We work hard to receive these blessings but sometimes, no matter how hard we try, they seem to be so unreachable. We may wonder why others around us receive these blessings when we have worked so hard or seem to be more deserving. Sometimes, we even find it hard to be happy for them. Our hearts call for justice. But is there really an injustice when others receive the blessings we desire? Or when others receive more than we do?

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is a parable taught by Jesus that addresses this question. The parable is about a householder who hired laborers into his vineyard. He hired the first batch of laborers during the first hour. As the day progressed, he hired more laborers. When the labor of the day was over, the householder compensated each one of them with the same amount regardless of what time of day they were hired to work.

Does this story ring a familiar bell? If we were hired during the first hour and worked for 8 hours and received the same compensation which the laborers received for working an hour, what would we feel? Anger? Injustice? Unfairness? In the parable, the laborers who were hired during the first hour agreed to be paid a penny for a day’s work. So there really wasn’t an injustice. But even if it was so, they were angry and failed to be happy for the fortune that the other laborers received. Did they receive less because the others received a penny for less than 8 hours of work? No. Their compensation was not diminished.

There will be times in our lives when we notice that others are blessed with more—more talents, riches, abilities, career advancement, etc. We cannot escape from this reality. But we can escape feeling envy “that requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know!” So how do we escape? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared this counsel, “We are not diminished when someone else is added upon.” Others receiving more, does not make us less of who we are, less loved by God, or less fortunate.

These experiences teach us to appreciate what we have been given, count our blessings, trust more and wait upon the Lord’s timing, and to have faith and hope for brighter days to come. They also teach us how to to overcome selfishness and be able to rejoice and celebrate the good fortune of others.

Heavenly Father loves us and He has promised to bless us, even with all that He has, if only we do our best to be like Him. Dwelling on envious feelings towards others doesn’t bring us closer to His presence. The blessings that we desire to have in this life are but a small percentage of what awaits us in His kingdom. So let us not weary ourselves too much on the blessings we so desire to receive. If we remain faithful and trust in the Lord, all the blessings that we righteously desire will be given us, yea, even all that He has.

The post What To Do When Envy Makes You Miserable appeared first on morefaith.ph.

In the teachings of President Joseph F. Smith he said, “Let us be free. I contend and I think I have right to do so that I am a free man, in accordance with my observance of the commandments of God. If I do wrong, I am in bondage to that sin, If I transgress the laws of God, I am responsible before the Lord. But I contend that as to liberty, as to freedom of speech, freedom of will, freedom of action-as to everything that goes to make a free man in the midst of men, I do not believe there is another man on earth any freer that I am”.

No man is like God unless he is free. God is free, and possesses all righteousness, all power, and all wisdom. He also possesses His agency. His agency is exercised in doing that which is good, and not that which is evil, so no man can be like unto Him until he can subject himself unto that which is righteous, pure, and good, and become the best version of himself.

I had a good friend who grew up in a very poor family. She needed to work the whole day and afterwards still had a part time job in the evening. I admired her diligence and love for her family. There was one time I asked her, “What makes you strong every single day and how do you manage to obey the Lord’s commandments especially paying tithing when you know that your money is not enough?” I honestly came to love her even more when she replied, “Our life here on earth is too short and nothing is permanent. The Lord has blessed me so much already which I know I couldn’t ever pay. The only thing that makes me strong every day is to completely trust Him by keeping His commandments. The greatest reward that I ever had in my life is peace and freedom. I always feel the comfort and assurance that the Lord will never forsake me. It makes me free from sin, troubles and worries.”

Sometimes we are too afraid to obey because we don’t understand everything. I remember the story of the converted Lamanites. After they received the truthfulness of the gospel they immediately followed the Lord without any conditions or doubts in their hearts and because of their faithfulness and obedience they were freed from bondage and prospered in the land. I believe the Lord will always deliver us from our trials, and challenges as we hold on and trust Him. May we always exercise our obedience to the Lord no matter how difficult our circumstances in life may be.

The post FREEDOM: A REWARD FOR OBEDIENCE appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Time and time again, the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord have counseled and warned us about the blessings and consequences of obeying the commandments of the Lord. However, sometimes we still ask within ourselves, “Why is it important to obey the Lord’s commandments?” Some of us may wonder “What is it to me if I obey the commandments or not?” Will it hurt to disobey just a little? Can a small act of disobedience really make that much of a difference?

The Lord has given us commandments for our protection and our benefit. However, there are moments when we feel that these things prevent us from living our lives to the fullest and eventually rob us of opportunities to experience joy. “Why can’t I go to that party?” “Why can’t I date before 16 when everyone’s going out already?” If we continue thinking this way, eventually, obedience can feel like a burden rather than the blessing it is.

But this should not be. President Thomas S. Monson, the current prophet leader of the LDS church, testified of the blessings that come with obeying commandments when he said “There are rules and laws to help ensure our physical safety. Likewise, the Lord has provided guidelines and commandments to help ensure our spiritual safety so that we might successfully navigate this often-treacherous mortal existence and return eventually to our Heavenly Father.” Sometimes we might feel that the commandments prevent us from living the life we want but actually, these have been given for us to have more freedom and to eventually find our way back to the Father.

The consequences of disobeying the commandments do not always come immediately, but they do come. Yes, we have the agency to choose what we want but we have no control over the consequences of disobedient choices. As a reminder of this, Mormon Messages for Youth,a campaign of the LDS Church geared towards the younger generation,has released some 2 minute clips that center on keeping the commandments in a profound way.

Full Article: LDSLiving

The post New LDS Youth Videos Teach Lessons on Obedience appeared first on morefaith.ph.