(repost from 3.14.15)
“… God will not act to make us something we do not choose by our actions to become. Truly he loves us, and because He loves us, He neither compels nor abandons us. Rather He helps and guides us. Indeed, the real manifestation of God’s love is His commandments.
~ Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Ensign Oct 14, p17 (Free Forever to Act for Themselves)
We raised our children with gospel teachings, causing them to have Jesus Christ in their lives. Rules and guidelines for behavior were defined (including God’s commandments) . The struggle was to maintain discipline and order. The reward from that order, was a peaceful home. A close relative would come to visit from time to time and often commented on the peaceful ‘oasis’ of our home and family because of that order / discipline. (An outsider might see ‘organized, happy’ chaos!)
When I keep God’s commandments, my own life is an ‘oasis’ of peace and productivity. Yes, there are pockets of chaos, but the Lord’s on my side so I choose to deal with them differently, in His way. Tragically, more and more, we see lives in chaos because individuals insist on ‘freedoms’ that lead to bondage. With such a pattern the devil carefully leads their souls down to hell, potentially, a permanent bondage. (see 2 Nephi 28:21) kdm
