Obedience

We are commanded to obey the Lord

Our work is to keep the Lord's commandments, D&C 11:18-20. The members of the Church are to observe the covenants and articles of the Church, D&C 42:12-13. All the Lord requires of us is to keep His commandments, Mosiah 2:22-24. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, James 1:22. We need works in addition to faith, James 2:24. Man does not live by bread alone, Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:4. We are to keep the Lord's commandments, Ecclesiates 12:13, John 14:15. Hear the Lord and "observe to do it," Deuteronomy 6:3-4. The Lord commands us to come unto him, 3 Nephi 18:25.

The sacrament includes a covenant that we will obey the Lord's commandments, 3 Nephi 18:10-11. In the blessing on the bread we promise to keep the commandments, Moroni 4:3 and D&C 20:77. We need to take upon us the name of Christ and obey Him until the end of our lives, Mosiah 5:8.

Those that keep the commandments and teach others to obey them will be the greatest in the kingdom of God, Matthew 5:17. We are to instruct each other in the commandments, D&C 43:8. "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law," Psalms 119:34-35. Meditate on the law so that you can observe it and be blessed, Joshua 1:8. The scriptures give us the commandments of the Lord, 1 Nephi 4:15. We need to learn our duty and do it, D&C 107:99-100. When Jesus instructs the apostles to go unto all the world, He tells them to teach the people to "observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," Matthew 28:19-20. To obey is better than to sacrifice, 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

We need to be submissive and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, Alma 7:22-23. We are to be as obedient children unto God, 1 Peter 1:13-16. The Lord requires of us "to do justly" and "walk humbly with thy God," Micah 6:8.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God," Matthew 6:31-33 and 3 Nephi 13:31. We need to make our path the way of the Lord, Psalms 37:5. Obey in singleness of heart, fearing God, Colossians 3:22-24. Take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, Joshua 22:5. We are commanded to live by every word from God, D&C 84:44. Turn to the Lord and "rend your heart and not your garments," Joel 2:12-13. Beware lest ye fall from your steadfastness, 1 Peter 3:17. "Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD," Deuteronomy 6:17. The Lord is offend by those who obey not His commandments, D&C 59:21.

The Children of Israel had the tablets of stone to let them know the commandments they were to keep, Deuteronomy 4:13. Moses reminds the people that they need to keep the covenants they made at Horeb, Deuteronomy 5:1-3. The Children of Israel are taught the commandments so they can do them from one generation to the next, Deuteronomy 6:1-2. The Children of Israel need to keep the Lords statutes and judgments, Leviticus 18:26. The Children of Israel were to obey all the Lord has commanded them, Deuteronomy 5:32 and Deuteronomy 7:11.

Josiah asks the priest and others if the Lord expects them to obey the words found in the book in the temple, 2 Kings 22:12-13. The King and people covenant to obey the words found in the book, 2 Kings 23:2-3.

Jesus instructs the people to obey the law of Moses, Matthew 23:1-3. Nephi tells us what the Lord commands we must obey, 2 Nephi 33:15. Paul tells us to be steadfast and unmovable in the work of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 15:58 and Colossians 2:5-8.

In addition to obeying the Lord we need to be obedient of earthly leaders. "Obey them that have the rule over you." I assume that this is talking about in the Church, Hebrews 13:17. Children should obey their parents, Ephesians 6:1-3 and Colossians 3:20. We are to keep the commandments of our fathers, Proverbs 4:1-4, Proverbs 7:1-3 and Proverbs 6:20-22. Wifes should obey their husbands, Titus 2:5. Wives are to be subject to there husbands. The unbelieving husbands can be won by the examples of the wives, 1 Peter 3:1-5. Servants should obey their masters, Titus 2:9. We should be subject to magistrates, Titus 3:1. The 12th Article of Faith says that we believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

The plan of salvation is to see if we will do the things the Lord commands us, Abraham 3:24-25 and Article of Faith 3. To get to the celestial world we need to prepare by keeping the commandments, D&C 78:7.

