What Is Your Attitude About Obedience to the Lord?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to First Nephi 1-5 in a lesson titled “I Will Go and Do.” The lesson was introduced with the following information: 

The Book of Mormon begins with an account of a real family experiencing real struggles. It happened in 600 BC, but there are things about this account that might seem familiar to families today. This family was living in a world of wickedness, but the Lord promised them that if they would follow Him, He would lead them to safety. Along the way they had good moments and bad moments, great blessings and miracles, but they also had arguments and contention. Rarely in scripture is there such a detailed account of a family trying to live the gospel: parents struggling to inspire faith in their family and worrying about their safety, children deciding if they will believe their parents, and brothers dealing with jealousy and contention—and sometimes forgiving each other. Overall, there is power in this imperfect family’s examples of faith.

The principle for this discussion is as follows: “God will prepare a way for me to do His will” (1 Nephi 3-4). Lehi and his family had traveled for two weeks into the wilderness when the Lord commanded Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass from a relative named Laban.

The commandment from the Lord was general in nature: go to Jerusalem and bring back the plates of brass. He did not give specific instructions about how to obtain the plates. There is little wonder that Laman and Lemuel considered the commandment to be “a hard thing” to do (1 Nephi 3:5). Nephi responded differently:

7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them (1 Nephi 3:7).

As it turned out, obtaining the brass plates was a challenging task. Lehi’s sons first asked Laban to give them the valuable family heirloom. Then they tried to buy the plates from Laban.

When neither of the first attempts were successful, the Lord commanded Nephi three times to kill Laban. After the first two commands, Nephi hesitated. He wrote the following after the third command: “Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief” (1 Nephi 4:13).

Once Nephi heard these words, he understood that Lehi and his family needed the brass plates in order to have the law of Moses and the teachings of other prophets. He understood that they could not keep the commandments and prosper in the land of promise if they did not have the commandments. He knew that the law was inscribed on the brass plates and that he needed to get them. He also knew that God had provided a way for him to obtain the plates. Therefore, he was obedient to the commandment to kill Laban.

President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power” (quoted in Donald L. Staheli, “Obedience – Life’s Great Challenge,” Ensign, May 1998, 82). 

The Lord is willing to guide us along the path that will take us back into His presence IF we are willing to listen to Him. I know this is true because He has helped me. In 2015, the Holy Ghost whispered to me that I should enter the Pathway Program to obtain a college degree. I was seventy years old, and I questioned why He had waited so long to inspire me and to prepare the way. Nevertheless, I registered for Fall Semester 2015, and I have been taking college classes since that time.

There have been many times when I have relied on the Lord to help me to understand what I needed to learn. The first help that He gave to me was when I looked at the list of assignments due the first week and almost cried. The Spirit whispered, “You can do it IF you focus on one assignment at a time.” I have followed that counsel diligently for more than eight years, and I have been successful in my college experience. Another way that the Lord helped me was to help me to learn enough about algebra to earn an A- in the class in spite of developing coronary heart disease and needing a stent at the end of the semester. Indeed, I know that He saved my life!

The Lord prepared a way for Nephi to obtain the plates of brass, and He has prepared a way for each of us to accomplish our mortal missions through obedience to His commands. The most important thing that He did to prepare us to keep His commandments is that He send Jesus Christ to be our Savior, to atone for our sins and to show us the path back to the Father’s presence. Will you “go and do” the things that God commands you to do? I know that He will provide a way for you and for me to be successful in keeping His commandments.

Why Do We Need the Grace of God to Be Saved?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Romans 1-6 in a lesson titled “The Power of God unto Salvation.” The lesson was preceded by this counsel: “Recording promptings will help you remember what the Spirit is teaching you. Consider also recording how you feel about these promptings.” The lesson was then introduced by the following paragraph: 

By the time Paul wrote his epistle to Roman Church members, who were a diverse group of Jews and Gentiles, the Church of Jesus Christ had grown far beyond a small band of believers from Galilee. About 20 years after the Savior’s Resurrection, there were congregations of Christians almost everywhere the Apostles could reasonably travel --- including Rome, the capital of a powerful empire. Still, compared to the vastness of the Roman empire, the Church was small and often the object of persecution. In such conditions, some might feel “ashamed of the gospel of Christ” – but, of course, not Paul. He knew and testified that true power, “the power of God unto salvation,” is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16).

