Skewed Perspective

 4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.

Doctrine & Covenants 59:4

The context of this verse is that the Lord was speaking to the Church members who had just gotten to Zion, and He was sharing some of the wonderful things they could expect.  Do you see them in the verse? “Blessings from above… revelations in their time… commandments not a few”.  Wait; can we really think of getting more commandments as a wonderful thing?  In this coming Conference, if the Prophet were to say, “The Lord has revealed to me ten additional commandments we are to now live by…” would your shoulders slouch forward, and would you say, “Oh no…”?  Or would you be thrilled?

As usual, Satan has tried to turn things around.  Satan has tried to get people to believe that the commandments are a burden, rather than a blessing.  Look for what Joseph Smith taught about the connection of commandments and happiness. He said, “[God] never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of His law and ordinances.”

( History of the Church, 5:135. )

I love how he says “calculated” to bring happiness.  So if you really believe that teaching, then the more commandments, the better.  Glenn L. Pace said it this way, “The commandments you observe were not given by a dispassionate God to prevent you from having fun, but by a loving Father in Heaven who wants you to be happy while you are living on this earth as well as in the hereafter."

Today’s Takeaway: Think through the commandments.  Is there a single one that won’t leave you far happier in the end? Can you see how the breaking of that commandment will eventually lead to misery? Is there a particular commandment where you have been in rebellion to God?  Surrender to God in that area so you can avoid the misery and embrace the greater happiness.