Obedience Brings Blessings—From General Conference
Teacher: Sister Emily Cook
The lesson began with President Monson's story of lighting the
weeds on fire. We planned that the fire would just magically put itself out
when it had cleared the weeds we wanted gone. Everyone in Vivian Park ended up
having to help put it out before it burnt the forest and the homes around it.
Application: Sometimes we
feel like we have a plan and that we know what we are doing. If that plan is in
opposition to that of our Heavenly Father- before we know it, we may turn
around to find that our whole mountain is on fire.
Obedience brings blessings. This truth is simple, but profound.
D&C 98:14
Will I choose to be obedient this hour, this day, this week?
D&C 64:32
If we are obedient we will "Eat the good of the land of
Zion".
Another way of saying "Eat the good of the land of Zion"
is to say have an "Abundant Life"
Topical Guide refers to an "Abundant Life" as having-
"Prosperity, happiness, being filled with plenty, waters will not
fail" etc. etc.
Obedience brings an abundant life.
"Our happiness, peace, progress, prosperity, salvation and
exaltation are dependent upon obedience."
Sister Cook then gave a story about when she was set apart for a
calling she was blessed that her husband would be employed. After some time her
husband actually was layed off! She asked the questions of why this was
happening and what was going on because she had been faithfully serving in her
calling. Despite the hardships they faced, she and her husband remained
faithful as they were "carried through this trial for the next 6
months." Despite her husband not having a job they both continued to pay
tithing and serving to the best of their abilities in their callings. She
started job searching in March- she had a background in education so she went
and dropped off applications and resumes at schools looking for any type of
job, however she knew getting a teaching job with only 2 months left in the
school year was a long shot. Miraculously she ended up getting a teaching job
with salary and benefits for the last two months of school. She and her family
were carried through this experience and her husband did end up getting a job.
Because Sister Cook was obedient in paying her tithing and being
faithful in her calling, she and her family were blessed to find employment and
not suffer financially.
If you're obedient even if you don't understand why- put it to the
test and "Just do it".
A sister shared a story of her roommate in college that was having
a hard time making ends meet. Constantly she found herself going without meals
and essentials. This sister invited her roommate to start paying tithing and
immediately when she accepted the invitation and followed through with it, she
was blessed with money coming in from family members and tax returns.
D&C 93: 28
Truth and light come from obedience.
"The knowledge we seek can be ours when we are willingly
obedient."
We need to go to the scriptures to learn about obedience and the
blessings that come from it.
When we are obedient, God changes our nature and
"upgrades" us so it is easier for us to lose the desire to sin and
deny ourselves of ungodlieness.
The more obedient you are the more freedom you have.
