OBEDIENCE TO THE RESTORED GOSPEL

The Lord does not want blind obedience in fear of punishment but He wants us to know what and why we are obedient to. 

The 12th Article of Faith tells us to obey the laws of the land.

The Lord also said in a modern revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on August 1, 1831:

Doctrine and Covenants 58: 21-22

21 Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.

22 Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under his feet.

Our Father in Heaven loves each one of us because we are literally His spirit children. 

We all existed in the Spirit World before we came here and our Heavenly Father created this earth for us to come here, gain a physical body for our spirit body and to be tested with our Free Agency.

His commandments that He has given us through prophets and the scriptures are for our learning and benefit.  He gives us these instructions for us so we can have happy lives and prepare to come back to meet Him again if we prove ourselves worthy.

SATAN’S POWER TO TEMPT US.

He has given Satan and his followers the temporary power to tempt us so we can choose between right and wrong. 

He has not given Satan power to tempt us beyond our power to resist.  Satan cannot make us do anything that he wants us to do. 

If we give in, it is because of our own choice and we will be accountable at Judgment day for the choices we had made.

Satan also knows our weaknesses from the spirit world and works on our weaknesses to tempt us to give in.

OBEDIENCE IS LOVE TOWARDS HEAVENLY FATHER.

Obedience to the commandments brings us peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come.

Obedience shows our love for God. 

Disobedience brings us sorrow.

Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses and if we are diligent, we will notice them and try to correct them and make them strong. 

He is patient with us and loves us. 

When we have repented of our wrong choice, the Atonement of Jesus Christ will erase that wrong choice and it will not be in the records of Heaven at Judgment.

Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20-21

20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

The Apostle John said:

John 14: 15

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And again, we read this in the Old Testament:

Ecclesiastes 12: 13

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Are we going to walk with our Heavenly Father and be submissive to His Will and serve Him with our might.  His standard is righteousness. 

We must commit ourselves and dedicate ourselves to follow Him and learn His ways so we can be like Him.

For more information, go to www.lds.org