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.
(Mosiah 2:41)
In the passage above, King Benjamin teaches us an important principle: God’s commandments make us happy both in this life and in the next. Yes, they do expect us to defer gratification, and yes, they do require us to make sacrifices. But they do so in order to train us to live a sustainably happy life. As Elder Von G. Keetch has taught:
The Lord’s commands do not constitute some grueling underwater maze of barriers that we must learn to grudgingly endure in this life so that we might be exalted in the next. Rather, the barriers established by the Lord create for us a safe harbor from the evil and destructive influences that would otherwise drag us down to the depths of despair. The Lord’s commandments are given out of love and caring; they are intended for our joy in this life just as much as they are intended for our joy and exaltation in the next (“Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God,” General Conference, October 2015).
Today, I will strive for exact obedience to the commandments of God, remembering that obedience to those commandments will help me to be happy both today and in the future.
Great analysis! Thank you.
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