Keep All of His Commandments

February 2012
by Elder Sam Wong
of the Seventy

In the October 2011 general conference, President Thomas S. Monson gave us this wise counsel – “There may be those of you who are thinking to yourselves, ‘Well, I’m not living all the commandments, and I’m not doing everything I should, and yet my life is going along just fine. I think I can have my cake and eat it too.’ Brethren, I promise you that this will not work in the long run”

(“Dare to Stand Alone,” Liahona, Oct. 2011, 62).  To me, our living prophet is raising his warning voice to help keep us stay in the narrow and strait path.  We need to keep All His commandments.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we made a covenant at our baptism.  In the book True to the Faith, it states that “Your Baptismal Covenant - When you were baptized, you entered into a covenant with God. You promised to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end (see Mosiah 18:8-10; D&C 20:37). You renew this covenant each time you partake of the sacrament (see D&C 20:77, 79).  Taking upon Yourself the Name of Jesus Christ - When you take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, you see yourself as His. You put Him and His work first in your life. You seek what He wants rather than what you want or what the world teaches you to want” (True to the Faith, 23).

In Mark 10 of the New Testament, a rich young man came unto Jesus and asked Him, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17).  In the past, I thought this young man could not have been a member of the Church.  This year when I read this story again, I realized that I might have made a mistake.  I think he could well be one of us who have already made our baptismal covenant.  He ran and kneeled to Jesus Christ.  He wanted to find out how he might inherit eternal life.  He had a great desire to follow Jesus Christ and receive exaltation, just like us.

This rich young man knew Jesus Christ was a good master and he wanted to learn from Him.  He had been observing from his youth the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud‍ not, Honour‍ thy father and mother” (Mark 10:19).

In verse 21, “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give‍ to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow‍ me.”  When Jesus saw this young man, He loved him.  Our Lord loved him so much that He gave this young man His loving invitation – to follow Him, the Savior of the world.

Verse 22 recorded the young man’s response, “And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”  Are we in the same situation at times?  Not willing to give up everything or anything to follow our Savior.  When we heard counsel given at General Conferences, did we go away grieved?  Do our great or even small possessions hinder our progression along the strait and narrow path to eternal life?  Do we really own our possessions or do our possessions own us instead?  Are there things standing between us and our Savior that hinder us from making the best choice to seek the Lord’s kingdom first?  Possessions come in many ways and forms.  Do our possessions cloud our view in making the best choices?  We have to prepare spiritually daily by keeping all His commandments and praying for the Holy Ghost to guide us in our choices.

Do you still remember the “Good, Better, Best” counsel wisely given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in 2007 October’s general conference?  Elder Oaks taught that “We should begin by recognizing the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives…. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families” (“Good, Better, Best,” Liahona, Nov. 2007, 104, 107).

In the Book of Mormon, this counsel was recorded many times – “For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence” ( 2 Nephi 4:4).  Let us remember our baptismal covenant by observing the Sabbath every week and worthily partaking of the Sacrament.  Renewing our covenants and promised blessings helps us keep them.

May we all be wise by “selling our possessions,” following Jesus Christ and prospering in His kingdom.  May we all be joyfully keeping All His commandments is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ■