To Have Obedience

Obedience

What is the definition of obedience?

compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority.

To hear or listen in a state of submission.

Obedience is the first law of the Gospel.

We are to willingly submit our will to our Heavenly Father.

Our Savior was our perfect example of obedience. He didn’t do anything except for the things that God wanted him to do.

Obedience changes from our parents to God. Not from our parents to ourselves. 

We practice with our parents. We learn to be submissive to them and the things that they want us to do.

Agency is learning to do what God wants us to do. There is not an age when you get to do what you want when you want, there’s no magic number that you reach. We are always trying to do the things that God wants us to do. ALWAYS.

Matthew 6:24

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will have the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke 2:49

49: And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

John 5:30

30: I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 6:38

38: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

John 8:28

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

John 12:50

50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefor, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

2 Nephi 10:24

24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.

Psalm 143:10

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Abraham 3:24-25

24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

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

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/obedience?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1975/04/obedience-consecration-and-sacrifice?lang=eng#title1

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1999/04/obedience-the-path-to-freedom?lang=eng#kicker1

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/04/willing-to-submit?lang=eng

 Do we want to please God or would we rather just displease Him?

Disclaimer: I am not comparing myself to God. I am only trying to understand Parent/Child relationships and what we learn from our earthly ones.

An interesting situation happened last week, that made me reflect a lot upon my choices.  Camille had gone to the mall with her friends, and decided to get her ears pierced again.

When I got home she quickly said, "I did something your not going to like." I said, "Oh yeah, what?" and she proceeds to show me her ears. I said, "You're right, I don't like it." 

I then said, "I still love you though." and that was that.

A few days later, I ask her about it. I said, "Millie, how did you know I wasn't going to like what you did?" She said, "I don't know." I then said, what did you tell yourself to convince yourself to do it?" Again, I don't know.  It wasn't out of rebellion, I just wanted to do it. I still feel worthy to go to the temple."

I look at her, then I said, this isn't about your worthiness, this is about not respecting me. Knowing that I won't like it, but doing it anyway.

Later I find out that there were some people that supported her in her decision.  They didn't support her in her decision to please me, but in her decision to do what she wanted to do. And to Camille, those people are her true friends. I find that interesting.  It doesn't matter if what you are choosing is right or wrong, it only matters if you are being supported. bizzare!

Then I got to thinking. How many times do I do that with my Heavenly Father. I know what He wants, what He expects, but sometimes I just do what I want to do anyway.  

Am I truly seeking to please Him in the things that I am choosing to do? 

Are we seeking to please Him or ourselves? 

SNARES

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe in His Son, Jesus Christ?

Do you believe in the Holy Ghost?

They have a plan. It is the plan of Salvation or the Plan of Happiness.
Satan also has a plan. His plan is in direct opposition to our Heavenly Father’s plan.
He wants to ensnare us. Each and everyone of us.

What is a snare?

A snare is a trap. They are dangerous and designed to hurt you. The snares from Satan are subtle and also hand picked just for you to prey upon your weaknesses.

Let's take reading the scriptures as an example, basically, anything that keeps you from reading your scriptures is a snare. One reason you might stop reading your scriptures is because you feel guilty about something you have done, or you are distracted and you don’t feel like you have time to read. Or doubts and concerns. Or fears. What is keeping you from reading the scriptures TODAY? That is your snare.

Snares:

Alma 12:4-6
4 And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out—
5 Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all.
6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity.

Additional scripture:
D&C 10:22-29

We always have choice. We fought for our choice. When temptations or snares happen to us, we can choose to give in to those temptations or we can choose to turn to our Savior.

Agency:

2 Nephi 2:16
16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

Additional scriptures:
2 Nephi 2:27-29
Moses 7:32-33

We can avoid snares by watching our thoughts and also our words.

Mosiah 4:30
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

What can we do instead? We will be judged according to our works. The things we do in this life matter. Our good works can fill up our time, when our time is filled up with good things it will leave less time for the things that can harm us. Less time for snares.

Alma 12:14
14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.

Good Works:

Mosiah 5:15
15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

Additional scriptures:
2 Chronicles 15:7
Proverbs 24:12, 29
Ecclesiastes 12:14
John 3:19-21
Alma 9:28
Moses 7:32-33

When we are caught in a snare, we have the ability to repent. The Savior made it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins.

2 Corinthians 7:10
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Additional scriptures:
Helaman 14:9
Mormon 7:3

Let us be so focused on good works and service that the adversary has no place in our thoughts and our deeds and especially in our hearts. And let's not procrastinate our repentance.

Alma 13:27
27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;

Additional scriptures:
Alma 34:33
Helaman 13:38

We have a wonderful Heavenly Father who gave us His Son. He has given us the gift of agency and with that He has trust in us and our ability to do good. We are not perfect and we can repent when we turn to our Savior.

Good Works

 Good works 

Sometimes for me giving service to others feels like doing a whole lot of stuff I don't want to do. I'm trying to change my heart, but it's a long slow process.

I've been reading scriptures about service and here are some of my favorites.

Matthew 25:40. 

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Mosiah 5:15

Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as his purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.