Keep the Commandments

"Keep the commandments, keep the commandments,
In this there is safety, in this there is peace"

What beautiful words from a simple primary song.  Recently I read 1 Nephi 3-4 and discovered that there is so much more to that phrase "Keep the Commandments".  Indeed these chapters use the phrase or phrases close to it at least 13 times.  You know that strange feeling you get when you write or look at a word for so long it looks like it has been misspelled?  I felt something akin to that as I read and reread the word "commandment".  It was as if I couldn't grasp what the word really meant.  I wanted to understand that word better.  What is a commandment?  Why is it so important to keep it?

Recognizing the two parts of the word, I decided to use my Dictionary.com app to quickly look up the word command and the suffix, -ment.  The word 'command' can be a verb or a noun.  The act of giving an order or command is the verb (i.e. The general commanded his troops).  The specific order is also call a command (i.e. The command was to march).  In any case it typically denotes an order given by one who has authority over another and this authority is usually bestowed upon one who deserves and has earned it.  It is understood that those who follow such a command would do so out of respect either in a positive light because they want to obey or in negative way out of fearful respect for the power held by the commander.

It would have been just as, if not easier, to say in each case, "Keep the commands of the Lord", "be faithful to the Lord's commands", etc.  So it was interesting that they bothered to add -ment at all.

The suffix, -ment, is placed at the end of a noun to make it concrete and denote an action or resulting state.  The addition of this particular suffix adds greater authority.  A command-ment is concrete, solid, unchanging and what is more, it implies further that there must be action in response to the command.  It is not a request or order that will just go away if we ignore it.  The consequences of breaking a command from one holding worldly authority could be quite negligible. Obedience to a commandment from the Lord  can be the difference between living spiritually and physically or dying in either respect.  In this case Lehi's family and ancestors would need to understand all the commandments of the Lord in order to prosper and grow in the promised land.

Nephi understood this.  He knew that every commandment given of God was solid and unchanging and that if not followed negative consequences would result.  He recognized God's authority as the ultimate authority and knew that God would fulfill His great and wise purposes in His own way.  He respected God's judgement and did strive to keep the commandments out of faith that God knew what was best.  Even as it came time to smite Laban lying drunken on the streets of Jerusalem we see Nephi's struggle and also his faith.  Could he really break one commandment in order to fulfill another?

There were consequences to murder and they were death.  I can imagine Even felt much the same way.  The consequence for eating the forbidden fruit was also death. For Eve, knowledge, family, and eternal progression for all mankind were on the line.  Nephi's situation wasn't much different as his family faced going to a new land without a full record of the laws and commands they were to follow.  Such a loss would likely ruin any chance of progression for Nephi's future family.  Nephi was thus commanded by the same creator of the law against killing to kill in order that future generations might live spiritually, knowing the law and keeping it.  This is the reason the Spirit tells Nephi, "It is better that one man should perish than that a nation shall dwindle and perish in unbelief." (1 Nephi 4:13)  Nephi's faith in the Lord's purposes led him to be able to that which was necessary for the greater good.

This anecdote brings in the theme of sacrifice that is tied to keeping the commandments we are given.  We must make sacrifices as ordered by the Lord that we and others may grow and improve.  "Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25), Christ suffered all that we might live again, parents give up money, comfort, and time to raise children.  In all the cases I can think of the commandments require us to give up something we enjoy for the betterment of ourselves and others.  The key to motivating ourselves to willingly keep commandments is to be as Nephi.  We must:

• Recognize the authority from which the commandment comes
• Decide the level of respect we have for that authority
• Have faith in the promises that authority has made to us
• Act, even when we can't see to what the action may lead

Nephi said, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know 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 Nephi 3:7)  

He also stated, "...let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord..." (3 Nephi 3:16, 4:1) and, "Surely the Lord hath commanded us  to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord?..."  Nephi was willing to sacrifice all because he had faith in the consequences of obeying the commandments of the Lord.  He knew that by fulfilling the commandments that he would be given safety and peace.  We too will receive that safety and peace as we keep the commandments of the Lord.

The Challenge of Laying Hold on Every Good Thing

As a little girl, it was very easy to tell that which was good from that which was bad.  If it was pretty and colorful or made of sugar or chocolate or if it was a book, it was usually good.  If it was dark (including dark chocolate), hard, uncomfortable, or painful it was bad.

We know this from Moroni 7:12-13:

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

Grateful as I am for this definition and its clarity on my childish understanding, it has lead me to realize: that which is good is not always pretty, pink and fluffy, and that which is bad is not always sharp, disappointing, and unfortunate.  Our lives are filled with beautiful, horrible things and painful wonderful experiences.

