The Nature of Happiness
Understanding the Why and How of Obedience, and the Blessings Which Come After
Within the first pages of the Book of Mormon, a young Nephi cried to His Father in Heaven for strength and understanding. His family had left the comforts of their home, trusting the words of their father that the great city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. No promise was given yet by The Lord that they would be taken to a land of promise, and Nephi, as devoted a son as he was, questioned in his heart the words of his father like his older brothers. In his longing, he called upon The Lord to 'know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, [he] did cry unto The Lord, and behold, He did visit [him], and did soften [his] heart that [he] did believe all the words which had been spoken by [his] father; wherefore, [he] did not rebel against him like unto [his] brothers' (1 Ne 2:16).
This young boy, so filled with faith, was then told by the Lord one of the greatest, and most often repeated, promises in the Book of Mormon: ‘Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart. And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise' (1 Ne 2:19-20). This promise is repeated by Nephi and many other Book of Mormon prophets throughout its pages, and it stands as a promise to us in our day. We are constantly assured by these great men that if we are obedient to the commandments of God, we will prosper in our land, and The Lord will lead us to the promises He has in store for us.
The Nature of that Righteousness which is in Our Great and Eternal Head
From the beginning, mankind has been given commandments of their Father. Already, we have seen that two commandments were given to our first parents while in the Garden of Eden: the first to multiply and replenish the earth and the second to not partake of the forbidden fruit. It was disobedience to the latter commandment that brought about their fall from the presence of God, causing man to become mortal. In this condition, ‘they began from that time forth to call on His name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world.’ In addition to an understanding of the gospel, God provided the commandments whereby they could become more like Him: ‘wherefore, He gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act’ (Alma 12:30-31). These commandments are given by our eternal and unchanging Father in Heaven, and therefore are ‘decrees which are unalterable’ (Alma 29:4). Following these commandments is essential to happiness in this life and reception of eternal life in the world to come. Indeed, so important is obedience that those who do not follow His commandments ‘must be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity’ (Moroni 10:22).
Obedience is pivotal to our Heavenly Father’s plan, but why? One explanation is provided by King Benjamin, after stating the great goodness of God, that we are ‘eternally indebted to [our] Heavenly Father to render to Him all that [we] have and are (Mosiah 2:34). Indeed, as he said in the same chapter, ‘when [we] are in the service of [our] fellow beings [we] are only in the service of [our] God’ (Mosiah 2:17). Yet, as the Book of Mormon progresses, a deeper view of the nature of obedience is presented. Consider the words of Alma to his wayward son Corianton. After speaking of the resurrection, and the restoration to good or evil according to the deeds in this life, we learn an essential truth concerning obedience: ‘do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.’ Why does disobedience have such a powerfully negative effect on mankind? The answer comes at the end of the verse, for the disobedient ‘are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness’ (Alma 41:10-11). This point is later reiterated by Samuel the Lamanite: he spoke of their disobedience and the consequences that would come from continuing in their wickedness. Ultimately, they were told that they would seek ‘all [their] days for that which [they] could not obtain; and [they] have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head’ (Helaman 13:38).
Obedience is essential to the plan of happiness because of the nature of our Heavenly Father. The plan of salvation has been established that mankind may return to their Father in Heaven, ultimately receiving all that He has, and becoming as He is. The verses above make it clear that the nature of God is happiness, and that the joy which God constantly receives is because of His eternal righteousness. Thus, our obedience is essential, for by choosing to give our will to God, and maintaining a righteous obedience to His commandments throughout our mortal lives, we are changing our nature and becoming more like Our Father in Heaven. As we continue in this progression, relying upon the cleansing and empowering nature of the atonement, we can ultimately be cleansed from our iniquity and live eternally with our Father. We will be able to progress in righteous toward perfection and become as He is.
Understanding the nature of our Father in Heaven helps the why of the individual commandments become perfectly clear. Each of the commandments given to us by our loving Heavenly Father help us in some way to gain the attributes that characterize His perfection. Though only a handful of examples are given here, with a little reflection we can come to realize that every commandment guides us in becoming more like our Heavenly Father.
Consider the law of chastity, which is ‘most dear and precious above all things,’ (Moroni 9:9). Disobedience to this law is ‘most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost’ (Alma 39:5). The law of chastity regulates the means through which life is brought into this world, while the shedding of blood takes life out of this world. Consider the nature of God in relation to these actions: He has power to organize spirits, bringing into existence immortal souls which our bodies now house. Likewise, he regulates when life enters and leaves mortality. This is a power that He reserves for Himself, and when mankind toy with this power in this life, they are playing God with the great blessing of mortality.