The analogy of the iron rod is a powerful illustration of obedience 1 Nephi 8:19-28. The rod of iron is the word of God, 1 Nephi 11:25 and 1 Nephi 15:23-24.

Obeying the commandments shows our love for the Lord

We show our love toward the Lord by obeying His commandments, John 14:21 and 1 John 2:3-6.

If we love the Lord we will keep His commandments, D&C 42:29. We show that we know God by keeping His commandments, 1 John 2:3-6. The love of God is to keep his commandments, 1 John 5:2-3 and 2 John 1:5-6.

The first and great commandment is to love the Lord, Matthew 22:35-40. We are commanded to love and serve God, D&C 20:19. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and strength, Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30-31, Moroni 10:32 and D&C 4:2. Deuteronomy 26:16-17. Serve the Lord with all your heart, 1 Samuel 12:20. "Come unto the Lord with all your heart," Mormon 9:27-28.

Those who hear Christ's words and do it are Christ's family, Luke 8:19-21. Jesus tells his disciples that they are his friends because they keep His commandments, John 15:14-15.

Jesus does those things that please the Father, John 8:29.

If we obey the commandments we will be blessed

"Blessed is he that keepeth my commandments," D&C 58:2. Blessed are those who keep the Lord's commandments, Revelation 22:14. "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it," Luke 11:28. The people of Judah will be blessed if they obey the Lord's voice, Jeremiah 7:23. The "obedient shall eat the good of the land," D&C 64:34-36.

If we keep the commandments we will abide in the Lords love, John 15:10. The Lord feels more abundantly toward those who obey Him, 2 Corinthians 7:15-16. The Lord shows mercy to those who keep his commandments, Exodus 20:6. The Children of Israel will be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord if they obey His commandments, Exodus 19:5-6. The people will be the Lord's people if they obey the commandments, Jeremiah 11:4-5.

The Nephites are told that if they keep the commandments they will be blessed, 1 Nephi 2:20, 1 Nephi 4:14, Alma 48:25 and Alma 50:22.

The commands are given to be a blessing for the Lord's people. The Children of Israel were given a very strict law because they needed it, Mosiah 13:29-30. When we don't follow through on the Lord's commands we miss the blessing, D&C 58:31-33. If we do what the Lord commands the gates of hell shall not prevail over us, D&C 98:22. The Lord commands us to keep His commandments for our good, Deuteronomy 6:24, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, and D&C 61:13. I think Paul is telling us the purpose of the commandments is to bring us to have charity, 1 Timothy 1:5.

We gain blessings by obeying the law upon which the blessing is predicated, D&C 130:20-21. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say;" D&C 82:10. "Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, 1 John 3:22-24. By following Jesus' words we can find that the doctrine is of God, John 7:16-17.

We need to "enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow" to receive eternal life, Jacob 6:11. John sees the saints that keep the commandments of God, Revelation 14:12. We must have a steadfastness in Christ to have eternal life, 2 Nephi 31:20-21. If we are steadfast we can go to a better world, Ether 12:4. If we come unto Christ and endure to the end we will be saved, Omni 1:26. Those that obey the Lord's voice and keepeth the commandments will see the Lord's face, D&C 93:1. Through the atonement and our obedience to the gospel we can by saved, D&C 138:3-4. If we keep the commandments we will receive of the Lords fullness, D&C 93:20. No man receives a fullness unless he keeps the commandments, D&C 93:26-28. "He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul," Proverbs 19:16. If we are obedient to the commandments we will be saved, 1 Nephi 22:30-31.

If the people obey they will be blessed, but if not the Lord will punish them, Job 36:11-12. If the Children of Israel walk in the Lord's statutes they will be blessed in the land, Leviticus 26:3-7, Deuteronomy 4:40 and Deuteronomy 30:19-20. The Americas are a land of promise, but the inhabitants must live the laws of God, 2 Nephi 1:9-10. The obedient will eat the good of the land but the disobedient will be destroyed by the sword, Isaiah 1:19-20. If the Saints follow the words of the Lord they will be blessed, but if not they will be as salt that has lost its savor, D&C 103:7-10.

