On our way to church yesterday we saw a less active that we have been working with. He was riding his moto and said hi to us as he rode next to us. He was dressed up in a white shirt and slacks! Super stoked! So we asked him if he was going to church right? NOPE. hes going to somebody's wedding. Dang it. lol.
The lady giving the closing prayer at church got up and recited the Lord's prayer. Nice.
Why do we obey? What motivates us to be obedient and follow Heavenly Fathers commandments?
A fear of punishment? To get rich? to get a hot wife? to look cool and be the AP? out of love for others? out of love for God?
Any obedience is better than disobedience. But I have learned that the motives behind our obedience is so important. Willing obedience is so much more effective that unwilling obedience.
As missionaries we have the opportunity to serve and obey everyday. We get up, study, ride our bikes, teach, and talk to people. All of this can either be done grudgingly or with love as our motive. If we simply do the work we are definitely doing a good thing. We are helping people change their lives. But if we do it with the wrong attitude an motives we can still be unhappy and not receive any growth because of our service.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
We need to think about why we obey. As missionaries we need to think about why we serve. I think that when we desire to be obedient in order to better serve others and better serve God we are on the right track. I have been asking for charity in every single prayer for a couple months now and I know I am starting to change.
Why do you obey?
Love,
Elder Osborne
My week in video form: https://youtu.be/_