In church we talked about why people obey God and do what He says. The teacher asked us to think of why we do it and began to list reasons. He named love of God, fear of punishment, and desire for blessings. He stopped with those 3 and continued with the lesson. I was thinking of my reasons and came up with: ‘because I want to.’ I really have no other answer. I obey because I want to. I follow the prophet and believe in the LDS church because I want to. I considered love of God, but it turned to I WANT to love God therefore I WANT to do what He says. Blessings and punishment are good reasons as well, but it always comes back to me doing things because I wanted to do them. If I didn’t want to, I know myself well enough to say that no promise of reward or punishment would make me do anything. Now I’m starting to feel somewhat guilty because my reason for obeying doesn’t seem as ‘pure’ as if I had done it for the other reasons (especially love). Am I over -reacting here? Is my reason just as good, or should I search for another?
3 Responses to “In church we talked about why people obey God and do…”
Miguel Leal
2014-02-09 23:04:57
Hi Clairissa. Thanks for your question. You shouldn't feel guilty, since you're working to keep the commandments and further develop your spiritual life.
In my opinion, obeying God because of fear of punishment or hope for reward is not the best motive. If this motive helps someone avoid the sorrow that comes from sin, then I suppose it has its utility, but I think it should be but a steppingstone to greater faith.
Obeying because you love God seems like a more excellent motive. I would say that faith motivated by love is generally more mature than faith motivated by fear of punishment or hope for reward.
Obeying because you want to also seems like a good motive to me. It may mean that you've let the Gospel so sculpt your life that you've lost the desire to sin. My only concern is this: what would you do if God asked you to do something you didn't want to do? Would you still do it? It's one thing to keep the commandments because that's what you're used to doing. It's another to obey no matter the personal cost. You'll have to consider the intents of your own heart to judge whether or not you've fully consecrated your life this way. I think it may well be that you have.
I hope this answer helps. Best of luck to you.
Pamela Bonta
2014-02-06 06:56:53
The Lord counsels us, "If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God" (D&C 14:7).
This scripture doesn't say anything about the 'why' being important - it just says to keep them. It is through keeping commandments that we grow, love God, develop testimonies. Jesus said, "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" (John 14:21). Again, there is no 'why' mentioned, just the act of keeping the commandments.
I don't know which class you were having this discussion in, but in the Gospel Principals manual there is a lesson (#35) that discusses obedience. The teacher's manual emphasizes "Each of us should ask ourselves why we obey God's commandments" and then gives three possible reasons, the ones you listed. It also says, "We will be much happier if we obey God because we love Him and want to obey Him." So, since obedience to the commandments leads to greater love for God, and loving God leads to obeying the commandments, I think you shouldn't worry too much about whether your reasons are 'pure' enough. Sounds like you are on the right track!
God bless.
J. Clark
2014-02-07 09:35:26
You said, "but it always comes back to me doing things because I wanted to do them. If I didn't want to, I know myself well enough to say that no promise of reward or punishment would make me do anything"
Once a person is born, their spirit still wants to do good, while the flesh suggests other possibilities. Your doing things because you want to do them is only half the equation. If you live a normal life span and are LDS, you will be on your knees quite a lot. Even the Savior was not let off just because of who He was.
In my opinion, obeying God because of fear of punishment or hope for reward is not the best motive. If this motive helps someone avoid the sorrow that comes from sin, then I suppose it has its utility, but I think it should be but a steppingstone to greater faith.
Obeying because you love God seems like a more excellent motive. I would say that faith motivated by love is generally more mature than faith motivated by fear of punishment or hope for reward.
Obeying because you want to also seems like a good motive to me. It may mean that you've let the Gospel so sculpt your life that you've lost the desire to sin. My only concern is this: what would you do if God asked you to do something you didn't want to do? Would you still do it? It's one thing to keep the commandments because that's what you're used to doing. It's another to obey no matter the personal cost. You'll have to consider the intents of your own heart to judge whether or not you've fully consecrated your life this way. I think it may well be that you have.
I hope this answer helps. Best of luck to you.
This scripture doesn't say anything about the 'why' being important - it just says to keep them. It is through keeping commandments that we grow, love God, develop testimonies. Jesus said, "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" (John 14:21). Again, there is no 'why' mentioned, just the act of keeping the commandments.
I don't know which class you were having this discussion in, but in the Gospel Principals manual there is a lesson (#35) that discusses obedience. The teacher's manual emphasizes "Each of us should ask ourselves why we obey God's commandments" and then gives three possible reasons, the ones you listed. It also says, "We will be much happier if we obey God because we love Him and want to obey Him." So, since obedience to the commandments leads to greater love for God, and loving God leads to obeying the commandments, I think you shouldn't worry too much about whether your reasons are 'pure' enough. Sounds like you are on the right track!
God bless.
Once a person is born, their spirit still wants to do good, while the flesh suggests other possibilities. Your doing things because you want to do them is only half the equation. If you live a normal life span and are LDS, you will be on your knees quite a lot. Even the Savior was not let off just because of who He was.