If Judah obeys the word of the Lord people from far off will come and build in the temple, Zechariah 6:15.

We are servants to whom we obey, God or Satan, Romans 6:16-17. We receive our pay according to the spirit we obey either good or bad, Alma 3:26-27, Mosiah 2:32-33 and D&C 29:44-45. Those that continue in Jesus's word will be his disciples, John 8:31.

Abraham and his seed are blessed because of his obedience to the Lord, Genesis 26:4-5.

The wise man builds his house upon the rock by obeying the Lord's sayings, Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:46-49 and 3 Nephi 14:24-27.

Blessed is the servant who does the lord's will, Luke 12:42-43.

Following the Lord can take sacrifice

We are to be willing to observe our covenants by sacrifice, D&C 97:8. Those that look forward unto Christ in spite of the persecution shall not perish, 2 Nephi 26:8. We should be willing to lay down our life for the Lord's sake, D&C 103:27-28. Joseph Smith is commanded to obey the commandments of God and not yield to the persuasions of men, D&C 5:21-22.

Jesus expects us to love him more than even those of our own family, Matthew 10:37-39. The rich young man is told to sell all that he has and follow Christ, Matthew 19:16-22. "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God," Luke 9:62. When Jesus said to one of His disciples "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead" it seems extreme. However, it might be a bit out of context, Matthew 8:21-22 and Luke 9:59-61.

The Lord provides means where we can keep His commandments, 1 Nephi 17:3. Joshua is told to "Be strong and of a good courage" and the Lord will be with him, Joshua 1:9.

I had a bit of a hard time understanding what this scripture meant, but I think it says that through the sanctification of the Spirit Peter became obedient to the faith, 1 Peter 1:2.

Those who don't obey the commandments will be punished

Those who will not obey the Lord's commands will be cut off in the Lord's due time, D&C 56:3-4. If we do not keep the commandments of the Lord we will be cut off from His presence, Alma 9:13-14. Those who obey not the Lords voice will "lie down in sorrow," D&C 133:70-72. If we don't observe the commandments of God we will perish, Mosiah 4:30.

"And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience," D&C 105:6. The Nephites are told that if they don't keep the commandments they will be destroyed, Jarom 1:9-10 Alma 9:12, and Alma 50:20. The Lamanites are a scourge unto the Nephites to remind them to keep the commandments, 2 Nephi 5:25. When Lehi's family didn't obey God they didn't progress in their journey, Mosiah 1:16-17.

If the Children of Israel disobey the Lord they will be punished, Leviticus 26:3 and Deuteronomy 28:58. The people are cursed because they didn't obey the commandments, Daniel 9:8-11. Samuel tells the people they will be destroyed if they do wickedly, 1 Samuel 12:25.

Those that don't do anything until they are commanded and keep the commandment with slotfulness will be damned, D&C 58:26-30. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven," but those who obey, Matthew 7:21-23 and 3 Nephi 14:20-23.

Those who don't obey instruction and their teachers will be destroyed, Proverbs 5:11-13.

Examples of obedience

The gods created the earth and the beasts and saw that they would obey them, Abraham 4:25.

I think one of the best examples of obedience is when Adam was obedient to the commandment to offer sacrifices even though he did not understand why, Moses 5:5-6.

There are many other Old Testament examples of obedience. Noah obeyed in everything the Lord commanded, Genesis 6:22 and Genesis 22:18. Noah obeyed the Lord and saved the human race. Abraham obeyed and became the progenitor of the chosen people, Hebrews 11:7-8. The Lord will bless Abraham because of his obedience and willingness to sacrifice his son to obey God, Genesis 22:12 and Genesis 18:18-19. Sara obeyed Abraham, 1 Peter 3:6. The Children of Israel built the tabernacle as the Lord commanded, Exodus 39:32. The Children of Israel promise to obey the words of the book of the covenant, Exodus 24:7. The Children of Israel promise they will hear the word of the Lord and do it, Deuteronomy 5:27-29. Joshua told the people "choose you this day whom ye will serve," Joshua 24:15. The people convented with Joshua that they would obey the Lord, Joshua 24:24-25. Samuel warned the people that they shouldn't have a king, but they refused to obey the words of Samuel, 1 Samuel 8:19. An other good example of obedience to God's laws is Daniel and his friends refusing to eat the king's meat and wine, Daniel 1:8 and Daniel 1:12-16.

