The Power and Freedom of Obedience

How is it possible that laws, rules, and commandments, that seem so restrictive to some, can in reality be the pathway to freedom and power in this life? When we are obedient  to God’s laws without understanding why—some call it "blind obedience"—are we really just deceiving ourself? What is the purpose of obedience?

I want to start with a law that we are all very familiar with: gravity. If I were holding a ball and placed it in the air, would it hover? No. Gravity always pulls down, and the ball would fall. No matter how hard I try to place that ball in the air it will always fall. That is the nature of gravity.

Now, on the other hand, if I am a downhill skier and want to increase my speed I know that gravity can assist me. By knowing how the law of gravity works I can use it to enhance my run. Of course, like all things in life, practice is needed. The first time I try to ski down a slope my experience and unsteadiness may give way, gravity may take control, and I might end up rolling down the slope a lot faster than I had planned. But by getting up when I fall, figuring out where I went wrong, and trying again I can improve. If I continue down this path of learning and improving I can eventually—as some olympic athletes can attest—excel. Through the process of learning how to work with gravity, rather than against it, I can have it as my ally as I race down the mountainside.

Our Heavenly Father has given us laws that are just as unchanging as gravity. Any blessing that we receive from our Heavenly Father comes “by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:21). Disobedience, on the other hand, leads to a lack of blessings. Elder L. Tom Perry taught,

“God reveals to His prophets that there are moral absolutes. Sin will always be sin. Disobedience to the Lord’s commandments will always deprive us of His blessings. The world changes constantly and dramatically, but God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging.…

“In a world where the moral compass of society is faltering, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ never wavers, nor should [we]. We must not pick and choose which commandments we think are important to keep but acknowledge all of God’s commandments. We must stand firm and steadfast, having perfect confidence in the Lord’s consistency and perfect trust in His promises” (link to talk).

Throughout the ages God’s laws have been passed down through prophets. By obtaining God’s word—through the scriptures and words of the prophets—we can find His laws, and the blessings that come with them.

In the Doctrine & Covenants, for example, we learn of the blessings that come from obeying the Word of Wisdom.

“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

“And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

“And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

“And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them” (Doctrine & Covenants 89:18-21).

In Malachi we learn the blessings that come from obeying the law of paying an honest tithe.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

“And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:10-12).

Another is the Law of the Fast. In the Bible Dictionary we read, “Fasting, a voluntary abstinence from food, is a principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ for developing spiritual strength” (link to topic). But the blessings are even more numerous as Elder Robert L. Simpson taught.

“One of the most neglected and yet most needed laws for this troubled generation in a modern world of acceleration and distraction is the law of the fast.…

“The world needs self-discipline. You can find it in fasting and prayer. Our generation is sick for lack of self-control. Fasting and prayer help to instill this virtue.

“The world’s future depends upon an urgent return to family unity. Fasting and prayer will help to guarantee it. Each person has greater need for divine guidance. There is no better way. We all have need to overcome the powers of the adversary. His influence is incompatible with fasting and prayer” (link to article).

The Lord has other laws that He gives us, with blessings that may not be as visible. Our obedience to them, however, is still just as vital for our eternal progress. President Thomas S. Monson taught,

“Obedience is a hallmark of prophets; it has provided strength and knowledge to them throughout the ages. It is essential for us to realize that we, as well, are entitled to this source of strength and knowledge. It is readily available to each of us today as we obey God’s commandments” (link to talk).

When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden the Lord gave commandments to help them.

“And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.

“And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me” (Moses 5:5-6).

Adam did not fully understand why he was asked to offer sacrifices unto the Lord, but he trusted the Lord and chose to be obedient.

The Lord will never force us to be obedient. He tutors us through life with experiences to build faith, feel joy, learn from sorrow, and grow through challenges and trials. He grants us innumerable opportunities but leaves the choosing up to us. The choices we make now will have a direct correlation to where, and with whom, we will end up after this life. The Apostle Paul asked,

“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?” (Romans 6:16).