There are numerous principles in Romans 1-6. I will discuss a principle taken from the Sunday School manual for this lesson: “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 3-6). We may feel overwhelmed in our efforts to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We may be working hard to do everything commanded and still worry that our efforts are falling short. We may wonder if we are good enough to be accepted by God. 

On the other hand, we may not worry much about making righteous choices. We may think that attending church meetings and being a loving parent and a good neighbor is enough. We may think that the ordinances of the temple are not necessary because we believe that faith in Jesus Christ is all that we need. After all, we know that Christ paid the price for our sins and will not keep us out of the celestial kingdom over minor issues.

Paul taught truths that can help us to understand if we are good enough (none of us are without the grace of God). Truths will also help us to understand that faith in Jesus Christ alone will not save us. What truths do you find in the following verses that can help you in your spiritual journey back into the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

            Romans 3:20-31

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Romans 5:1-2

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 6:1-2 21-23

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Modern-day prophets and apostles, like the Apostle Paul, teach the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The following quote from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then a counselor in the First Presidency, gave me comfort because I am often guilty of feeling overwhelmed.

Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God. … Grace is a gift of God, and our desire to be obedient to each of God’s commandments is the reaching out of our mortal hand to receive this sacred gift from our Heavenly Father” (“The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 109-10). 

If you believe that faith in Jesus Christ is all that you need to enter the celestial kingdom, you may need to study this statement from President Uchtdorf:

If grace is a gift of God, why then is obedience to God’s commandments so important? Why both with God’s commandments – or repentance, for that matter? … Our obedience to God’s commandments comes as a natural outgrowth of our endless love and gratitude for the goodness of God. This form of genuine love and gratitude will miraculously merge our works with God’s grace” (“The Gift of Grace,” 109). 

The Apostle Paul taught that we are saved by grace and that grace is a gift of God. None of us can be saved in the celestial kingdom without the grace of God, but He expects us to keep His commandments and to receive certain ordinances, such as baptism and the ordinances of the temple. However, our obedience cannot save us without faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God. However, merging faith in Jesus Christ with obedience to the commandments will lead to receiving the grace of God.

What Message Do You Learn from the Story of Jonah?

My Come, Follow Me studies took me to the books of Jonah and Micah this week. The lesson was titled “He Delighteth in Mercy” and was introduced by the following paragraphs.

Jonah was on a ship headed for Tarshish. There’s nothing wrong with sailing to Tarshish, except that it is far away from Nineveh, where Jonah was supposed to go to deliver God’s message. So when the ship encountered a great storm, Jonah knew it was because of his disobedience. At Jonah’s insistence, his fellow mariners cast him into the depths of the sea to stop the storm. It looked like the end of Jonah and his ministry. But the Lord hadn’t given up on Jonah—just as He hadn’t given up on the people of Nineveh and just as He doesn’t give up on any of us. As Micah taught, the Lord does not delight in condemning us, but “he delighteth in mercy.” When we turn to Him, “he will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and [He will] cast all [our] sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19). 

There were several principles taught in this scripture block, but I feel prompted to discuss this one: “All of God’s children need to hear the gospel.” Chapter 1 of the book of Jonah starts with the Lord commanding Jonah to “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me” (Jonah 1:1-2). Jonah 3 tells us that Jonah “rose up” as he was commanded, but he fled to Tarshish to escape “from the presence of the Lord.” He traveled to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish, so he paid the fare and boarded. The problem was that Tarshish was in exactly the opposite direction than was Assyria.

Nineveh was part of the Assyrian empire, an enemy of Israel known for its violence and cruelty. The situation would be similar to an LDS missionary being called to preach the gospel to the Taliban or even ISIS. Obviously, Jonah did not wish to go to Assyria. It is possible that he doubted that such wicked people would hear the word of the Lord and repent. Yet, the Lord had commanded this prophet to go to Assyria to warn them.

