Lesson #13 in the Joseph Smith manual for this year’s course of study is entitled, “Obedience: ‘When the Lord Commands, Do It.’” This was Joseph Smith’s personal philosophy of life and his every action showed it. He was a little rough around the edges, but he was unfailingly obedient to the things he was asked to do.
We begin this lesson with a reminder of the many times the early Saints were asked to move to join with the body of the Church. They came from New York to Kirtland, later to Nauvoo, and then ended up in Salt Lake City, from there to spread outwards to settle the West. They immigrated from Europe, all for the cause of obedience.
We also read the story of the day Newell K. Whitney, owner of the mercantile in Kirtland, first laid eyes on the Prophet. He was working in his store when a sled pulled up outside and a man jumped out and greeted him by name. He said, “I am Joseph, the Prophet. You’ve prayed me here; now, what do you want of me?” Orson F. Whitney later embellished on the story, providing the detail that Joseph had indeed seen Newell in a vision, on his knees fervently praying for the truth to be brought into his life.
As we move into the body of the lesson, we learn that we must do all things the Lord has commanded us. We might live some commandments fully, but until we embrace all of them, we will still come up short. As members of the Church, it behooves us to seek the will of the Lord and then to do it. When we make God our guide and our protector, we are truly safe. If we rely on other sources for our comfort and aid, we will fall.
It’s not enough alone to believe in Christ. We must also do what Christ has said we must do. We must be virtuous and pure, have integrity and speak the truth. We must live the commandments of God, and as we do this, we’ll more clearly understand the difference between good and evil and be able to more clearly see our paths.
We are reminded that our blessings are predicated on keeping certain heavenly laws, and if we will but keep those laws, the blessings are ours. Additionally, learning to keep those laws prepares us to live in the celestial kingdom and keep the laws that govern that holy place.
The lesson closes with the reminder that our Heavenly Father’s eyes are upon us at all times, and He knows the extent to which we have been obedient. Therefore, we should strive even harder to live our lives in accordance with His desires for us.
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