Why is it that obedience to God’s commandments seems to be so critical to our experience here in mortality? Can’t we learn things on our own, without being obedient to God’s laws?

The answer is, yes. We can learn things on our own, and many of us do. However, any time we choose to do things our own way, and on our own terms (rather than the Lord's), the way will be harder. As we try to do things solely on our own we will be left on our own. If we choose to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord we will be provided with much needed guidance and direction. President Monson taught,

“There are rules and laws to help ensure our physical safety. Likewise, the Lord has provided guidelines and commandments to help ensure our spiritual safety so that we might successfully navigate this often-treacherous mortal existence and return eventually to our Heavenly Father” (link to talk).

If we are obedient to God’s laws, commandments, and ordinances we will be blessed and protected with God’s power, we will also gain “light and truth” (see Doctrine & Covenants 93:39). This isn’t to say that life will be without trouble or sorrow—that is why we are here on earth—but it does mean that the troubles and sorrows that come “shall give [us] experience, and shall be for [our] good” (Doctrine & Covenants 122:7). Being obedient does not bring additional trials in our life, but not being obedient will bring additional obstacles to pass over, that are not required for our salvation. Obedience to God’s laws can provide us with freedom to pursue our eternal course, whereas disobedience can hamper our progress. Tad R. Callister expressed,

“Some might contend that freedom comes when there are no laws or restraints. They contend that freedom in its purest form is the right to do anything, anytime, anywhere, without consequence….Does it not seem ironic that such an [eat, drink, and be merry] philosophy is authored by the master slave himself? It was he who was cast out of heaven, who was deprived of a body, who will be bound a thousand years, and who will ultimately be banished to outer darkness. The freedom he promises is illusory; it is a mirage on the desert; it is the very condition that has always eluded his grasp.” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p 257).

Nephi taught that it is by obedience to the commandments that we can avoid the captivity of the devil.

“And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

“And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom” (2 Nephi 2:28-29, emphasis added).

Elder Richard G. Scott reemphasized the importance of obedience to the seemingly small things in life, and the protective power that they provide.

“When we are consistently praying morning and night, studying our scriptures daily, having weekly family home evening, and attending the temple regularly, we are actively responding to His invitation to ‘come unto Him.’ The more we develop these habits, the more anxious is Satan to harm us but the less is his ability to do so” (link to talk, emphasis added).

It is through our obedience to the laws of God that will keep us safe on the Lord’s side of the line. President George Albert Smith often repeated the words of his grandfather, George A. Smith, when he said,

“There is a line of demarcation well defined between the Lord’s territory and the devil’s territory. If you will stay on the Lord’s side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil’s side of that line one inch you are in the tempter’s power and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly because you will have lost the Spirit of the Lord” (link to article).

In the Doctrine & Covenants we learn that when Adam chose to yield—submit to—temptation by transgressing the commandment of God, that is when “he became subject to the will of the devil” (Doctrine & Covenants 29:40). The Savior never yielded to temptation, and was thus never within the devil’s grasp. He is our perfect Exemplar.

Contrary to what some may think, rather that being restrictive obedience to God’s laws gives us more freedom. We always have the freedom to make the initial choice, but we cannot change the consequence that goes with that choice. For example, if we choose a life of smoking we are not free to choose to cancel any negative effects it may have on our lungs. If we choose to be glutenous in our food habits, and lax in our exercising, we are relinquishing our freedom to have the energy that nutrition and active habits will afford us. Rather than being confining Tad R. Callister explained how commandments can help us.

“Commandments are no more restrictive to the spiritual man than street signs are to the motorist. Neither prohibits our progress; to the contrary, they enhance it by serving as guideposts or directional signs to help us find and reach our destination” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p258).

President Monson also expressed,

“There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fulness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide—even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God" (link to talk).

We are here on earth to learn. The Lord has given us many guideposts and signs to follow. Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke of the Lord’s servants being similar to “seasoned river guides [who have been] tutored by life’s experiences; have been trained and mentored by apostles and prophets and other officers of the Church; and, most important, have been tutored by the Lord Himself”. He also explained that “The words of the Lord are found in the scriptures and the teachings of the apostles and prophets. They provide us counsel and direction that, when followed, will act like a spiritual life jacket and will help us know how to hold on with both hands” (link to talk). 

