Primary aims of science is to discover additional laws. When scientists discover these higher laws and obey them, marvelous things can happen.
I've been helping Garrett with a report on astronaut Buzz Aldrin so the example of space exploration stands out at the moment. Successful landing of men on the moon is and example of importance of obedience. Many scientists spent years concentrating on discovering and obeying the natural laws that governed gravity, jet propulsion, and other things. Their obedience resulted in the successful landing of a man on the moon.
We can achieve excellence in material and spiritual matters through exercising and utilizing obedience.
The Lord reveals to Joseph Smith the power or Obedience D&C 130:18-19
How can we gain more knowledge.... D&C 130:20-21
Heavenly Father wants us to grow and progress. He laid out the way; ...."HIS WORK AND HIS GLORY to bring to pass the immortality and eteranal life of man" Moses 1:39.
Whenever I get discouraged I always know I have ONE cheerleader :) Possible to progress, advance, and grow through obedience to eternal laws.
Obedience is essential to progression! The Lord wants to help -HE is bound actually. D&C 82:10
The First Law of Heaven = Faith
Heavenly Father is desperate for us to open the door and look for Him. He had given us tools -PROPHETS!
Elder Cook's experience:
"At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcas was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question, how can i possibly do this? I left my office or the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Admin. Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down andI stared blankly at the floor.
The door opened and someone entered, but i didn't look up. As the door closed, i heard someone ask, What are you looking at down there? I recognized the voice -- it was Pres Thomas S. Monson.
I quickly looked up and responded, "oh nothing". Im sure my that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!
But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointed heavenward, "it is better to look up!" As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, "Now remember, it is better to look up."
As we parted, the works of a scripture came to mind: Believe in God; believe that he is....; believe that he has wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth." As I thought of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's power, my heart found the comfort I had sought in vain from the floor of that descending elevator.
Since then I have pondered the i experience and the role of prophets. I was burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I [literally] looked to him. He redirected my focus to look up to God, where I could be healed and strengthened through CHrist's Atonement. That is what prophets do for us. They lead us to God."
when given this talk i was confused for a good week and a half. This was based on personal experience with the prophet, and i don't have one of those that I can draw from. BUT, I got emotional and felt the Spirit every time I read it starting my preparation again and again.
Then after much prayer and pleading, the thought came to me, most definitely through the Spirit;
What are my elevator moments? when am I "overloaded", "preoccupied", say to myself "How can I do this", "stare blankly...." Ive had many now that I have to look back..... new babies, callings, new job, moving, college/school, diagnosis of disease/illness.
This is what prophets do for us, remind us and lead us to God.
Pres Monson is a wonderful example of looking up. He should and could be weighed down and overwhelmed. He exercises great FAITH, obedience, optimism, and love for others. He has a can do, will do attitude. Trust the Lord. Relies on promises blessings and promises him----> the Lord blesses him.
Pres Monson exemplifies looking up to God. If we follow the prophets lead we won't feel overloaded, preoccupied.
How can i? If I think about my worries, carpools party details, vacation plans, being on time, gardeneing, bills..... these are really of no significance - certainly not eterenal. if it was the Lord would help me. when I have faith to LOOK UP!
When the children of Israel were bitten by poisonous serpents, Moses was commanded to raise up a brass serpent on a pole. The brass serpent represented Christ. Those who looked up at the serpent, as admonished by the prophet, were healed. But many failed to look up, and they perished.
Cook suggests the experience with Pres. Monson in the elevator is a metaphor to Remember Christ. It gives us power. Knowledge and strength to exercise the Atonement in our lives whereby we are RELIEVED of our anxieties, FORGIVEN and healed of sin, FAITH and strength to endure to the end.
When I ask a child in my home to follow instructions/obey I sometimes get a response with "you just want me to do what YOUwant, not letting me choose!"
Why is obedience important to lean and master ---> return to heaven? isn't obedience doing what someone else wants? does it take away our free agency?
Unless we have an obedient heart we are not prepared to obey lays that lead bad to God Jeremiah 7: 23-34
James E Talmage: Obedience is the means [how] we progress, advance, grow, and develop.
Perhaps this First Law of Heaven, Obedience, goes hand in hand with Faith.
purpose of your experience on earth is to be tried and tested to prove our obedience once the veil over our eyes and we forget our pre-existience with our Heavenly Father. We have proven our obedience because we are here!
when we obey our
bedtimes - we are alert, energy
school - good grades, advancement
speed limits/laws - safety protected physically, financially
James E. Talmage: "we have to conclude obedience is a source of power.
it doesnt take away our agency it empowers us.
Spiritually looking up in not a one time cure or a checklist. Every week at sacrament we have the opportunity to receive a gift/blessing to take sacrament and renew covenant and remind us to remember Him. Encouraging us to keep His commandments. The promise given to us in return; His spirit can be with us always.
When we are obedient through prophets, apostles, and priesthood leaders and through feelings that come after we pour out our hearts and souls to Heavenly Father in prayer. He leads us as we forsake the things of the world, repent, and change. He leas us as we keep His commandments and try to be more like Him. And He leads us through the Holy Ghost. In order to be guided in life's journey and have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, we must have a 'hearing ear' and a 'seeing eye', both directed upward. We must act on the direction we receive. We must look up and step up. And as we do, I know we will cheer up, for God wants us to be happy.
We are Heavenly Fathers children. He wants to be part of our lives, to bless us,and to help us. It is His work and glory. He will heal our wounds, dry our tears, and help us along our path to return to His presence. As we LOOK UP to Him, He will lead us.
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