Stake Conference June 2021
Loving Obedience
Recently a young sister who was married in the temple, served a full-time mission and graduated from BYU told me that she felt that the church puts too much emphasis on obedience, justice and judgement and that the focus should be on love, inclusion and tolerance. That it probably wasn’t as important that we obey every law and we shouldn’t put so much pressure on people to be obedient. People should be able to be and do what makes them happy without judgement.
Her words reminded me of someone else, Korihor who's doctrine is recorded in the Book of Mormon.
Alma 30
24 Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I say they are in bondage. Ye say that those ancient prophecies are true. Behold, I say that ye do not know that they are true.
25 Ye say that this people is a guilty and a fallen people…
26 And ye also say that Christ shall come. But behold, I say that ye do not know that there shall be a Christ. And ye say also that he shall be slain for the sins of the world--
27 And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage…that they durst not look up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges.
28 Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their own lest they should offend their priests, who do yoke them according to their desires, and have brought them to believe, by their traditions and their dreams and their whims and their visions and their pretended mysteries, that they should, if they did not do according to their words, offend some unknown being, who they say is God…
If we were to bring Korihor's words up to date it might sound something like this:
You're telling me that people are free to do as they please, but all I see is a bunch of church leaders dishing our commandments and threatening everyone that doesn't obey. You've made obedience more important than being happy. You threaten them with judgement and justice when you should be allowing them to be what they want to be and do what they want to do without judgement.
Alma of course points out to Korihor that the people of the church are happy. That they find great joy in obedience. He shows Korihor that even he knows that what Alma is teaching is true, and that he is deceived.
I've heard this sentiment a number of times lately. Indeed our present culture puts a great deal of emphasis on tolerance and inclusion. These are powerful words, and important concepts that really should be woven into the fabric of who we are as Latter-day-saints. But what exactly do we mean when we say tolerance, or inclusion, or love.
Inclusion should incorporate the idea that everyone has something to contribute to the whole, such that our differences are what improves the society. Today, inclusion means, adapt to my way of doing things and become one of us. Such was the doctrine of the Gadianton leader, King Jacob. Those who didn’t voluntarily accept the offer of inclusion where to be destroyed.
Tolerance, as it applies to people, cultures and societies properly defined is the ability to coexist while maintaining differences through a mutual respect for individuals. Today tolerance is defined as one party being pressured to change to meet the demands of another.
The World would say that love is expressed as the absence of Judgement, and that true happiness is the freedom to act without consequence. Neither of which is realistic and both are ultimately unsustainable.
If love and tolerance are greater than obedience, than what did the Lord mean as recorded in John 14.
John 14:15,21-23
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
It seems that inclusion in the society of God and his Son requires keeping his commandments.
Thus, divine love is expressed in the giving and receiving of Commandments.
Even our love for each other is dependent upon obedience to the commandments of God:
1 John 5:2,3
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments…
According to these verses we might say that obedience is love and love is obedience. The two are inseparable. In matters of faith one is not without the other.
We’re all familiar with the love languages, the manner in which an individual prefers to receive acceptance, affection and appreciation. It seems to me that God, who possesses a perfection of all things must also possess a perfection of all love languages. Therefor, perhaps the way that God prefers to receive acceptance, affection and appreciation is devotion which perfectly incorporates all of the love languages.
To think that one could love God without obeying his word is a gross misunderstanding of God and the principle of love. Now, it is true that the demands of obedience will be relative to one's knowledge. We are not required to do that which we do not know. Joseph's vision of his brother Alvin is an example of this. If we know the will of God, then we are obligated to obey His will to whatever extent it has been revealed to us.
Sentiment, tears, longing, excuses and justification cannot overcome obedience. But, Mercy can. Because we will not be perfect in obedience, effort and desire count. But, It's important to understand that mercy does not excuse sin, but rather, mercy considers effort, desire and repentance.
If our love for god is demonstrated by our willingness to keep his commandments, (and that most often imperfectly) then it would stand to reason that the most loving among us would be the most humble and the most repentant as well.
The list is long of prophet leaders who have taught this principle. King Benjamin, Alma, Nephi, Samuel, Jesus and others. Love of God and of fellow man is wrapped up in obedience and repentance. And how could it be otherwise?
Can we truly love without considering the basis upon which that love is reciprocated? Can we truly repent without considering the reason for that repentance? Can works overcome justice?
Jesus speaks of those who present themselves before him at the judgement touting their works and achievements. He will say to them, "….You never knew me." Why? Because, while they put on a show of devotion, they simply didn't do His will.
The purpose for the covenants we enter into with God is to clearly define the course back to Him. Our obedience to those covenants demonstrates our love and opens the way for Him to bless us, because "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say."
Remember the ten virgins? Five went in and five came to the door late. As the Lord tells this parable it is clear that the 5 foolish virgins wanted in, had made some effort and hoped that it would be enough, but alas, the door was shut and they were not allowed in. Now that does not seem very tolerant, or inclusive does it?
I'm not suggesting that God is a cold and insensitive being, on the contrary. He most certainly loves his children. But, we must understand that His love for us is demonstrated in the commandments that He gives us, and the covenants that He makes with us.
This might be illustrated by considering how a parent might scold a child for playing with matches. Korihor might say that you are depriving the child of his right to choose and therefor his opportunity to be truly free and happy by not allowing him to play with matches. But you know that scolding the child and taking the matches away and laying down some rules is actually an act of love.
Teenagers and young adults test this principle on a regular basis. Parents will say, "Be home by 10:00pm, don't hang out with that crowd, clean your room, do your homework, go to seminary and institute, stay morally clean, don't use drugs, dress modestly, read your scriptures, say your prayers, etc. to them this just sounds like restrictions verbalized by "the frenzied mind" of a paranoid parent who wants to keep them from being free to be what they want to be and do what they want to do.
We've all heard it. "What happened to agency? Why can't you just love me for who I am? Why can't I just do, Me?"
I would say, "NO, STOP, Don't you do you, you do Jesus. Because true happiness is in striving to be like HIM.
The prodigal son tested this principle as he took his inheritance and spent it doing him, being what he wanted to be, doing it his way. He was truly free, as he thought. But when the consequences caught up with him he made this amazing discovery,
Luke 15:17-19
…How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him…I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
He came to see that there was greater peace and happiness in being a servant, confined to rules, laws and boundaries, than to be a rich kid with no law.
So God gives us commandments and makes covenants with us because it is by way of those commandments and covenants that He reveals the way back into His loving arms.
Therefore, obedience to His commandments and making and keeping covenants with Him demonstrate our desire to be in His loving arms.
In the words of Samuel to king Saul,
1 Samuel 15
22 …Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
I testify to these truths…
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