~Blessings of Keeping the Commandments~

This week I have been studying a lot about the commandments. Why do we have commandments? Why do we need to obey commandments? And a response to these two great questions is simply, "Because we are loved." God is our father in heaven. He loves us and He cares about us. He wants us to be happy in this life and even in the life to come. But in order to have that eternal life, we need to make right choices here in this life. And the only way for us to find that true joy in this life is to follow His commandments and do the things He has asked us to do. Simple, huh?

It may sound easy but these small and simple principles to follow can be hard at times. There has always been an opposition even before the world began. We are all familiar with the war that went on in Heaven before the world was created. Because of this, Satan was cast out and many followed him. When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they disobeyed God's commandment. But it was necessary for this great plan to be fulfilled. In the Book of Mormon, Lehi counsels his son Jacob in the need of opposition in all things. He says, "...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness or misery, neither good or bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life nor death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense or insensibility." (2 Nephi 2: 11) We can't measure happiness with out sadness or success with out failure! And that's why we have commandments as guidelines to help us in this mortal life. To reach our grand goal, which is to be with our Father in Heaven again for all eternity.

I read in the Bible this week about a certain commandment that was given to Jesus Christ from the Father. Even Jesus Christ obeyed the commandments. A great commandment that only Jesus Christ was able to accomplish for the whole world. It reads, "Therefore, doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:17-18) A magnificent commandment given to Jesus Christ compared to these small and simple commandments that the Lord has given us. His Atonement, which consists of these three immeasurable conditions: His Suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His Crucifixion and Death on the Cross, and His Resurrection are huge beyond our own comprehension. But Christ fulfilled this great commandment so we can overcome all things and return back to that home that awaits us.

I have come to appreciate the commandments more as I have read this account about the Savior and this huge commandment, the Atonement that was given to Him. Every commandment that our Father in Heaven has given us is for our own good and will help us. These commandments can be guides to us in our lives, and if we obey them we will be happy. And it is all because of the love He has for us. I know that as we obey these simple commandments, the Lord will bless us in all aspects of our lives. Our Father in Heaven is a 'God of Promise' and when He asks us to do certain things, He promises us blessings. As we earnestly try to obey our Father in Heaven’s commandments, it is important to remember that we can do it only with the help of Jesus. We should also remember that when we disobey, our Father in Heaven will forgive us when we place our faith in Jesus Christ and repent. Since we all have sinned, we should be very grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of His Atonement, our Father in Heaven can forgive and bless us and help us become obedient. We would never be worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings by ourselves. Sister Barbara McConochie was so impressed by the commandments she wrote the song "Keep the Commandments" for the Primary children. She then said, “Keeping the commandments is the anchor for our safety amidst the storm. True peace will come to each individual, family, and nation only as we learn obedience to the laws of our Heavenly Father.” I know that our Father in Heaven loves each and everyone of us. And as we obey His commandments relying on our Savior's great Atonement, we will find true joy and happiness in this life! I am grateful for the commandments and it has truly blessed me in my life.

Obedience is the Path to Freedom

I have been thinking a lot about obedience and what it truly means. Why do we need to be obedient? Why do we need to follow a certain rule that doesn't even make sense? We all come up with these questions every now and then. I read a talk by James E. Faust titled, "Obedience: The Path to Freedom" and it answered those questions that I have had once before and still struggling with sometimes. But we need to be obedient to be freed from the struggles and challenges that we face. Our obedience to the commandments is an expression of our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He later declared: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10).

In the premortal existence, Heavenly Father presided over a great Council in Heaven. There we learned of His plan for our salvation, which included a time of testing on the earth: “We will make an earth whereon these may dwell; and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:24-25). One reason we are here on the earth is to show our willingness to obey Heavenly Father's commandments.
Many people feel that the commandments are burdensome and that they limit freedom and personal growth. But the Savior taught that true freedom comes only from following Him: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31–32). God gives commandments for our benefit. They are loving instructions for our happiness and for our physical and spiritual well-being. I love the commandments and the mission rules. It has changed me to who I am today.

