How are we able to keep the commandments?
📒 1 Nephi 3
📜 7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
🧭 Step 1: What does Nephi know?
Nephi says:
> “I know that the Lord giveth no commandments… save he shall prepare a way…”
This means Nephi isn’t just hoping—it’s a certainty. So let’s ask:
What does Nephi’s certainty rest on?
Is it past experience, trust in God’s nature, or something else?
Take a moment to reflect. What do you think gives Nephi this confidence?
🛤 Step 2: What does “prepare a way” actually mean?
Let’s unpack that phrase. If God prepares a way, then:
- The commandment is never isolated—it comes with a path.
- The path may not be visible at first—it might require faith to step forward.
- The preparation is God’s work, but the walking is ours.
Question for you: Have you ever felt a commandment was too hard—until something shifted and the way opened?
💪 Step 3: What role does our willingness play?
Nephi says:
> “I will go and do…”
This is the activation point. God prepares, but we must go and do. So:
- Obedience isn’t passive—it’s movement.
- Willingness is the bridge between commandment and accomplishment.
- The Spirit often confirms the path after we begin walking.
Nephi says, “I will go and do…”
This is a declaration of willingness—not just passive acceptance, but active resolve. Willingness here is:
- Personal agency: Nephi chooses to obey, not because he’s forced, but because he trusts.
- Faith-driven courage: His willingness flows from belief that God’s commandments are not arbitrary or impossible.
- Initiation of obedience: Willingness is the first movement toward keeping commandments—it opens the door.
📗 1 Samuel 17
📜 32 ¶ And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
📗 1 Kings 17
📜 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
📜 12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
📜 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
📜 14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
🗝📜 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
🛐 Faith
📗 Habakkuk 2
📜 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
📕 Romans 1
📜 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
📕 Galatians 3
📜 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
📕 Hebrews 10
📜 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
📕 Revelation 13
📜 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
📒 Enos 1
📜 8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.
📒 Moroni 7
📜 33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
📜 42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
📜 44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
📜 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
📜 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
📚 Articles of Faith
📜 4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
🫱🏿🫲🏼 Loyalty
📗 Ruth 1
📜 16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
📕 Romans 1
📜 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
📒 Alma 48
📜 13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 134
📜 5 We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.
📚 Moses 5
📜 6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
🧎♂️ Obedience, Obedient, Obey
📗 Ecclesiastes 12
📜 13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
📕 John 14
🗝📜 15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
📜 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
📜 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
📜 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
📜 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
📜 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
🗝📜 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
📜 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
📜 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
📕 Revelation 22
📜14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
📒 2 Nephi 1
📜 9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 5
📜 22 And that you be firm in keeping the commandments wherewith I have commanded you; and if you do this, behold I grant unto you eternal life, even if you should be slain.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 11
📜 20 Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength.
📚 Articles of Faith
📜 3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
📜 12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Question for you: What does “willing” look like in your own spiritual walk? Is it a quiet yes, a bold charge, or something else?
Nephi refers to “the things which the Lord hath commanded.”
Commandments here are:
- Divine invitations: Not just rules, but calls to participate in God’s work.
- Markers of covenant: They define the relationship between God and His people.
- Tests of trust: They often stretch us beyond comfort, revealing whether we believe God will provide.
Notice: Nephi doesn’t debate the commandment—he anchors his response in trust, not negotiation.
🪔 Commandments of God
📗 Leviticus 26
🗝📜 3 ¶ If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
📜 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
📜 5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
📜 6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
📜 7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
📜 8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
📜 9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
📜 10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
📜 11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
📜 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
📜 13 I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.
📜 14 ¶ But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
📗 Proverbs 6
📜 20 ¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
📜 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
📗 Proverbs 19
📜 16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
📕 1 John 2
🗝📜 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
📜 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
📜 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
📜 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
📜 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
🗝📜 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
📕 Revelation 14
📜 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
📒 Alma 9
📜 13 Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
📒 Alma 12
🗝📜 31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—
📜 32 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.
📜 33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;
📜 34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.
📜 35 And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.
📜 36 And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first.
📜 37 And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word.
📒 Alma 50
📜 20 Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 43
🗝📜 3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
📜 4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
📜 5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;
📜 6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.
📜 7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed.
🗝📜 8 And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 93
📜 20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.
Pause here: What commandment feels most stretching to you right now?
Nephi says, “the Lord… shall prepare a way…”
This is the divine guarantee:
- Provision precedes performance: God doesn’t command without also equipping.
- Pathmaking: The Lord carves a way through impossibility—whether through people, timing, or miracles.
- Partnership: We walk the path, but He prepares it.
This flips the fear: the burden isn’t ours alone. The commandment comes with a built-in promise.
Let’s reflect: Have you seen a time when the Lord prepared a way for you—before you even knew you’d need it?
📗 Genesis 18
📜 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
📕 Philippians 4
📜 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
📒 1 Nephi 17
📜 3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.
📜 50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.
📘 Doctrine and Covenants 5
📜 34 Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee.
This study has traced the sacred logic of obedience—from Nephi’s bold declaration to the quiet resolve of prophets, widows, warriors, and saints. We’ve seen that willingness is not weakness—it is the first movement of faith. It opens the door to divine partnership. The commandments of God are not mere rules; they are invitations to covenant, markers of trust, and pathways to transformation. And in every commandment, the Lord does not leave us stranded—He prepares a way, carving paths through impossibility, nourishing us in wilderness, and equipping us to fulfill what He has asked.
Together, we’ve gathered witnesses:
- David, who said “I will go and fight.”
- Ruth, who said “Whither thou goest, I will go.”
- The widow, who gave her last meal and received abundance.
- Nephi, who stepped forward with scroll in hand and fire in heart.
And through it all, the Spirit whispers: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
So we conclude not with finality, but with charge:
To walk the prepared path.
To keep the commandments with all our might, mind, and strength.
To live by faith, anchored in love, loyalty, and the pure light of Christ.
This is our witness. This is our way.
For my myself, and for all who seek the path prepared before them.
Amen.
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