Lessons from Joseph in Egypt

Last week, while doing an interview on ESPN, Steve Young quoted Joseph Smith: “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that quote, and another one I heard from Elder Bednar in a seminary training speech. He said, “If they know the Why, the Hows will take care of themselves.”

I really believe those quotes. I feel like the teenagers in my classes really know the “Dos and Don’ts” of the Gospel well. They know what Mormons are and aren’t “supposed” to do. But often many of them don’t know the doctrine behind the actions.

I really gained a testimony of this principle when I lived in China. For the first time in my life I didn’t have to be spiritually accountable to anyone. I didn’t have anyone telling me what time to go to bed or when to wake up; I could eat as I pleased, and I never had anyone to check what I was doing on the computer; and on Sundays I was completely free to do WHATEVER I WANTED! During that time no one knew my background or my beliefs, so it was the ultimate test of integrity and testimony.

While reading the story of Joseph this week, my experiences in China really stuck out to me. When he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her, instead of saying “I can’t; I’m a Mormon,” (By the way, I HATE those t-shirts!), he told her the real reason – he couldn’t turn his back on God. If Joseph didn’t have a real relationship with the Father, I don’t think he would have lasted in Egypt. The reason he prospered and eventually saved the entire house of Israel is because he knew the real reason we keep the commandments.

I know that if we learn the whys behind keeping the commandments, and then try to teach those doctrines to our kids, the commandments will always make sense to us. I also know that if that is the case then God will always prepare a way for us to accomplish them.