Another guidepost that the Lord has provided us is the perfect example of His Son, Jesus Christ. As we study the life of the Savior we can learn more how to follow His example and become like Him. As we learn about His life we can understand more, in part, of His atoning sacrifice for us. Through the power of Atonement of Jesus Christ we can overcome our challenges, weaknesses, and any unfairness that this life throws in our direction. Through humbly approaching our Savior and Redeemer we can be tutored about the purpose of our individual struggles in life.

As we gain spiritual knowledge, in our efforts to emulate the Savior, we also need to gain secular knowledge as well. But, despite how much knowledge we gain in this life, it will do us no good without obedience to God. In the Garden of Eden, Lucifer tempted Adam and Eve to gain knowledge of good and evil through partaking the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, but in direct disobedience to God’s law. This, in and of itself, should help teach us about the critical importance of obedience to—doing, as opposed to merely knowing— our Heavenly Father’s plan. Bruce C. Hafen taught,

“All of us, like Adam and Eve, must leave God’s presence in the quest for knowledge and growth through personal experience. Our exploration will not cease until we return to his presence, prepared at last to grasp, to comprehend—to receive with full understanding of life’s meaning—the endowment of a Godlike nature. This sacred gift, the greatest of all the gifts of God, transcends infinitely the limits of man’s own power. Knowledge without obedience leads not to a final understanding of life’s meaning, but to ‘sound and fury, signifying nothing.’ On the other hand, knowledge constrained by obedience to God and then fulfilled by the grace of God leads to meaning, sanctification, and eternal joy” (Bruce C. Hafen, The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences, p33).

In life there are things—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—that we will need to suffer through, and sometimes endure for long periods of time. That is part of life. The crucial teaching element that comes with suffering and enduring can be attained as we learn to humble ourselves enough to recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives; and to become more obedience in our trials, not less. I had a good friend once say, “The greatest mistake people make during their struggles in life is to turn away from obedience.” It is our obedience to God’s laws that allows His purposes to be fulfilled in our lives (see Zechariah 6:15).

The more we are obedient in this life the more power we will have in this life, and in the next. Tad R. Callister explained,

“Power comes by obedience. we gain power to play the piano as we obey the law of practicing. We gain mastery over a language as we learn and follow the rules of linguistics. We gain power over the elements as we obey the laws of God. That is why the Lord said to the obedient, ‘Then shall they be gods, because they have all power” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p260).

The Lord also taught us the impact that obedience in this life has on our eternal future.

“Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory” (Doctrine & Covenants 132:20-21, emphasis added).

We have also been taught that, “if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:19, emphasis added). Secular knowledge is necessary, but spiritual knowledge is critical to our progress here on earth. Tad R. Callister stated,

“While God is certainly a proponent of earthly knowledge, he also wants us to know that powers of a higher source flow from the acquisition of spiritual truths. It is this spiritual power that parted the Red Sea, that caused the sun to ‘stand still,’ rivers to change their course, and mountains to flee. This unseen force has calmed the angry sea, quelled the reckless storm, compelled the drought-stricken skies to disgorge their hidden pearls of dew, and, in short, controlled, directed, and governed every native element of the universe” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p256).

The Lord is not trying to force us to obey His laws because He is God. He is teaching us the rules of the eternal laws so that we can learn to work with them. As we trust Him enough to obey those commandments and laws we can gain knowledge and the blessings will unfold—although blessings are not always visible in this life.

So, is it really “blind” obedience if we obey without fully understanding “why”? President Boyd K. Packer taught,

“Those who talk of blind obedience may appear to know many things, but they do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. There is an obedience that comes from a knowledge of the truth that transcends any external form of control. We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see.” (link to talk). 

We may not see the end from the beginning, but seeing with an eye of faith we know that the Lord does know the end from the beginning. We put our faith, our trust, and our obedience, in Him—or, at least we are working toward that end.