I often wonder, like probably any other latter-day saint, why we need commandments. They often feel like needless restrictions put in place just to test if I'm truly willing to do whatever God tells me to. Like, sure, I understand no killing or lying or stealing, but things like the Word of Wisdom and the law of chastity feel like micromanagement of people's lives.
But, if you read the scriptures, you will find many references to the nature of man. Yes, there are so many things that people do that are contrary to the commandments of God and yet they seem to be so happy. But these thoughts come from seeking to understand God by logic and not by faith, through the special lenses of the Spirit.
When we put aside the logical, left-half of our brain and seek to understand the principles of the Gospel next to Christ, instead of across from Him, seeking a stance of opposition, we can see the world more clearly. But I believe that there are just some things that, despite what may make logical sense to us, are contrary to the nature of happiness.
And while I am not discrediting those who say they have found happiness in some of the things we are commanded to do or not do, I feel like happiness in its purest form is found within the commandments. My patriarchal blessing says that God wants "only the best" for me, and what perfect parent wouldn't want the highest kind of happiness for their children.
I think that it would be indicative of the falsehood of the perfect love of God is He did let us have or do whatever we wanted. He asks us to do and not to do certain things, because He knows that those actions will allow satan to act as a parasite to our souls, leeching on the natural man and clouding our relationship to our divine selves.
And even when we are doing the things that He asks, we are worthy of the Holy Spirit's companionship, and we ask for something in the righteous desires of our hearts, sometimes He still withholds blessings.
But just as an earthly parent limits the amount of candy a young child can eat because they know it is bad for him, so does God withhold the blessing we so dearly desire, because it is not in our best interest.
But, if you read the scriptures, you will find many references to the nature of man. Yes, there are so many things that people do that are contrary to the commandments of God and yet they seem to be so happy. But these thoughts come from seeking to understand God by logic and not by faith, through the special lenses of the Spirit.
When we put aside the logical, left-half of our brain and seek to understand the principles of the Gospel next to Christ, instead of across from Him, seeking a stance of opposition, we can see the world more clearly. But I believe that there are just some things that, despite what may make logical sense to us, are contrary to the nature of happiness.
And while I am not discrediting those who say they have found happiness in some of the things we are commanded to do or not do, I feel like happiness in its purest form is found within the commandments. My patriarchal blessing says that God wants "only the best" for me, and what perfect parent wouldn't want the highest kind of happiness for their children.
I think that it would be indicative of the falsehood of the perfect love of God is He did let us have or do whatever we wanted. He asks us to do and not to do certain things, because He knows that those actions will allow satan to act as a parasite to our souls, leeching on the natural man and clouding our relationship to our divine selves.
And even when we are doing the things that He asks, we are worthy of the Holy Spirit's companionship, and we ask for something in the righteous desires of our hearts, sometimes He still withholds blessings.
But just as an earthly parent limits the amount of candy a young child can eat because they know it is bad for him, so does God withhold the blessing we so dearly desire, because it is not in our best interest.
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