The Book of Mormon has many examples of obedience to God. Lehi obeyed the Lord and took his family into the wilderness, 1 Nephi 2:2. Nephi did the things that the Lord commanded through his father Lehi, 1 Nephi 3:7 and 1 Nephi 3:15-16. Nephi obeyed the voice of the Spirit and killed Laban, 1 Nephi 4:18. Jacob doesn't want to admonish the people over their sins, but wants to strictly observe the commandments of the lord so he does it anyway, Jacob 2:9-10. He does it to magnify his office, Jacob 2:2. Jacob works to "persuade all men not to rebel against God," Jacob 1:8. The people of King Benjamin were willing to covenant to obey God's commandments, Mosiah 5:4-5. Abinadi was killed because he obeyed the commandments of the Lord, Mosiah 17:20. When the people were baptized at the Waters of Mormon they covenanted to obey the Lords commandments, Mosiah 18:8-11. In Alma's day many left the Church but others stood fast in keeping the commandments, Alma 1:24-25. Alma's son Shiblon is commended for his steadiness in keeping the Lord's commandments, Alma 38:2. The converted lamanites were know for their zeal in keeping the commandments, Alma 31:23 and Alma 23:6. The two thousand stripling warriors obeyed with exactness all the commands of Helaman, Alma 57:21. The people of Moroni covenant that they will keep the Lord's commandments, Alma 46:21-22. Just before Christ came to the Nephites the Church was broken up, but there were a few converted Lamanites who were immovable in keeping the commandments, 3 Nephi 6:14. Nephi the son of Helaman is commended because he sought the Lord's will and to keep His commandments, Helaman 10:4.

Lehi named the valley where they camped when the first left Jerusalem Lemuel hoping that it would encourage Lemuel to be firm and steadfast in keeping the commandments, 1 Nephi 2:10.

There are also New Testament examples of obedience. When Jesus called the fishermen to be apostles they immediately obeyed, Matthew 4:18-22. Christ obeyed the will of the Father in suffering at Gethsemane and on the cross, Matthew 26:39. On the day of Pentecost those that were baptized continued stedfastly in the apostles's doctrine, Acts 2:41-42. Paul declares that he has fought a good fight and kept the course, 2 Timothy 4:6-8. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, Romans 1:16.

Joseph Smith would not deny his commitment to God in spite of the persecution, Joseph Smith—History 1:24-25.

Hyrum is told his work is to keep the commandments, D&C 11:18-20.

Miscellaneous

Have you experienced the change of heart that makes you want to obey God always, Alma 5:26-28.

Sometimes it is difficult to keep all of the Lord's commandments at the same time. Adam was commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Genesis 2:16. He also commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth, Genesis 1:27-28 and Moses 2:27-28, which couldn't happen till they partook of the fruit.

The Lord's voice shall be obeyed in spite of the wicked, D&C 63:5-6.

When Peter and John were brought before the counsel they told them that they should obey God rather than man, Acts 5:29.

Paul likens bringing our thoughts and actions into obedience to Christ as a warfare, 2 Corinthians 10:2-6. The tongue can't be tamed, James 3:2-8.

Christ had to learn obedience one step at a time even though He never made a wrong decision, Hebrews 5:8. In being baptized he showed his humility and obedience to the father, 2 Nephi 31:7-8.

There was obedient to the faith among all nations, Romans 1:5. This scripture (Romans 16:26) is similar in that it talks about obedience to the faith, but I think it is really talking about the possibility of the gospel going to all nations.