Members and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have also been called to warn our neighbors. Most of us are not required to go to our sworn enemies to declare repentance, but we are asked to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with our family, friends, and neighbors.

President Dallin H. Oaks taught the following: “We should never set ourselves up as judges of who is ready and who is not. The Lord knows the hearts of all of His children, and if we pray for inspiration, He will help us find persons He knows to be ‘in a preparation to hear the word’ (Alma 32:6)” (“Sharing the Restored Gospel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 58-59).

Jonah quickly learned that he could not hide from the Lord. Soon after the ship on which Jonah traveled set sail, a strong storm arose. The sailors did everything that they could to stabilize the ship, but they feared that it would be destroyed. Jonah told them to toss him into the sea, and the waves would calm. The sailors reluctantly did as they were told, and the sea became calm.

Jonah was caught by a big fish and swallowed. He spent three days in the belly of the fish before he turned to the Lord, and the fish soon spit him out on dry land.

Jonah traveled to Assyria and cried repentance to the people. All the people as well as the king repented in “sackcloth and ashes.” This was not the situation that Jonah expected, and he was not happy about his enemies receiving the blessings of repentance. Hopefully, we will be happy for anyone who hears the gospel and is blessed by it.    

Guard Rails

                Almost every time I leave my neighborhood I travel through a certain intersection. As I travel down the road leading to the intersection, I have the choice to go straight across the bridge over the freeway or to take a sharp turn to the right. One lane of the road to the right leads to the freeway, and the other lane leads to the frontage road. I make that sharp right turn regularly and several times each week. I travel down the frontage road each Sunday to reach the meetinghouse. I also travel that road during the week to attend the temple, which sits on the same piece of land as the meetinghouse. I enter the freeway whenever I go shopping, out to eat, or to a movie.

                Just before I make that sharp right turn, I clearly see a guard railing on the opposite side of the road from me. The railing is there to keep vehicles from going off a steep embankment and dropping onto the freeway. When the roads are icy, I drive around the corner very slowly in order to avoid sliding across the intersection and hitting the railing. I have successfully driven through the intersection without hitting the railing for nearly 30 years.

                I know that not every driver is so careful or fortunate because the railing is replaced at least once each year. Obviously, there are too many people driving too fast to make the corner safely because the railing almost always has more than one dent in it and several colors of paint on it. A new railing rarely lasts a week before being dented, but the barrier has fulfilled its purpose by stopping many vehicles from going off the embankment.

                Guard railings are in place to keep people and property safe. The same is true of family rules, city laws, and God’s commandments. The purpose of rules, laws, and commandments is to provide safety and to bring lasting happiness to all of us. Family rules are in place to help all family members remember the actions that strengthen families. Traffic laws are in place to avoid accidents. God gives commandments to help His children become more like Him and to prepare to live with Him for eternity.

                In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in April 1843, the Lord gave a list of instructions to Joseph and the Church. One of those instructions pertained to the subject of this discussion: “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated – And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20-21).

                If I obey the traffic law that says to stop at a STOP sign, I most likely will not be hit by any car driving through the intersection. If I understand the law of nature that cold and moisture turns roads icy, I will drive slowly enough through the icy intersection to miss the guard railing. If I obey the commandment of God to be honest in my dealings with my fellowmen, I do not need to worry about being caught in a lie. If I am obedient to the law, I will reap the blessings that come with obedience to those laws.

                Whether rules, laws, and commandments bring happiness or heartache depends on how we view them. If we view them as barriers to our happiness, we will do all that we can to get past them. If we view them as railings to protect us spiritually and physically, we will appreciate them and do our best to stay within them. I know that obedience to rules, laws, and commandments brings greater freedom and happiness just as the guard railing keeps me safe from a terrible accident.

Obedience

                Obedience is the first law in heaven.  Obedience brings blessings.  Obedience is greater than sacrifice.  Obedience to God’s commandments is how we show Him that we love Him.

                A lawyer asked Jesus Christ an important question:  “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

                “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

                “This is the first and great commandment.

                “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

                “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).

