Light vs. Darkness

Doctrine and Covenants 50:23-24

23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

Moroni 7:13

13...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.

These are a few of my absolute favorite scriptures because they teach us how to know right from wrong or light from dark.

In the past, whenever I questioned if what I was doing was the right thing to be doing I would ask myself if I was edified while participating in that particular activity. To edify means to uplift, instruct, or encourage you to intellectually, morally, and/or spiritually improve. So more simply I would ask myself if I was being uplifted or if I was improving while engaging in that particular activity. Sometimes I found that what I was doing wasn't necessarily bad but maybe it wasn't the best thing I could've been doing.

Along with edifying us, the way we spend our time and the choices we make should also invite and entice us to do good continually. I love the word continually. In both scriptures the word is used. If we do good continually and continue in God we will receive more light that will continue to grow as we continue to do good. I really like the word continue because it means that we never leave or depart from that which is good. It means that we endure and are persistant even when it might be hard to choose light over dark or to be constantly obedient.

Both of these scriptures can be used to check ourselves and to continually watch ourselves. I think we would be perfectly guided in our daily pursuits if we asked ourselves if what we were doing edified, invited, and enticed us to do good and to become better.

Blessed by Obedience

This is another portion of the talk a gave a few weeks ago.

Elder Paul V. Johnson - Every time we are obedient…we reap great blessings. We receive more blessings than we can understand at the time, and we continue to receive blessings long after our initial decision to be obedient.

Here is a list of just 10 of the many blessings that come from being obedient:

1 – PROTECTION AGAINST SATAN
Elder Wirthlin - Willing obedience provides lasting protection against Satan’s alluring and tantalizing temptations.
Elder Ted E. Brewerton - "If we do not obey, the power to obey is lessened. Our capability to recognize good is weakened." If we do obey, then our power to obey is stregthened.

2 – CONSTANT COMPANIONSHIP OF THE HOLY GHOST AND THE GIFT OF PERSONAL REVELATION
Elder Robert D. Hales - Our diligence in keeping the commandments allows the Holy Ghost to dwell within us. We are given the gift of personal revelation. This is a spiritual light that protects us and serves as a beacon, guiding us in righteous ways.” (So with constant obedience you can have the constant Companion of the Spirit.)

3 – ENDOWED WITH POWER
President Benson - "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment, God will endow us with power."

4 – RECEIVE HEAVENLY FATHER’S LOVE
John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father”

5 – GREATER SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND A STRENGTHENED TESTIMONY
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine...
Simple phrase from the friend – I CAN GAIN A TESTIMONY BY BEING OBEDIENT

6 – HAPPINESS AND PEACE
Elder Wirthlin – (When you are obedient)You will enjoy your life more; you will be happier and at peace with yourself because you will know that your life is acceptable to your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

King Benjamin also taught this principle. "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. (Mosiah 2:41).

7 – RECEIVE ANSWERS TO PRAYERS
D&C 101:7 They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. So if we are quick to obey, the Lord will be quick to hearken to our prayers.

8 – WE BLESS OTHER’S LIVES
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp: - “When you keep the commandments and follow the Savior’s example, it’s like holding up a light. Your good example helps others to find their way in a darkening world.”

9 – BE BETTER IN EVERTHING WE UNDERTAKE IN LIFE
Elder Wirthlin - In addition to helping you to become better servants of the Lord, obedience…will help you to be better in everything you undertake in life, whether it be your activity in the Church, your family, education, business, profession, science, athletics, or any other worthwhile endeavor…

10 – ETERNAL LIFE
Robery D Hales: “How I love the commandments of the Lord! They guide and protect us and allow us to return back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. If we faithfully obey the commandments, we are promised the blessings of eternal life. Eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7), is to be exalted and to live with Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ in all the eternities to come. He dearly wants us to return to Him.