12 Keys to Developing Spiritual Maturity

I was excited to purchase 12 Keys to Developing Spiritual Maturity by Richard G. Moore  because the author was my bishop when I lived at BYU. This book is great, and I would recommend it as a companion to The Divine Center, which I reviewed earlier this year. I thoroughly enjoyed the detail that the author goes into with each principle in this book, and the stories he shares really help to bring each principle to life.

Before he goes into the 12 principles, Richard Moore teaches the best way to measure our own spiritual maturity is by how often we feel the Holy Ghost. With this in mind, he begins the discussion. There are a few things I would life to highlight.

First is obedience. He talks about how obedience yields freedom. The world doesn't really understand that. The author shares a story from when he was a teenager. He felt he had no freedom and he resented his parents for it. They told him if he were more obedient, he would have more freedom. To prove them wrong, he decided to be as perfectly obedient as possible. To his surprise, his parents began to trust him more and granted him privileges he never dreamed they would give him.

Moore also talks about balance. He quotes from apostles to teach the importance of parents setting the example of balance for their children. Again, the best way to measure our balance is by how much we can feel the Holy Ghost in our lives. Interestingly, he talks about a time when Gordon B. Hinckley warned CES employees to not make the Gospel their only interest, but to develop other interests and hobbies to make them a well-rounded person.

Speaking on balance, the author quotes Neal A. Maxwell, who teaches that all members of the Church need to have balance in striving for the Celestial Kingdom. We need to not berate ourselves and put ourselves down because we are not perfect. At the same time, however, we need to understand that we are not quite qualified for heavenly glory either. The important thing is to keep progressing.

Last of all, he shares an experience that his father-in-law had that taught him a lesson about service. His father-in-law really needed help finding an answer to a problem, and he intended to spend the Sabbath fasting and praying about it. Instead, he spent the entire day fulfilling assignments and magnifying his calling, only getting home late at night. He was discouraged as he got into bed, when suddenly he received the answer crystal clear. He wondered how this was possible when he didn't have time to study it out. Suddenly the following words came into his mind: Service is blessings bought and paid for. What a neat concept!

I know I have a lot of spiritual maturing to do. This was a great book and I think everybody can benefit from the principles taught therein.