There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the
foundation of the 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.
Obedience is the first law of heaven and the first
principle given as a covenant in the Temple. Everything that we do in
this life that is good it is through obedience to the LAWS OF GOD.
Everything that we do that is not good or that we fail to do that is
good is through disobedience and rebellion.
Obedience involves Faith, Humility, Unselfishness,
Service and Love. Disobedience involves Pride, Selfishness, Rebellion,
and Hate. From the beginning Christ was unselfish and obedient in all
things and did nothing except that which the Father commanded Him to
do. Satan was selfish, rebellious and disobedient in all things and
was cast out because of his disobedience.
Each time we obey in faith and humility we become just
a little more like our Savior. The path of obedience to the laws of
God leads to greater development and freedom. We live life more
abundantly through obedience and find joy, peace and love in the
process. Each commandment and principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
is for our good and for our growth and happiness.
If we obey the law of Tithing we not only receive the
blessings that go along with that law but we develop in ourselves more
faith, humility, unselfishness and love. The blessings we receive for
this law are that the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour
out a blessing that we cannot have room to contain and we will not
burn at his coming. Especially we receive the blessing of being
obedient This in itself will build in us personality and
character and enlarge our knowledge and Testimony of the principle
that we obey.
Some of the greatest promises given are promised for
the observance of the Lord's Day. The Lord has said concerning the
observance of His Day the following. D&C. 59:15-23.
In as much as ye do these things with thanksgiving,
with cheerful countenances, not with much laughter for that would be
sin, but with a glad heart and cheerful countenance.
Verily I say that in as much as ye do this, the
fullness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls
of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees, and walketh upon
the earth.
Yea, and the herb and the good things which come of the
earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses or for barns, or
for gardens or for vineyards.
Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season
thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please
the eye and gladden the heart. Yea, for food and for raiment, for
taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and enliven the soul.
And it pleaseth God that He hath given all these things
unto man for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment,
not in excess, neither by extortion.
And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is
his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things,
and OBEY NOT his commandments.
Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets,
wherefore trouble me no more concerning this matter.
But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness
shall receive his reward, even peace in this world and eternal life in
the world to come.
I the Lord hath spoken it, and the spirit beareth
record, Amen.
One day as I was riding on the ranch, I saw a mother
Quail moving along the trail with about ten little chicks running in a
line behind her. I thought what a lovely sight, each little chick was
obediently running one behind the other following faithfully behind
their mother. Suddenly the mother gave an urgent cluck and ducked
under a protective bush. Each little chick immediately ran under her
protective wings and body, just as a hungry Hawk swooped down to land
on the bush. The Hawk jumped down and circled the bush waiting for any
of those little chicks to panic and come out from the mother's
protection. I gave a sigh of relief as I drove that hungry Hawk away.
The immediate obedience of each of those little chicks saved them each
from the cruel talons of the hungry Hawk. When we obey immediately and
with love we are saved from the cruel talons of Satan. The Lord has
given us his commandments and invites us to obey and receive the
reward. If we do not obey then we must suffer the consequences. Even
the loss of the reward or the blessing of obedience is punishment but
we must realize that we also develop in ourselves the consequences of
disobedience which effects our attitude and character.
I have seen many instances of mothers actually teaching
their children disobedience rebellion and selfishness while trying to
get them to obey. Children will learn obedience if they receive
the reward of attention and love for every little thing that they do
that is good. If it had been necessary for the Mother Quail to repeat
her warning many times and then count to three before her little ones
obeyed at least one of the little ones would have been lost.
In teaching a Horse to obey the bit we must first help
him to understand what is wanted. Then by gentle persuasion and
repetition he can learn to obey the slightest touch and every desire.
If we use force when he is not ready he becomes confused and will
become angry and rebellious. Sometimes we expect children to know what
we mean and be ready to obey when they really don't know what is
expected of them. We need to make obedience become a pleasant
experience. Sometimes they receive disapproval for what they think is
obedience. Many times they get more attention for disobedience than
they do for obedience so they learn disobedience. Disobedience can
become a fun little game for a child. Many times they get so many
negative demands that they cease to listen and get in the habit of not
paying attention to what is being said. If children are threatened for
disobedience with threats that they know will not be carried out, they
soon learn that the parent doesn't mean what they say.
The Lord's way is the best way to teach obedience. He
teaches us correct principles an lets each individual decide to accept
the reward for obedience or the consequences for disobedience.
I learned very young the good feeling of love and
acceptance for obedience and also the consequences for not obeying
immediately when spoken to by my parents. Also I learned very young
the feelings of peace and love that come from obedience to the
commandments of the Lord.
We can learn obedience if we accept every call and
commandment, that comes from the Lord, with a glad heart and with
thanksgiving and then learn what is expected of us in that calling or
commandment and then put our all into doing the best we can. We then
can receive the rewards of obedience to that calling or commandment.
If we decide once and for all to be obedient then we can accept
automatically without having to decide each time whether to accept or
not.
We can disobey by simply procrastinating our obedience
or finding justification for not doing it right now. This becomes easy
in the little things that are not so noticeable. Sometimes we might
feel that it does not apply to us or a little disobedience doesn't
matter.
The best way to teach obedience is by example and by
showing the importance of obeying each commandment. May we all teach
obedience and not disobedience.