Is it hard to live the commandments of God?

A lot of people seem to think that it is much easier to not live the commandments of God, than it is to live them. In the immediate moment, I definitely agree. It is always easier to "go with the flow", at least it is until you hit the rapids, or plunge down the waterfall. But, let's face it, who doesn't have rapids and even waterfalls in their life? Who would travel down a dangerous river completely ignoring the guidance of the seasoned guide? 

Does Obeying the Commandments of God take away my Freedom?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-06-27-the-freedom-to?lang=eng

Some people have had enough of the immature and prideful accusations from people who use religion as a club. Beating upon others, they declare,"You did that. You are bad!", and, "I keep every rule, so I am better than you!" I almost expect next to hear the childish taunt of, "Na, na, Na, na, na", ending with, "I'm going to tell Mommy on you!"  Fed up, some people, understandably, want nothing more to do with the commandments of God.

Being a parent and grandparent has given me an interesting perspective on rules, yes, even commandments. When a child is young you can try and reason with them and try and convince them of the wisdom of doing as you have told them, but it doesn't work.

Feeling Loved when ill

Shortly after we were married, my health began to deteriorate and so did my self esteem. I had grown up being taught that my value was dependent on making others happy and now here I was barely able to move. I felt like a failure as a wife, mother, and church member. Though I had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a few years before and been taught that I was a daughter of God, I didn’t feel that anyone could love me – even God.

At first I desperately plead with the Lord to heal me. I even tried to bargain with the Him, promising all the things I would do, if He would only heal me. I felt I couldn’t be happy and be a worthwhile person unless I had the health to enable me to do things for others.

I read the scriptures and prayed alot. As I read scriptures, I came to see the Lord’s love for His people and His patience with their weaknesses. In story after story I saw the Lord guiding his people’s progress by allowing them to have difficult experiences. As I prayed about this, I began to understand that Heavenly Father’s love was always there– I was just shutting it out.

I started to look at my experiences from another point of view. I related my feelings as a mother to helping me  understand Heavenly Father’s love. Often I had to tell my children that they couldn’t do something or have something and they would reply, “You don’t love me!” The Spirit helped me to see that this is what I had been doing. I had felt that God loved me only if he gave me what I wanted–NOW! Like a young child, I had been demanding, sulking, and feeling unloved when I didn’t get what I wanted.

What does a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe about Blind Obedience and Freedom

Go here to download this fun video. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-08-1260-act-for-themselves?category=topics/agency&lang=eng

I have often heard, "I would never be a Mormon. They believe in blind obedience. I value my freedom and will not blindly follow some leader, some Prophet." There are dictators and cult leaders who through military force, drugs, and personal charisma are able to make others submit to their will, but they are never able to maintain this control for very long. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in 1836 nearly two hundred years ago and is now a thriving worldwide church of over 15 million people. Would so many people join and remain in a church where they were required to surrender their right to make decisions, to think for themselves? Are our eighteen year old missionaries that charismatic? Hardly!

People say, but you follow a prophet. Yes, we do. What would have happened to the people of Israel if they had not followed the prophet, Moses, who led them out of slavery in Egypt?  As one of our Apostles explained, "We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see. "