The Commandments

I think in a time and place where freedom is so emphasized and valued, the notion of commandments--such as the Ten Commandments--seems silly and outmoded to many. I think many people see the commandments as arbitrary constraints on freedoms. Others see them as outmoded morality guidelines. I think LDS tend to view commandments as freeing, not constraining.

I think a basic example can begin to illustrate the point. LDS believe in the Word of Wisdom. The Word of Wisdom is from modern scripture and is a commandment relating to the law of health. It was recorded in 1833 and encouraged eating grains, fruits and vegetables, while avoiding tobacco (among other things). As a commandment, faithful LDS live by it. But it is not constraining--it is liberating. By eating well and avoiding addictive substances (including alcoholic beverages and "hot drinks"--tea and coffee), I have more physical freedoms than I would have otherwise. I also am free from addiction to tobacco, which enslaves a lot of people. To reduce it quite simply, I have more freedom on whether to smoke right now than someone addicted to or formerly addicted to cigarettes. It doesn't tempt me or bother me in the least and I'm happy to choose not to. Nothing but my own decision stops me. Someone addicted to cigarettes can spend the day haunted by the compelling longing to smoke.

To be clear, I'm not gloating and find no pleasure in someone else's suffering. I'm merely trying to illustrate how commandments aren't there to arbitrarily confine. They're there to help and increase our personal freedoms. Whether it's a commandment to tell the truth (and not bear false witness) or to serve others or to keep the Sabbath holy or not to steal, there are good reasons for them and they bless my life and free me to be willing to follow them.

A modern apostle, Boyd K. Packer, has compared obedience to flying a kite. While it may appear at first that the string holds the kite down, in reality it holds it up. Not all that appears to confine actually does confine. Sometimes willing submission to wisdom is true freedom. As LDS, we don't think of commandments as constraints on behavior, but as guide posts to greater happiness and freedom. Just as a parent may counsel a child to go to bed at a reasonable hour so he isn't sleepy and incoherent the next day, so does our heavenly Father give us kind instruction to help us. The child who willingly submits to the counsel to go to bed early will be fresher in the morning because of it. A person who submits to God's commandments will have a similar blessing connected to the obedience. "And when we receive any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." D&C 130:21.

Willing submission to commandments is freeing and invigorating, not constraining and demeaning.

Here are some excellent thoughts on the subject for those interested.