To one of his sons, Shiblon, Alma the Younger provided counsel on the means through which man can receive strength to keep the law of chastity and many other commandments. Said he, 'see that ye bridle your all passions, that ye may be filled with love' (Alma 38:12). This mortal body is blessed with important natural desires which facilitate the continuation of each mortal life on this earth and provide the means for bringing life into this earth. We are blessed with appetites for food and water, drives for continuing life, and desires for physical intimacy, each other these continuing mortal life on this earth, bringing about the plan of God. Yet these passions, appetites, and desires, if not held in check can result in physical and spiritual harm to ourselves. As part of bridling our passions, The Lord has provided a means for us to increase in greater spirituality. Consider the words regarding the people of Nephi who were of the church of God. They were under great persecution from the wealthy in the church, as well as the from the Gadianton robbers that plagued the area, 'nevertheless, they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God' (Helaman 3:35). These people were sanctified and received strength by yielding their hearts to God, which process began with fasting and prayer. This process of bridling the appetite for food and water increases our spiritual strength and love of God, and parallels the bridling other passions, such as refraining from sexual intercourse before marriage, that increases our love for God and for our fellow man. Why is it that God would ask us to deny our physical desires by going without food, water, or physical intimacy? Why is it that He provides a great outpouring of love and the Spirit to the obedient? The answer comes once more by examining the nature of God: He has control over the elements of the universe. Through which, He creates and destroys worlds, brings forth life and death, and organizes the universe according to His great order. When we bridle our passions, we are exercising control over the fallen elements that make up our mortal bodies, and in a small way we learn to have power over those elements. God desires us to bridle the desires of our natural bodies so that we can learn to control the elements. In this way, we are learning in a small way the very means through which He governs the elements of the universe.
Another commandment which receives a great amount of attention in the Book of Mormon is that all should live common with their substances, the rich providing the means for the poor to have their needs met. Consider the people of Nephi in the two centuries following the coming of Christ. They truly were saints of God, and they were characterized by their willingness to be equal in all things. Of them it was said that 'they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift' (4 Ne 1:3). Years later, the descendants of this great people gave into wickedness, ultimately bringing about the fall of this once great people of God. What catalyzed this process, taking this people from a state of complete righteous to absolute spiritual demise? Though a few individuals had dissented years previous, the fall began because 'there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world. And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them (4 Ne 1:24-25). Within only a few years complete wickedness had engulfed the land, all beginning with the people no longer giving of their substance to the poor and having all things in common. In modern day, the saints were commanded to live this law of consecration for a time, but they eventually lost great spiritual blessings due to their inability to follow this commandment. Instead, the lower laws of tithes and offerings now help us to look outward and bless the lives of others with our abundance.
Our Father, in His great righteousness, is ever mindful of our needs and ever providing for His children. Said King Benjamin, 'are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind' (Mosiah 4:19). God has commanded us to learn to be free of our substance because He is free with His substance, blessing His people liberally with those things of which they stand in need.
Finally, consider the commandment given of the Savior to the people to 'love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you (3 Ne 12:44). He urged them to 'judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again' (3 ne 13:1-2). He pleaded with them to 'forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their tresspasses neither will your Father forgive your tresspasses' (3 Ne 13:14-15). Those of us who acquire these traits have truly gained godliness in their lives, for our Father in Heaven loves His children, judging only with righteous judgment and forgiving those who come to Him in humility seeking forgiveness of their sins.
These examples show us that each of God’s commandments were given as templates to help us learn to become as our Father is. As we seek to know His will, learn of His commandments, and follow them, each day we receive more of His nature into our lives. In a coming day, our bodies are clothed with immortality, and if we learned to come to Christ as follow His commandments, we may become even as He is.
A Preparation to Hear the Word
In the next chapters, obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel will be shown as the way through which we return to our Heavenly Father. However, obedience to these principles cannot come by following our natural desires, for ‘the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father' (Mosiah 3:19). Consequently, the first step in the path to coming to Christ and becoming as our Father in Heaven is through putting off the natural man through humble submission of our will to God. Only after this humility occurs will righteous obedience to our Father's commands follow.
Consider the story of the oppressed of Zoramites, who had been cast out of the synagogues for the coarseness of their clothing. Alma had come to reclaim the zoramites, but the wealthy of this apostate people would not hear the words of the prophet. While he was preaching to the rich and prideful individuals of the city, the 'foremost' of those who had been cast out entreated Alma, saying 'behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do' (Alma 32:5)?
Immediately, Alma turned away from the proud who would not hear him, instead seeing that, the afflictions of the oppressed ‘had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word' (Alma 32:6). Without hesitation, 'he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent' (Alma 32:7). These people, we learn, were compelled by their afflictions to be humble and they now spiritually ready to hear the words which Alma longed to speak to them. How fitting, then, that his first words to them would be concerning faith, which is the first law of the gospel in the path to coming to our Savior.
Do you struggle with submission of your will to God? Does the natural man hold sway on your heart, keeping your from complete obedience to the commandments which you have received? If so, seek for humility, that you may be 'easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity;' that you may be 'quick to hearken unto the words of The Lord' (Helaman 7:7).
