been outlined by men who are much wiser and articulate than I, it is important to me that my children hear these things in my words, from my pen (or word processor as they case may be).

Following are eighteen principles I want my children to know. This is not a complete list, as I will add to it as time passes, but it is a start. I will be writing an explanation for each of these principles that I can compile and leave for my children to read and contemplate as they get older. I would love to hear what others of you think of the list and if there are additional principles you feel are important.

Here's the list:

1. The Constitution of the United States (and the Bill of Rights) is divinely inspired and represents the truest and most exalted form of government ever enjoyed by mankind.
   
2. Individual rights are of supreme importance. The war in heaven was largely fought over the concept of individual freedom. Government cannot and should not deprive citizens of individual rights under the guise of collective rights. The collectivist plans are wrong (socialism, statism, communism, etc). In fact, Lucifer’s plan was a collectivist plan. Individual rights, however, must be checked when they begin to intrude on the individual rights of others. This is why we justly have laws in a civil society. Key individual rights include life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness.
   
3. Individual rights come from God, and government exists only to protect and preserve those rights. There are no rights that are granted by the government.
   
4. Moral absolutes do exist. Right and wrong exist eternally regardless of time, place, popular opinion, or society. Philosophies of moral relativism have become more and more common and pervasive. These philosophies are incorrect and counter to the truth revealed by God. God is the only authority on what is defined as morally right or wrong. The Ten Commandments represent the most common expression of moral absolutes and provide a foundation for man to make moral decisions.
   
5. The basic and fundamental unit of society is the family. It is not the state, in whatever form the “state” may assume (city, county state, country, world order, labor union, societal organization, etc.). Government must never interfere with the family and should actively preserve conditions in which the family can remain strong.
   
6. The separation of church and state as often referred to in our day is nothing more than a safeguard against establishing a state-sponsored religion. It does not in any way suggest that God, faith, and religion should be stripped out of public discourse. In fact, our country cannot survive unless these are present and strong in our society. This is emphasized repeatedly in the Book of Mormon. Organizations that seek to drive God out of the public square, whether under the premise of fairness, civil liberties, diversity, or anything else, are evil.
   
7. Do not place blind trust in political parties. Party platforms change and politicians are too often fixed on populist opinion. Adhere to correct principles and support candidates who stand for these principles. Good people are found both within and outside of both major parties.
   
8. I consider myself politically conservative. I adhere to the basic tenets of a conservative political philosophy socially, fiscally, and in areas of national defense and the role of government. The founding fathers of our nation would today be considered conservatives, or what was known in the past as classical liberals. Above all else conservatism is a position of individual rights, limited government, and personal responsibility.
   
9. The right to private property is a divine right upon which government or other authority must not infringe. Individuals are entitled to the fruit of their efforts.
   
10. While there are inalienable rights that no authority or government should take from us, there has never been a guarantee of equal results. Government must not confiscate the fruit of one person’s efforts to give to another. This is in violation of God’s principles. The government should not sponsor any program that is designed to subvert natural consequences, either good or bad. This includes programs that remove accountability for choices made by an individual, such as discouraging industry, thrift and the drive for success by taking away the naturally occurring fruits of labor, or encouraging laziness, dependency, or entitlement by providing reward where it was not sought for and properly earned. This is most dangerous when these two factors are joined together by taking away from the industrious and giving to the idle in order to achieve equality of results.
    
11. The best government is limited government. This is how the founding fathers intended our republic to function. It is not the role of government to become the caretaker of individuals. Government should protect the system in which men can freely pursue happiness, but attainment of happiness is the sole responsibility of the individual. Government should not be intrusive, obstructionist, or get in the way of the free exercise of personal liberty.
    
12. Government should be performed at the level closest to the people. Local government should be responsible for most functions, because people have the greatest input at that level. The further government moves from the people, the smaller the role should be. The federal government is not the overlord of the state, but should only perform the functions the state or local government cannot do efficiently (ie national defense, foreign policy, international trade, interstate commerce, etc.).
    
13. Freedom cannot exist without a strong sense of personal accountability in the society.
    
14. Separation of powers, with checks and balances is key to the preservation of freedom. Without it, tyranny will inevitably result. Remember D&C 121. It is the nature of man when they get a little power to exercise unrighteous dominion. There must be safeguards against the natural man in government or it will lead to tyranny.
    
15. We have an obligation to posterity. Government should not do what benefits the current generation at the expense of a future generation.
    
16. The economics of prosperity include free markets in a capitalist system. Competition is a key driver of innovation and progress, and should not be constrained by government. Regulation should be minimal and only where necessary to ensure the common safety of society, and never to benefit individual groups over others.
    
17. Study, know, and gain a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Anything that supports the Gospel should be championed. Anything that does not support the Gospel must be vigorously and actively opposed.
    
18. Above all else, follow the living prophet! While it is not the practice of church leadership to advocate political positions, parties or candidates, always adhere to those positions or candidates consistent with the principles taught by the prophet. NEVER accept or subscribe to any notion, position, or proposal that conflicts with the teachings of the prophets. We have been warned that in your generation even the very elect would be deceived. The only sure way not to fall prey to deception is to follow the living prophet.
    

So that's the list as it exists today. If my children can understand these 18 principles, I believe they will be better prepared to evaluate what is happening in the world around them, and effectively determine whether what they observe is right or wrong as it pertains to the governance of men and the preservation of freedom.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and additions to this list of core principles.

Thanks,

Richard