Commitments, Commandments, and Covenants

Recently, I gave a training on 'Commitments'. when we think of commitments, we think of asking an investigator to read the Book of Mormon, Pray, Keep the Sabbath Holy, and others! In this training, I talked about committing EVERYONE! Active Member, less-active, recent convert, or non-member. It is universal in God's Church. Commitments are not one time things. We commit to prepare ourselves to accept everlasting covenants that we make with God. We commit to grow. Without ccommitment, we can not covenant! I like to think of it as a pre-requisite to make covenants. Before we're baptized, we are asked to obey certain commandments! After baptism, we are asked to follow others! So, we should think Home Teaching, service, callings are just as important as the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, and Tithing. All are commandments that we Covenanted to follow with full purpose of heart. As we obey these commitments and commandments we build our faith, each other, and ourselves. I like to view the world as a giant weight on top of a flat surface. The weight doesn't change, but the base of it does. As we obey commandments and commitments, we put more and more support under the surface. When we disobey, or even neglect them, we lose our supports. When we lose the supports, the weight seems to be heavier, heavier, and heavier, until it's too much to bear. We need to obey the commandments so that we have the help of the Savior. "For my yoke is light, and my burden easy." -Matthew 11:30. The yoke and burden of the Savior is light and easy compared to the yoke and burden of the world. Let us live with His help and move forward with Him. He loves us and wants us to be happy. Obeying the commandments will make us happy in this life and most definatley the life to come.