                These scriptures show the importance of loving God and our fellowmen, but another scripture tells us how to show God that we love Him:  “He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:  and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father” (John 14:21).

                When I was a child and youth I loved my parents so much that I would do nothing to hurt them or embarrass them.  I was obedient to them because I loved them and wanted to please them.  I keep the commandments of God because I love Him and desire to serve Him.

                Why do you keep the commandments of God?  Is it because you fear punishment if you do not?  Is it simply habit?  Is it for the promised rewards?  Is it because you love Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and want to serve them?  Obedience because of habit, fear of punishment, or desire for rewards is much better than disobedience, but there are much better reasons for our obedience.  Obedience makes us much happier than disobedience.  Obedience helps us move forward with our lives.  Obedience brings blessings from God because He “delight[s] to honor those who serve [Him] in righteousness and truth unto the end” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5).

                We do not always understand why a commandment is necessary, but we can be obedient any way and show Heavenly Father that we trust Him.  An example from the scriptures that shows this kind of obedience is that of Adam and Eve.  They were commanded to offer sacrifices and did so without knowing the meaning of the act.  One day an angel asked Adam why he offered sacrifice, and Adam replied that he did not know the reason and was merely doing it because God commanded it (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 5:5-6).  The angel then taught Adam the gospel and told him of the coming of Jesus Christ to earth to make His great atoning sacrifice.  Adam was obedient and then received great knowledge and blessings.

                People have been asked to make great sacrifices since the time of Adam and been blessed for being willing to do so.  Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Because of Abraham’s willingness to be obedient, he did not actually have to make the sacrifice to receive the blessing.  Heavenly Father requires our willingness to do His will and sometimes puts us to the test.  I know a young mother of four children who believed her family was complete - until she received a prompting to have another child.  She felt confident that the prompting was from God, and she stopped using birth control.  This took place several years ago, but there is still no additional child.  Apparently, the Lord simply wanted to know if she was willing to do His will and be obedient to the prompting.

                We must remember that all commandments are important with the “small” commandments being just as important as the bigger ones.  Some commandments are more serious than ones, but all require obedience.  We should be willing to do anything the Lord requires of us.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I made this my rule:  when the Lord commands, do it” (History of the Church, vol. 2, p. 170).  I learned through my own experience that whatever the Lord commands is right.

                Jesus Christ is the perfect example of obedience; He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).  He devoted His entire life to obeying Heavenly Father.  Even as He was suffering in Gethsemane, He ended His prayer by saying “Not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).

                The kingdom of our Heavenly Father is governed by law, and when we receive any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law upon which that blessing is based (see Doctrine and Covenants 130:21; 132:5).  Obedience to God’s commandments helps us to gain knowledge and intelligence (see Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19) and to grow spiritually (see Jeremiah 7:23-24).  Disobedience on the other hand brings disappointment and loss of blessings.  God cannot bless us unless we keep the commandment upon which the blessing is based.

                The promise of the Lord is:  “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). 

                Other blessings that come from obedience to the commandments are described by the Lord as follows:  “Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.

                “And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.

                “Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.

                “And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven….

                “For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will – yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:6-10).

Keeping God's Commandments

                Have you ever considered why God gives commandments to His children?  He sees all and knows all.  Why can’t He simply tell us what we need to know?  Well, He actually does tell us through personal revelation and the words written by prophets in our scriptures, both ancient and modern.  He gives us commandments to help us learn to be more like Him!

                Imagine for a moment that you are traveling along a mountain road.  This road was built into the side of the mountain with a steep cliff on the side of the road.  There is a guardrail along the side of the road between the road and the cliff.  Consider for a moment that the guardrail represents God’s commandments along the road of life.  Just as a guardrail keeps cars from going off the side of the mountain, commandments are there to keep us on the road back to Heavenly Father’s presence.  The road could also be a symbol for the commandments in that obedience to the commandments helps us move closer to Heavenly Father and makes us happy. 

