tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post3484419061458471962..comments2023-09-05T20:54:42.242-04:00Comments on A Latter-day Voice: Why do we obey?Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11294214866282354575noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-38105355275761206522010-03-09T23:07:32.978-05:002010-03-09T23:07:32.978-05:00Velska,
Thanks for this great comment. A great r...Velska,<br /><br />Thanks for this great comment. A great reminder that this starts with conversion to the Savior.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294214866282354575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-62296091558068197262010-03-09T15:08:58.625-05:002010-03-09T15:08:58.625-05:00If ye love me, keep my commandments.
I was broug...If ye love me, keep my commandments. <br /><br />I was brought up to fear God in a way that was really just a way to try to control me, without God being a reality for me or my mother.<br /><br />Then, when I had spent long enough as an aggressive agnostic, I found Jesus. Yes, I found him in the Book of Mormon. And I finally realized that he is real. The Spirit spoke words of comfort to me. <br /><br />I understood that Jesus suffered awful torment <i>because of me</i>. And not just because he <b>had</b> to, but he <b>wanted</b> to; he believed in me, in us, everyone here.<br /><br />And I realized that <i>I</i> was tormenting him by being indifferent, "lukewarm," as he says in Revelation.<br /><br />Now, I want to do my best, because I know he gave his best to help me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-64575017943608170272010-02-25T17:26:39.394-05:002010-02-25T17:26:39.394-05:00Oops. I meant John 7:14. While Matt 7:14 is a pe...Oops. I meant John 7:14. While Matt 7:14 is a perfectly fine verse, it wasn't what I was going for. I'm on the road and am a little jet-lagged...<br /><br />PPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294214866282354575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-32549705080316268802010-02-25T16:55:30.990-05:002010-02-25T16:55:30.990-05:00Mitch, you raise a good point. Echoes of the Lord...Mitch, you raise a good point. Echoes of the Lord's admonition: Who hath ears to hear, let him hear (Matt 13:9).<br /><br />CJ, appreciate your thoughts. I think that as we follow the Lord's commandments, we understand them, and Matthew 7:14 is an invitation to that end.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294214866282354575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-26277777504348551582010-02-25T08:27:51.495-05:002010-02-25T08:27:51.495-05:00The origin of the word "obey" means to l...The origin of the word "obey" means to listen, not to follow. I think it is interesting how many Mormons misunderstand that concept. We must be a good listener if we are to be a good follower.Mitchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-3909163537831384732010-02-25T07:21:38.663-05:002010-02-25T07:21:38.663-05:00Great post! You raise some very interesting issue...Great post! You raise some very interesting issues. We've talked about this before, but I'm definitely a John 7:14 kind of obeyer; for me, I need to understand why something is right, before I can throw myself into it wholeheartedly. When people ask me why I believe, and why I obey, I tell them, because I know it's true. To me, it's like gravity: the evidence is all around. When I obey the Gospel, my life is better, even when it's not so hot. When I don't, it isn't. For me, reading Matthew (especially chapters 5, 7, and 25) has been really helpful; thinking on the purpose of the law has helped me apply Gospel principles more effectively, I think.<br /><br />I don't just obey, because it works, though--for me, that's how it starts, or at least how it started. But once I saw how much good it brought into my life, even though my faith wasn't perfect, that gave me a powerful Testimony of Heavenly Father's love for me. And feeling that love, that made me WANT to obey. I think sometimes, you just need to take that leap of faith, and start doing it--and trust that, just by reaching out and trying to have a relationship with Heavenly Father, you're doing the right thing.<br /><br />For me, the metaphor of the branch and vine has always been very compelling; we form our relationship to Him through obedience. In a way, I guess it's the whole "milk before meat" theory; long before I was ready to tackle the theological issues, I had to start somewhere...and for me that was very simple. I built on what I discovered, and that gave me the faith to reach for more.C.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com