Putting us into a position where we can feel the Holy Ghost and have our hearts be acted upon to be changed from natural man to disciple of Christ? That takes faith. We have to act on our faith or it's just wishful thinking and it will slip through our fingers. The commandments give us some definite direction for action.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
The Israelites had a really difficult time being obedient without some pretty direct instructions. That was the original purpose. Now they are a part of good human behavior in general and part of our canon.
They are attributes of God, Whom we are trying to be like.
And I can think of 3 people off the top of my head that God called "perfect" in the scriptures. Job is one. We are, after all, commanded to be perfect. The JST makes it a commandment.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
I think that following the commandments is one of those win-win-win situations that I see with so many divine principles. Just trying to figure out all of the benefits of following the commandments is a formidable task. It blesses the individual and others and it pleases God. In a world where evil is pervasive, the beautiful efficiency, generosity, and wisdom of the Lord's blessings is a comfort to me.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
No one is perfect at keeping the commandments. Hence, we all need Jesus Christ to purify us, else we are unfit for the Kingdom.
So, if keeping all the commandments is not a prerequisite for Heaven (CK) - what are they for?
Yes, I had a hard time with that for a while. I use to be terrified of not being perfect and not keeping them all or figuring it out and dying. We will most likely not be perfect in this world.
The commandments are a guide for us to follow and the point is progression, move forward three steps, slide back two, but you still made progress. We are children before God just as our children are still growing before us.
I think of the parable of the laborers who were all paid the same amount regardless of how long they had been working and all received the same reward, it is really the same. A repentant sinner or one has lived as he should all his life, it is the same.
This is where the grace of Christ comes in to make up the shortfall. This was the plan from the beginning, His intercession for us.
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Lo, there I see my mother, my sisters, my brothers Lo, there I see the line of my people back to the beginning Lo, they call to me, they bid me take my place among them In the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live...forever
1. Commandments are training for Godly/celestial life. Celestial life is a life of great happiness. Following the commandments are a way for us to achieve as much happiness in this life as possible.
2. Keeping commandments is living faith. Not following the commandments is lack of faith or dead faith. Without faith, we cannot receive Christ's grace. Without Christ's grace we cannot be forgiven of our sins. Without forgiveness of sins, we cannot live in heaven. Therefore keeping the commandments is necessary to live in heaven (just remember that it isn't a direct cause, but rather faith).
Oooh, I was gonna ask if anyone else could see them or if they were just my own personal tags. Now I know.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I tagged chicken lady's thread. Whatcha gonna do about it?
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I tagged chicken lady's thread. Whatcha gonna do about it?
