LDS Place

How do we know if we are wise or foolish? When we hear inspired counsel, we obey. That is the test of wise or foolish.

What does it profit us if we listen to wise counsel and do not heed the words? Of what use is experience if we do not learn from it? What good are the scriptures if we do not cherish the words and incorporate them into our lives?

Joseph B. Wirthlin

“One of the sneaky ploys of the adversary is to have us believe that unquestioning obedience to the principles and commandments of God is blind obedience. His goal is to have us believe that we should be following our own worldly ways and selfish ambitions. This he does by persuading us that “blindly” following the prophets and obeying the commandments is not thinking for ourselves. He teaches that it is not intelligent to do something just because we are told to do so by a living prophet or by prophets who speak to us from the scriptures.

Our unquestioning obedience to the Lord’s commandments is not blind obedience.”

R. Conrad Schultz – Faith Obedience – Liahona July 2002

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15.)

Learning to put these simple words into practice is one of the premier lessons of life. And for parents who want to influence their children to keep the commandments, the challenge often seems perplexing.

Almost as perplexing for parents is how to encourage their children to obey them. Parental complaints—“Jim won’t do his share around the house,” “Sharon chooses the wrong kind of friends”—are common.

(continue reading…)

“The 2010 Mutual theme is the third instance of the Lord’s call to Joshua to ‘be strong and of a good courage’ (Joshua 1:9). That same call to courage is yours. And the same promises are yours as well. With the Savior’s help, you too will succeed in your callings and in your life. You will have strength to withstand any temptation as you obey the commandments and keep the standards found in For the Strength of Youth.”

Young Men General Presidency, “Facing Challenges with Courage,” New Era, Jan. 2010, 7

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.

Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day.

Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.

And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands.

For behold, as yet, ye have been obedient unto the word of the Lord, which I have given unto you.

My beloved brethren, I come to this pulpit this evening with profound feelings of love and respect for your faithful obedience in honoring the priesthood you bear. I have prayed for guidance in what I should say because I wish to raise a warning voice. In today’s society, the difference between right and wrong is being obscured by loud, seductive voices calling for no restraints in human conduct. They advocate absolute freedom without regard to consequences. I state unequivocally that such behavior is the high road to personal destruction.

(continue reading…)

Obedience is a powerful spiritual medicine. It comes close to being a cure-all.

Boyd K. Packer, That All May be Edified, 67

“For most of us . . . what is required is not to die for the Church but to live for it. For many, living a Christlike life every day may be even more difficult than laying down one’s life. . . .

“Many think that the price of discipleship is too costly and too burdensome. For some, it involves giving up too much. But the cross is not as heavy as it appears to be. Through obedience we acquire much greater strength to carry it.”

James E. Faust

“We know from the scriptures that Abraham was blessed through his obedience to [the] law [of tithing], and we now have that same law as it was reiterated by the Savior during His visit to the inhabitants of the American continent almost 2,000 years ago:

” ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

” ‘And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts.

” ‘And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts’ (3 Nephi 24:10-12).

“What a marvelous law! He who has not only the power and the means to bless His children temporally and spiritually but also the desire to do so, has provided to us the key to those blessings that we both need and desire. This key is the law of tithing. . . . We have but to obey the law.”

Daniel L. Johnson

“Obedience leads to true freedom. The more we obey revealed truth, the more we become liberated.”

James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1999, 45

“Obedience brings peace in decision making. If we have firmly made up our minds to follow the commandments, we will not have to redecide which path to take when temptation comes our way. That is how obedience brings spiritual safety.”

James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1999, 45

“Obedience helps us develop the full potential our Heavenly Father desires for us in becoming celestial beings worthy someday to live in His presence.”

James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1999, 45