I apologize in advance for my attempt to review yet another lesson that I did not attend. I was able to attend the lesson on Obedience in Utah, so it has been on my mind. Thank you, Marvetta, for your preparation and service.
We have been given a list of commandments that we are invited to obey in the Lord's church. The following scripture account always reminds me that the list of commandments is given to teach us how we may continually progress in our ability to keep the two great commandments:
When Jesus was on the earth, a lawyer asked Him a question: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22: 36-40).
The Gospel Principles manual reminds us that "the kingdom of heaven is governed by law, and when we receive any blessing, it is by obedience to the law upon which that blessing is based (D&C 130:20 -21). The Lord has told us that through our obedience and diligence we may gain knowledge and intelligence (D&C 130:18-19). We may also grow spiritually (Jeremiah 7:23-24). On the other hand, disobedience brings disappointment and results in a loss of blessings."
I have experienced sorrow in my life when I have reaped the natural consequences of my own disobedience. I have experienced an overwhelming sense of joy when I have reaped the natural consequences of my obedience. I know that the Lord is fair, just, merciful, and that He desires to bless us, and has given us instructions as to how we may obtain these blessings.
