We read it, we know it, we've sung it, but....
- itcametopass
- Oct 22, 2018
- 5 min read
We are always told to keep the commandments. Of course, we know that’s what we’re supposed to do.
We read the phrase, we know the phrase, we’ve sung the phrase since primary and continue to sing the phrase now.
If someone were to come up to you and ask you what, specifically, the commandments are, do you know how you would respond?
Uh, they’re things that the Lord commands us to do.
Yeah…and what are those things?
…Important things that God wants us to do so we can get back to heaven.
*slow clap for captain obvious*
The thing is, there are a lot of commandments. We may not be able to simply state “what” they are, and that’s not actually a bad thing. A generalizing, relatively obvious answer can suffice. I think what I would say is that commandments are any and all of the things that prophets, scriptures and the Holy Ghost have told us to do, by the Lord’s authority.
I don’t know about other people, but to hear that we’ll be happier by doing what the Lord asks us sounds like the type of thing one might be inclined to reciprocate with yeah, yeah, yeah. We hear stories of those who paid their tithing despite having almost nothing to give and the Lord providing a huge miracle like money just appearing in their bank account. We hear of people who gave up everything so that they might be able to attend the temple just once and were immensely blessed for their efforts. We hear of the things Nephi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, was willing to do simply because the Lord asked him.
But sometimes we pay tithing and still come up short on expenses we have. Sometimes we go to the temple and don’t really feel an especially grandiose spirit. Sometimes we feel like we do what God asks us and we fall on our faces nevertheless.
How are we supposed to react to those situations?Why would God ask us to do something that we feel we aren’t capable of doing, or that appears will end in a greater loss than it’s worth?
Let me answer those questions with followup questions:
Why are we here on the earth?
Why do we experience trials?
What’s God trying to teach us by asking us to do something that makes no sense and allowing us to experience the worldly consequences of doing those things?
I know for me, at least, it seems that He wants me to understand that the blessings that come from simply following Him are much much greater than whatever earthly thing I could ever lose. It’s not about what the world has to offer. It’s not about the blatantly obvious, immediate consequences we see as a result of our choices. When we choose to follow our Savior, there is an enormous multitude of blessings that come in so many different ways. Whether it be receiving free ice cream unexpectedly, or the greatest blessings of joy that we will receive beyond the veil when we approach the Lord and He says to us (unto YOU),
“Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
There is no possible object, feeling, or gift in existence that could ever compare to the blessings we receive for simply following our Savior. He doesn’t ask much, even though it may appear that way in our small, mortal perspectives.
I’ve struggled with psychological, neurological and physical pains and disorders my entire life.I find it very easy to wallow, in fact I often tell myself that I enjoy it.
Days will come where the physical pain I feel mixes with the lowest and darkest depression and the most stressing anxiety, all while my senses perceive regular input as dangerous to the point where I almost literally shut down.
I don’t fall asleep; no, that would be extremely preferable. I hit a point where I literally stare at nothing and all I do is exist, while in my head I’m angry at the loud sounds that feel deafening, I’m desiring to weep for the pain my body is feeling and the trap I’ve fallen into in my head, I’m terrified that something awful will happen, I’m longing for that awful thing to happen so that I might just please stop existing, even for just one day, all the while appearing fully functional on the outside.
In these moments, to me, the only conceivable comfort is to stop.
But stopping never fixes anything.
I remember one day, I was laying on the couch—wallowing—feeling sorry for myself and desiring to stop existing that I might not have to deal with these seemingly huge road blocks, when a voice (maybe my inner voice, I wasn’t entirely sure) came to me and it said "GET UP." I obviously had no desire to do anything whatsoever, but the voice just kept repeatedly saying "GET UP." It wasn’t quite so demanding or harsh, but rather urgent and firm. In my mind there was no way ever I was going to stand up-- but then I did.
I know that somewhere behind the psychological desire to stop, my spirit—my real self—wanted to move forward. I wanted to get up. I wanted to progress and get through the pain and fear and depression so that I could be happy. Not just happy, but filled with eternal joy and Christ’s love. And just that desire alone provided a way for the Lord to work in me and lift me to my feet. And as soon as I did so, I knew and could do all the things I needed to. I didn’t just actually eat dinner for once in my life, I made dinner. I didn’t just let things happen to me, I made things happen. I didn’t just tolerate existing, I lived.
EVERY SINGLE TIME I chose to follow His voice, EVERY time I chose to do something the prophet asked, EVERY time I just simply got up,
the Lord provided.
Since that moment when I realized that there was no possible way I could have stood on my own, every choice I’ve made with the desire to follow my Savior has led to more and more and more joy—even including quitting my job without any idea of where my life is going to go without it.
The Lord cannot and WILL NOT ask us to do something and then leave us behind. He will always provide for us whatever reward He has promised us for keeping His commandments. “He that keepeth [God’s] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.”
I am so far from perfect it’s almost sad, but because I have been given a way, I can find joy. Despite every pain and sorrow, I can follow my Savior to the greatest of all joys because I have been told exactly what it is I need to do. These commandments aren’t restrictions, they are directions leading back to our Father in Heaven. They are instructions to building a happier life. Following them doesn’t prevent the bad from happening or the pain from coming, but--- it without a doubt-- gives you strength to push through it and endure it well.
You can overcome anything in this life because our Savior Jesus Christ already has, and has provided the way that it may be so for us. He has already paid for us that we may be saved, and although following the commandments is not what gets us into heaven, it is most definitely the key to a happier, more comfortable existence that will lead us to the very top of the celestial kingdom if we so choose to follow Him.
He is our all-knowing Father in Heaven, I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say He has an idea of what is best for us. Since, you know, He can see the future and all…and this entire existence was His idea…so…I’m pretty sure He knows stuff...
I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it. -Joseph Smith
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