Obedience is the first law of heaven because it’s something we are to build upon, and evolve from.
I first heard this concept during an interview with LDS therapist Jennifer Finlayson-Fife. Then, just a week ago in a stake temple recommend interview, after explaining my hesitation to pray to Heavenly Mother because it’s been discouraged by church leaders in the past, the stake presidency counselor asked me to think about the order of the temple covenants. Obedience is first. “Why is it first? Because it’s something we’re supposed to eventually progress past,” he pointed out. He explained that obedience is not the destination; it’s the first stepping stone.
We teach little kids to look both ways before crossing the street. Yet as adults, we just use our peripheral vision and sense of hearing. We still follow the rule of taking precaution, but we do it in a mature way that’s more age-appropriate. We exhibit new behavior while still never forgetting the original principle of staying safe.
How could this principle be applied to our own spiritual progression; our own worship; our own path to holiness?
John Taylor, third President of the Church, offered the following illustration how Joseph Smith governed the body of saints in the early days of the church:
“A member of the Legislature asked Joseph Smith how it was that he was enabled to govern so many people, and to preserve such perfect order; remarking at the same time that it was impossible for them to do it anywhere else. Mr. Smith remarked that it was very easy to do that. ‘How?’ responded the gentleman; ‘to us it is very difficult.’ Mr. Smith replied, ‘I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.’”
What would our congregations look like if there were recommendations, not rules, on how to live one’s life in order to become a member of the church and enjoy the full blessings of membership? What if the only requirement to be baptized and enter the temple was that we were repenting daily, sincerely, and trying to be as Christlike as possible? Our congregations would probably look a lot more colorful, diverse, and more united in heart and mind. People would actually start to believe that our chapels are “a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.”
Christ rebuked the superficial form of Pharisaical obedience:
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The rigid focus on standards (which tell us what to eat and what to wear), rather than commandments (which focuses on the content of our hearts), has become a distraction in modern Mormonism. It has become a way to assess each other’s worthiness using our eyes. Christ taught that Pharisees, who focused on the outward, visible commandments, were like “whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”
Because of human nature’s tendency to judge the outward appearance, standards for youth and adults would be much more effective as recommendations, and not requirements for baptism and temple entry. All of God’s children are invited to make covenants with the Lord. We will all be imperfect at keeping covenants, but that’s why the Savior atoned for our sins: so that we can repent again and again, day after day.
God cares whether or not we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He wants us to be turned toward Him. He hopes that we humbly, sincerely pray, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
