Conformance to God’s instructions seems like a restriction to many because few understand that they are for their benefit, not God’s. The commandments are not a gift to God, but a gift from God. God’s desire is for you to obtain all the joy you are willing to receive. Lasting happiness is a question of how similar to God you’ve become.3 God’s commandments are provided to orient us toward greater joy by leading us to better understand how he would think, feel, and act in our place and providing us with sufficient reasons to follow his example.
God’s blessings flow through obedience to his commandments.4 The blessings that flow from keeping God’s commandments aren’t limited to the external outcomes that they bring,5 but the internal benefits of greater peace, meaning, intelligence, and joy.
God’s commandments demonstrate the path to the greatest possible happiness.6 If you desire greater joy, learn all you can about how Jesus would live in your place. Live as you sincerely believe Jesus would in all things, at all times, and in all situations. Do not yield to any ideas or actions that divert you in any way from this path. Following your model will lead to greater and longer-lasting joy than anything else. Nothing will yield a more direct path to greater happiness than God’s commandments.7
Footnotes
- 1. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father. And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. (D&C 84:44-52) ↩
- 2. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you. (D&C 50:25) And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever. But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them. (D&C 103:7-8) ↩
- 3. ...the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness.... (Alma 44:5) ↩
- 4. And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. (2 Nephi 1:20) ↩
- 5. Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day. (1 Chronicles 28:7) ↩
- 6. And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Mosiah 2:41) ↩
- 7. ...the word of Christ...will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss.... (Alma 37:44) ↩