                Someone once that that when we want to talk with Heavenly Father, we pray.  When we want to hear from Heavenly Father, we read the scriptures.  I think of the scriptures as letters from a loving Father to His children who are away at school.  He sends loving instructions in each of His letters to help us become more like Him.  Through His commandments, He teaches us what He would like us to do and become.  He also shows us how to treat each other and overcome our natural man.  When we obey His commandments, we are making preparations to return to God’s presence; by our obedience we can become like Him and live with Him for all eternity.  We should consider the commandments as blessings rather than burdens.

                Studying the scriptures can help us understand better why God gives us commandments.  The following scriptures teach some of the instructions that Heavenly Father wants us to learn. 

The scriptures help us understand God’s will for us.  “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

                “To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13; emphasis added).

                The scriptures teach us the commandment to love one another.  “But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

                “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

                “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

                “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

                “This is the first and great commandment.

                “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

                “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:34-40).

                The scriptures teach us that we obey the commandments because we love God.  “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). 

                The scriptures teach us that we will eventually receive of God’s fulness if we obey His commandments.  “For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:20).

                Another scripture explains why God gives commandments to us.  Doctrine and Covenants 82:8-10 reads, ““And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a new commandment, that you may understand my will concerning you;

                “Or, in other words, I give unto you directions how you may act before me, that it may turn to you for your salvation.

                “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”  (Emphasis added.)

                We can be assured that God has purposes behind His commandments.  In October 2011, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf spoke at the Relief Society broadcast about what the sisters should not forget.  The fourth “forget-me-not” was:  “Forget not the `why’ of the gospel.”

                “Sometimes, in the routine of our lives, we unintentionally overlook a vital aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ, much as one might overlook a beautiful, delicate forget-me-not.  In our diligent efforts to fulfill all of the duties and obligations we take on as members of the Church, we sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, as a block of time that we must somehow fit into our busy schedules.  We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.  My dear sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come.  The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us.

                “While understanding the “what” and the “how” of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the “why.”  When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight.  It becomes precious and sweet.

                “Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us.  Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.

                “My dear sisters, seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the `why’ of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

                “The `what’ and `how’ of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path.  The `why’ of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic.  It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration.”  (See “Forget Me Not,” Ensign, November 2011, pp. 120-123.)  

                Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke at General Conference in May 2011 about keeping the commandments:  “Our Heavenly Father is a God of high expectations.  His expectations for us are expressed by His Son, Jesus Christ, in these words:  `I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect’ (3 Nephi 12:48).  He proposes to make us holy so that we may `abide a celestial glory’ (D&C 88:22) and `dwell in his presence’ (Moses 6:57).  He knows what is required, and so, to make our transformation possible, He provides His commandments and covenants, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and most important, the Atonement and Resurrection of His Beloved Son.

                “In all of this, God’s purpose is that we, His children, may be able to experience ultimate joy, to be with Him eternally, and to become even as He is.  Some years ago Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained:  `The Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts – what we have done.  It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions.  The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.’”  (See “`As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten,’” Ensign, May 2011, pp. 97-100.)  

                While speaking to priesthood holders in April 1996, Elder Robert D. Hales spoke about why the Lord gives commandments to us:  “Some may ask, `Why did the Lord give us commandments?’  In premortal councils, He determined that we, His spirit children, would be given commandments by which to live during our mortal lives.  Jehovah, the firstborn spirit child of our Heavenly Father, said:  `We will go … and we will make an earth whereon these [God’s other spirit children] may dwell,

                “`And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

                “`And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon’ (Abraham 3:24-26; emphasis added).

                “These commandments are loving instructions provided by God our Father for our physical and spiritual well-being and happiness while in mortality.  Commandments allow us to know the mind and will of God regarding our eternal progression.  And they test our willingness to be obedient to His will.

                “The commandments are not a burden or a restriction.  Every commandment of the Lord is given for our development, progress, and growth.  The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:  `God has designed our happiness.  … He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed’ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 256).

                “How I love the commandments of the Lord!  They guide and protect us and allow us to return back into the presence of our Heavenly Father.  If we faithfully obey the commandments, we are promised the blessings of eternal life.  Eternal life, `the greatest of all the gifts of God’ (D&C 14:7), is to be exalted and to live with Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ in all the eternities to come.  He dearly wants us to return to Him.