Consider on this: I have two wonderful sisters and two fantastic sisters-in-law.  The four of them have brought into this world the most beautiful children I have ever seen, who have grown to be some of the greatest youth in the Church.  I admire them, their decisions, and their examples.  But if you ask my sisters, the combined 135 months (11 and a quarter years) they spent being pregnant, were NOT the most comfortable and painless experiences.  And that doesn't even include the occasionally painful things they have had to face in raising those 15 beautiful children over the past 15 and a half years.  That which is good is not always painless.

Now think on this: Some of the brightest lights and most colorful scenes are found in New York City.  While many of the flashing lights of Broadway proclaim innocent advertisements and worth while theater, underneath the surface runs a current of filth.  On my first trip to New York I was greeted happily by the bright lights and excitement of the big Apple.  Yet, I was surprised to find in the midst of the dazzling glow of Times Square and Broadway a smaller, but brightly colored sign above the entrance to a club.  Once my naive mind realized what it really was, I was first of all confused by the word "Gentlemen" in this establishment's name, and then realized that all that is bright and beautiful is not good.

"For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water;  wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil." --Moroni 7:11

I read this verse with new insight this time around.  I considered on my stage in life and the many things I could be bitter about.  I considered on friends whose lives were being wasted on being bitter.  Obviously, most of you will read this and think, "Oh, she means being single."  Well, yes, that too.  But there are other things I could be bitter about.  Some know that about 9 months ago I had applied to and interviewed for entrance to George Washington University, my dream graduate school at the time.  Due to what I can only explain as a lack of work experience, I was not accepted.  For a while this past year I very easily could have been bitter about the difficulty of finding employment.  Today is fast Sunday and I could very well be bitter about the fact that as I am writing I haven't eaten in 23 hours and counting.  "A bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water..."  This was the best argument I had ever heard against becoming bitter.  When we become bitter, no matter what the reason or cause, we have a more difficult time doing that which is good and positive, and end up bringing forth that which is bitter, painful, and uncomfortable, instead of that which is sweet.

Combining these two thoughts in adjacent verses I discovered an amazing thing.  All too often we take those things that Heavenly Father has blessed us with, those things we think should be bright and fluffy but are more often sharp and painful, and make them into reasons to become bitter because we fail to recognize them as good things in our life.  A warning arises in the following verses (Moroni 7:14-15):

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. 
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. 

To a girl unmarried, a student unaccepted, a worker unemployed, a human being hungry, more dates (particularly first dates...), more school applications, more employment applications, and the resistance of food are NOT good things.  The girl, student, worker, and human being see each of these things as necessary evils they must go through in order to received their desired outcome.  As they are seen in an evil light, it is easy for that little piece of negativity to embitter the entire fountain from which they draw.  The same could happen with any good thing we are given from God that we do not recognize as good things.  Instead of realizing our goals we turn to condemning and giving up on them.  Unfortunately, if not corrected this could lead to a long life of disappointment, depression, and sin.

Having been all of these things (and at least one of them currently), I can see clearly now, in at least three circumstances, the beauty of the trials I have passed through.  Not getting accepted to grad school lead to a grueling job search.  Yet, while I was not fully employed, I had the wonderful opportunity of substitute teaching seminary and serving in many other capacities.  As for fasting, let's face it, food always tastes better after not eating for 24 hours, not to mention other immediate blessings of the satisfaction of self control and a closeness to the spirit not found in indulgence.  In each instance I realized that these "necessary evils" weren't evil at all, and believe it or not, I'm even starting to believe that about dating too.

"It is given unto you to judge...For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ...Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ."

Moroni 7:15-16, 19

We indeed have the responsibility for righteous judgement and to "lay hold upon every good thing".  It is in recognizing the good things and not condemning them, even when the good means pain and discomfort for a time, that we become the "Children of Christ".  This life isn't easy; it was never meant to be. If it were we would never be able to understand the true depth of the love our Father in Heaven has for us.  The easy love, easy education, easy money, and easy food generally leads to more and longer lasting pain, disappointment, and discomfort.  I'm grateful for the trials in my life, even the ones I currently have to go through.  I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to allow me to be tried and tested and molded into a better person each day.  Will I still complain about my trials now and then?  Of course! I am human.  Yet with this greater insight, I hope that throughout my trials I will always be able to recognize them, not as necessary evils, but as my greatest blessings.