That Which Ye Have Seen Me Do
The pages of the Book of Mormon abound in examples of individuals who demonstrate righteous obedience to the commandments of God. Yet, there is one example of complete submission to the will of the Father that outshines all others: the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Already, we have discussed how He is both the Father and the Son, the Father because He submitted His will entirely to His Father, acting as His Father would act in every case. We have seen examples of His many miracles, a testimony to His continual desire to serve mankind. We have read His many teachings, which show to all man what they should do in this life to inherit eternal life. In the next chapters, we will explore His gospel, which He lived perfectly, as the way to return to His Father.
If we desire to be perfectly obedient, we can study the life, teachings, and deeds of Jesus Christ. As the only perfect and sinless man to live on this earth, His is a our righteous example of how we should live our lives in order to return to our Father in Heaven. May we follow the words, the life, and the actions of Christ and take upon us to live His commission which he gave to His apostles: 'verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do' (3 Ne 27:21).
The Blessed and Happy State of those that keep the Commandments of God
Our Father in Heaven asks us to be obedient to His commandments, for only through complete submission of our will to His will we be able to return unto Him. Yet, 'if [we] should render all thanks and praise which [our] whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created [us], and has kept and preserved [us], and has caused that [we] should rejoice, and has granted that [we] should live in peace one with another...that if [we] should serve Him who has create [us] from the beginning, and is preserving [us] from day to day, by lending [us] breath, that [we] may live and move and do according to [our[ own will, and even supporting [us] from one moment to another...if [we] should serve Him will all [our] whole souls yet [we] will be unprofitable servants' (Mosiah 2:20-21).
Instead of offering hope of eternal life as the only motivator for our obedience, 'all that He requires of [us] is to keep His commandments; and...if [we] keep His commandments He doth bless [us] and prosper [us]' (Mosiah 2:22). Indeed, not only will blessings come, but they come 'immediately' to the obedient, 'therefore He hath paid 'us.' And 'we' are still indebted unto Him, and are, and will be, forever and Ever' (Mosiah 2:24). What great love: God requires the submission of our will to Him, yet our obedience is met with an outpouring of blessings from His hand. This obedience is the only thing that enables humanity 'that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men' (Mosiah 2:4). Indeed, '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 faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of neverending happiness' (Mosiah 2:41).
Often, we speak of obedience as an obligation, thinking only about the cost of submitting our will to Him. Yet, the atonement of Christ perfects the obedient who came to Him, offering them an eternal state of joy. In addition, we receive a great outpouring of blessings from God, immediately, when we choose to follow His commandments. Truly, God is a merciful God, a loving God, and if we obey His words we can truly see His greatness in our lives.
Thus Hath The Lord Commanded Me, and I Must Obey
Though many individuals demonstrate great obedience, Nephi stands out as a pinnacle of faithful obedience throughout his entire life. While his brothers rebelled, his family murmured, and hardships abounded, yet he ever remained faithful. Each challenge was met by his unwavering testimony that he would 'go and do the things which The Lord hath commanded, for [he knew] that The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them (1 Ne 3:7).
His unwavering faith in the Lord helped bless him with confidence to leave his home and travel into the wilderness. When asked to return twice to Jerusalem, a several day journey through the desert, he followed each command without complaint. When the Lord commanded him to build a ship to cross the ocean, he responded humbly with an inquiry of where to obtain ore to make tools. Finally, when his life was threatened by his own family, he dutifully followed the commandments of the Lord to take his family and leave into the uncharted wilderness of the New World.
Within his final words to us, he offers beautiful testimony of the blessing of obedience that came into his life: ‘I glory in plainness; I glory in truth, I glory in my Jesus, for He hath redeemed my soul from hell’ (2 Ne 33:6). He closes his narrative with a statement that typifies is lifelong service and obedience to The Lord: 'for what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath The Lord commanded me, and I must obey' (2 Ne 33:15). May each of us live life with the same dedication to obedience that Nephi demonstrated!
The Way
The path of complete obedience is the path to eternal life. To become as He is, in perfect obedience, we must first respond to His beautiful invitation to ‘come unto [him] all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price’ (2 Ne 26:25). This invitation is extended to all, ‘and He denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and He remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile’ (2 Ne 26: 33). The word ‘invitation’ is crucial, for He respects the agency of man perfectly. As such, ‘whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come’ (Alma 42:27). Yet, for those who choose to change their ways and come to Him, remember that Christ stands ‘with open arms to receive you’ (Mormon 6:17)!
Complete obedience to the Lord follows an exact pattern, as unchangeable as He is (see Alma 37:12). Though dozens of verses in the Book of Mormon testify of the way, none do so as beautifully as the 31st chapter of second Nephi. After testifying of the beautiful example of the Savior in submitting His will to His Father in baptism, we receive the following verses concerning the way that we must follow:
And again, [Christ] showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost...
And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved. Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor cname given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. (2 Ne 31:9-21).
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