James E. Faust shares a great lesson he learned on his mission. He says, "Obedience leads to true freedom. The more we obey revealed truth, the more we become liberated...Being bridled, or yielding obediently to restraint, is necessary for our personal growth and progression. Now, brethren, another element of freedom is trust. Almost 60 years ago, when I was going on my first mission, President McKay taught us missionaries a great truth. Without a word, he walked over to the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote, “It is better to be trusted than to be loved.” I have pondered that statement and have seen some fine examples of it." Trust is to rely upon or place confidence in someone or something. In spiritual matters, trust includes relying on God and his Spirit. Elder Faust continues to share a great example from the scriptures. "Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was sold into slavery in Egypt. Because of treachery in the house of Potiphar, Joseph went to prison. Pharaoh had two troubling dreams. Hearing of Joseph’s discernment from the captain of the prison guard, he sent for him to interpret the dreams. Joseph told him, through inspiration, that seven years of plenty would be followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh not only recognized this true interpretation, but he trusted Joseph and appointed him to be second only to Pharaoh in power. The years passed and the famine came. In time Joseph rescued all of his brothers and his father from starvation. (Gen. 37; Gen. 39–42) Because he earned the implicit trust of those who were over him, Joseph enjoyed a great amount of freedom. Like Joseph, you too can be trusted by others, but trust must be earned."
In our own finite way, we too can learn obedience even as Christ did. As young children we learn respect for authority as we obey our parents, thus earning their trust. When obedience becomes our goal, it is no longer an irritation; instead of a stumbling block, it becomes a building block. Obedience brings peace in decision making. If we have firmly made up our minds to follow the commandments, we will not have to re-decide which path to take when temptation comes our way. That is how obedience brings spiritual safety. Elder Boyd K. Packer once said:

"Obedience to God can be the very highest expression of independence. Just think of giving to him the one thing, the one gift that he would never take. Think of giving him that one thing that he would never wrest from you...
Obedience--that which God will never take by force--he will accept when freely given. And he will then return to you freedom that you can hardly dream of-- the freedom to feel and to know, the freedom to do, and the freedom to be; at least a thousand-fold more than we offer him. Strangely enough, the key to freedom is obedience...
We should put ourselves in a position before our Father in heaven and say, individually, "I do not want to do what I want to do. I want to do what thou wouldst have me do." Suddenly, like any father, the Lord could say, "Well, there is one more of my children almost free from the need of constant supervision."

I know that freedom and liberty are precious gifts that come to us when we are obedient to the laws of God and the whisperings of the Spirit. The fences which we must stay within are the principles of revealed truth. Obedience to them makes us truly free to reach the potential and the glory which our Heavenly Father has in store for us. I know that as we strive to be more obedient we can become free and be the person our Heavenly Father wants us to be. Louis Nizer a Jewish-American lawyer once said, "What we are is God's gift to us; what we become is our gift to God." It is my prayer that we will continue to be obedient unto our Father in Heaven. And through our obedience we can become His precious gift. I know that through the gospel of Jesus Christ and by being obedient to the Lord, we are freed from all the obstacles, challenges, and even the traps of our enemy!

Jesus' Mother---Mary

We do not know a whole lot about Mary, the mother of Jesus. But what we know is that, she was a young woman who was chosen to be the mother of Christ. She was a righteous and pure woman, who loved the Lord and had a deep desire to be obedient. In the Book of Mormon it says, "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son yea, even the Son of God." (Alma 7:10)

Mary is a great example of great faith, obedience, and accepting God's will and blessings. She never did doubt God, but was just curious of "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34) To Mary’s question, the angel answered, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35) After receiving the angel’s message, Mary, in unreserved obedience, replied, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38.) Mary humbly accepted this opportunity that was given to her from Heavenly Father to be a mother. Her example shows a great quality of obedience that she has.

Mary reminds me so much of my mother, her name happens to be Mary. A great example she has been in my life and how obedient she is to the commandments of our Heavenly Father. She is very strong with her church and her great example has influenced me a lot from saying my prayers daily, to making the right choices, and for the unconditional love she has for me. Motherhood is a great honor and is a very special blessing given to women. I am so grateful for the great example that Mary, and my mother...Mary has showed me. I will be forever thankful for their obedience, faith, and love.