Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 35: Obedience
Concept 7: The Obedient Gain Eternal Life
"The Lord counsels us, "If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (D&C 14:7).
The Lord has described other blessings that will come to those who obey him in righteousness and truth until the end:
"Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
"And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom
"Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
"And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven . . .
"For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man." (D&C 76:6-10).
Discussion
2 Nephi 31:16 "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."
Why is it important to endure to the end?
Additional Scriptures
Abraham 3:25 (we came to earth to test our obedience)
"25 And we will 25a">prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;"
1 Samuel 15:22 (obedience is better than sacrifice)
"22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Ecclesiastes 12:13; John 14:15; Romans 6:16; D&C 78:7; 132:36; Deuteronomy 4:1-40 (we should obey God)
Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Romans 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
D&C 78:7 "For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you."
D&C 132:36 "Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness."
Deuteronomy 4:1-40
2 Nephi 31:7 (Jesus Christ was obedient)
"7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments."
Proverbs 3:1-4; 6:20-22; 7:1-3; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20 (children should obey their parents)
Proverbs 3:1-4
"1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."
Proverbs 6:20-22
"20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."
Proverbs 7:1-3
"1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart."
Ephesians 6:1-3
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Colossians 3:20 "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord."
D&C 21:4-6 (obey the prophet)
"4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to dc/21/6c">shake for your good, and his name's glory."
John 8:31-32; Mosiah 2:22, 41; D&C 82:10; 1 Nephi 2:20 (blessings for obedience)
John 8:31-32
"31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my >disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Mosiah 2:22, 41
"22 And behold, all that he requires of you is keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.;
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should 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 out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
D&C 82:10 "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
1 Nephi 2:20 "And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands."
D&C 58:21-22; 98:4-6; 134 (obey the laws of the land)
D&C 58:21-22
"21 Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.
22 Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under his feet."
D&C 98:4-6
"4 And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.
5 And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;"
D&C 134 "A declaration of belief regarding governments and laws in general, adopted by unanimous vote at a general assembly of the Church held at Kirtland, Ohio, August 17, 1835. HC 2: 247 249. The occasion was a meeting of Church leaders, brought together to consider the proposed contents of the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. At that time this declaration was given the following preamble: That our belief with regard to earthly governments and laws in general may not be misinterpreted nor misunderstood, we have thought proper to present at the close of this volume our opinion concerning the same.
1-4, Governments should preserve freedom of conscience and worship; 5-8, All men should uphold their governments, and owe respect and deference to the law; 9-10, Religious societies should not exercise civil powers; 11-12, Men are justified in defending themselves and their property."
Isaiah 60:12; dD&C 1:14; 93:39; D&C 132:6, 39 (consequences of disobedience)
Isaiah 60:12 "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted."
D&C 1:14 "And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;"
D&C 93:39 "And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers."
D&C 132:6, 39
"6 And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my lory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God .
39 David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord."
2 Nephi 31:16; D&C 53:7; Matthew 24:13; Luke 9:62 (endure to the end)"
2 Nephi 31:16 "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."
D&C 53:7 "And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who endureth unto the end. Even so. Amen."
Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."