                “We don’t need to wait, however, until the next life to receive many of the promised blessings.  In this life, the obedient may enjoy peace of mind, happiness, and `joy in the Holy Ghost’ (Romans 14:17).

                “Living the commandments brings us into harmony with Deity; we become one in purpose with the Father and the Son.  When we are one with God, we walk with spiritual light.  Our diligence in keeping the commandments allows the Holy Ghost to dwell within us.  We are given the gift of personal revelation.  This is a spiritual light that protects us and serves as a beacon, guiding us in righteous ways.  It dispels the darkness of the adversary….

                “Brethren, choosing to live the commandments frees us from the shackles of sin and allows us to experience true happiness….

                “To know and keep the commandments, we must know and follow the Savior and the prophets of God….

                “Each of us is free to accept or reject the commandments, but none of us is free to modify them to suit our personal preferences.  Priesthood leaders do not have the right to change revealed principles and commandments just for the sake of being popular with the world.  Nor do prophets have the authority to alter God’s commandments in order to make them more palatable to those who are weak in their resolve to live worthily….”  (See “If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep theCommandments,” Ensign, May 1996.)

  

I know that Heavenly Father loves you and me and wants us to be happy.  I know that He gives us commandments for our own good.  I know He knows we can be most happy when we obey His commandments and follow the teachings of His Son Jesus Christ.  I know that we can become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by keeping the commandments.  

The Prophet Spoke

                Millions of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as many other interested people heard the Prophet speak on Sunday, April 7, 2013.  President Thomas S. Monson spoke about the importance of obedience to the commandments of God and said that knowledge of truth and the answers to great questions come through obedience.

                “There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fullness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth.  A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide – even obedience.”

                President Monson reminded us that we all learn obedience throughout our lives.  “Beginning when we are very young, those responsible for our care set forth guidelines and rules to ensure our safety.  Life would be simpler for all of us if we would obey such rules completely.  Many of us, however, learn through experience the wisdom of being obedient.”

                To illustrate this idea, President Monson shared a personal experience that took place when he was eight years old.  He had been repeatedly taught that fire was dangerous and to leave matches alone, but he disobediently used matches to burn a circle of weeds to clear an area for a campfire later in the day.  The weeds were dry, and the fire quickly burned more than the expected area.  In fact, the fire became so large that it threatened the trees and homes in the area.  After several hours of hard work by many people, the fire was brought under control before it could reach the trees and homes. 

                The Prophet said that he learned several lessons that day, including the importance of obedience.  He said that there are rules and laws to help ensure physical safety.  “Likewise, the Lord has provided guidelines and commandments to help ensure our spiritual safety so that we might successfully navigate this often treacherous mortal existence and return eventually to our Heavenly Father.”

                According to President Monson, all prophets, ancient and modern, have known that obedience is essential to our salvation.  “Obedience is a hallmark of prophets; it has provided strength and knowledge to them throughout the ages.  It is essential for us to realize that we, as well, are entitled to this source of strength and knowledge.  It is readily available to each of us today as we obey God’s commandments.

                President Monson shared the experiences of two acquaintances - two of the “countless individuals” who have been particularly faithful and obedient.  “I have been inspired by them.”  After sharing the experiences, he added, “My brothers and sisters, the great test of this life is obedience.”

                There is no greater example of obedience than that of the Savior.  “The Savior demonstrated genuine love of God by living the perfect life, and by honoring the sacred mission that was His.  Never was He haughty.  Never was He puffed up with pride.  Never was He disloyal.  Ever was He humble.  Ever was He sincere.  Ever was He obedient.

                “Though He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by that master of deceit, even the devil, though He was physically weakened from fasting forty days and forty nights and was an hungered, yet when the evil one proffered Jesus the most alluring and tempting proposals, He gave to us a divine example of obedience by refusing to deviate from what He knew was right.”

                President Monson told us that rich rewards come to the obedient.  “The knowledge which we seek, the answers for which we yearn, the strength which we desire today to meet the challenges of a complex and changing world can be ours when we willingly obey the Lord’s commandments.”