"And behold, all that He requires of you is to keep His commandments" (Mosiah 2:22)

When my children were little, before we would go anywhere I would ask them what my expectations were or what did I require of them for whatever particular outing or place we were going. Most often they were simple expectations, such as no arguing when it's time to leave, or hold onto the shopping cart, or hold hands in the parking lot. I learned that if I explained what I expected from my children there were fewer explosions or frustrations from any of us and such requirements were most often for their protection, both physically and emotionally. As I have thought about expectations I wondered, "What does Heavenly Father expect or require of His children? " Well, as I have been searching for answers, it is really pretty simple and this is what I have concluded.

What God expects from all of His children is the same for everyone "...the one being is as precious in his sight as the other" (Jacob 2:21). His expectations are simple and straightforward; "...for the selfsame end hath He created them, that they should keep His commandments and glorify Him forever" (Jacob 2:21). This same command or expectation, to keep His commandments is repeated in the Doctrine and Covenants: "Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your heart, might, mind, and strength" (D&C 11:20). Everyone of us will be "proved" and "tried" as to whether or not we choose to follow God's commandments. "And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" (Abraham 3:25). The Savior taught: "If ye love me keep my commandments" (John 14:15). It's not subject to opinion which commandments we should live, we don't get to pick and choose which ones we live, rather we get to choose whether or not we want to be obedient to God by keeping all of His commandments. Gratefully, the "laws of God...are given to us by a loving Heavenly Father" (Pres. Thomas S. Monson).

God doesn't expect us to be robots and He has no desire to control us. Rather, "men (meaning the human family-the family of Adam) are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil" (2 Nephi 2:27). Again we are taught: "...ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and He hath made you free" (Helaman 14:30). The truth is we are free to choose whether we want to be obedient to God or be obedient to Satan.

I used to be in the camp that the idea of obedience is restrictive. When in reality, "obedience leads to true freedom...Obedience to righteous principles [offers] freedom from social diseases, shame, degradation and feelings of guilt" (Obedience: The Path to Freedom). The Savior taught: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). When we are taught truth and we choose to live it, we are free. It is the only way for true freedom.

I love the words of King Benjamin when he teaches his people about what God expects or requires of us. He said: "And behold, all that He requires of you is to keep His commandments; and He has promised you that if ye would keep His commandments ye should prosper in the land; and He never doth vary from that which He hath said" (Mosiah 2:22). These are clear words about what God expects, and He loves us enough to give us these precious guidelines.

Being obedient is true freedom. It is the way to happiness and joy in this life and in the life to come. This I testify.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5)

I have been doing what I call a "fast read" of the Book of Mormon. It's when I have a couple of questions that I want answered and I ask those questions as I read. I try and finish the Book of Mormon within a 6-8 week period or less. Some of the questions I have asked are, "What is my purpose?" or "How can I draw closer to Christ?" As I have done this each time I am always impressed by the increase of Spirit that I feel in my life. I always have more peace and calmness when I do this.

 I love asking questions and receiving answers. In the Doctrine and Covenants we are taught, "But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally" (D&C 46:7). And again in the Bible, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). Over and over the words of Christ are: "Ask, and ye shall receive" (see John 16:24; 1 John 3:22; D&C 103:31; 3 Nephi 27:29; D&C 49:26; Matt. 21:22; 3 Nephi 18:20). God wants us to ask, and He will answer by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I encourage you to ask questions as you read the Book of Mormon. You can ask any question or questions that you are sincerely wanting answers to and intend to follow whatever promptings you're given (see Moroni 10:3-5). Do not "ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:3). Asking with real intent sometimes requires changes in life that may be difficult or, perhaps, small changes that will make a significant difference in your life. One question I encourage you to ask, "Is not this real?" (Alma 32:35) or "is what I am reading true" (see Moroni 10:3-5)? I promise as you ask the questions you seek answers to "...by the power of the Holy Ghost [you] may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5). This I testify.

Original painting by J. Kirk Richards, notice the cover of the Ensign magazine, April 2014 (found here). It reminds me daily to ask and always remember Him.

Need a copy of the Book of Mormon? Get one here.

(Not sure of what to ask? Here are some suggestions: How can I increase in faith in Jesus Christ? How can I draw closer to God? What is my purpose? How can I be more happy today, and every day? I will often ask one to three questions as I do a "fast read" and highlight each answer for the different question with a different colored pencil. Go and ask. It will change your life!)

"Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees" (D&C 81:5)

These are just a few random thoughts I have been thinking and pondering about motherhood/womanhood, fatherhood/priesthood, ministering angels and the creation of children. The powers given to men and women work together to lift, strengthen, and administer to all of God's children. One is not greater than another, both are needed and are magnified though righteous choices and faithful hearts.

-As women, daughters of God, and as Eve's, we were  foreordained to be mothers before we were born. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World it states: "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose" (read here). It is a responsibility, divine power, and duty to create life that we may aide in God's purpose of bringing about his eternal plan. It is not to be taken lightly, only to be used within the bounds the Lord has set. "Sexual intimacy is not only a symbolic union between a man and a woman-the uniting of their very souls-but it is also symbolic of a union between mortals and deity, ...uniting for a rare and special moment with God himself and all the powers by which he gives life in this wide universe of ours. ...Surely God's trust in us to respect this future-forming gift is awesomely staggering. ...We carry this procreative power that makes us very much like God in at least one grand and majestic way" (Strengthening the Family: The Sacred Powers of Procreation).

-After Eve partook of the fruit, God blessed Eve with an increase of understanding. He said: "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception" (Moses 4:22). Conception means not only the process of creating a child, but also "the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding ideas or abstractions or their symbols" (Merriam-Webster/Conception). This insight as to how women think and multitask is a blessing from God. As we come to understand the power of motherhood, which is given to all women, there is no doubt that the power of God is within us and is our responsibility to use wisely, protect, strengthen, and nurture its growth within us and everyone else we come in contact. Developing the conception power within women is not just about conceiving children, rather I believe it's about the whole human family and eternal growth and progression of all of God's children as we help develop the spiritual growth needed in all of us to return to our Heavenly Father. God's purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). Women have a great responsibility that comes with this power of conception-physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

-To men who are ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood the "ministering of angels" is given (D&C 84:26; D&C 107:20). To women, the "the errand of angels" is given (As Sister's in Zion). Elder Quinton L. Cook said this about the power given to women: "The errand of angels is given to women. This has been described as nothing less than to do the direct and immediate bidding of our Father in Heaven, and this is a gift that...sisters...claim" (LDS Women are Incredible!). Women and men, who honor their priesthood, both have this power to be ministering angels and to "speak with the tongue of angels" (2 Nephi 32:2). The responsibility of ministering to all of God's children is given to both men and women. "Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees" (D&C 81:5).

-As women, we have power to give life to our children, and though great sacrifice, they are born into this world; "...ye are born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit" (Moses 6:59). Men, through the authority of the priesthood, are given the power to give all of God's children birth as they bury them in the waters of baptism and bring them forth into a new birth, a new life. "Even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten" (Moses 6:59). Father's and mother's work together in God's great work to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39) both literally and symbolically.

These are not complete in their entire message. I hope they may be a jump start into your own understanding of sacred and powerful responsibilities given to both women and men and how together we celebrate who we really are- Children of God. This I testify.

"Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" (2 Nephi 2:16)

We all experience temptation every day in many forms- from what to wear, what food we will or won't eat, words to say, and how we will or won't treat others. In addition, what we watch and what we listen to, these just being a few temptations. We are faced with choices when we are tempted. Temptation comes in so many forms that I had never really even thought about. Here are some thoughts and ideas to jump start your own study of temptation and the atonement of Christ. This is not a complete essay, but some of my thoughts on temptation.

Having experienced a shoulder injury over the last 6 months, and finally to have surgery and get the damage repaired, I had never thought of "pain of body" as a temptation (Mosiah 3:7). But pain is a temptation to us. Pain can tempt us to take too much pain medication to relieve the discomfort we are experiencing. It can tempt us to respond in anger when someone hurts us or simply annoys us when we are not feeling well. Temptations come from "hunger, thirst, and fatigue" (Mosiah 3:7), these being my classic temptations to respond as a total jerk to the ones I love, throw in being cold and I am more than likely to lash out in anger or respond with impatience until those basic needs have been met. Temptation is all about choice. Temptation can also be a form of suffering or pain. It is sometimes very painful for me to have to choose between two good things. It was painful for me to have to choose between getting surgery or not. I was tempted to not have it at all. I am grateful I chose to endure the pain from surgery and  will endure the physical therapy that is ahead so that in the long run I will heal and be pain free.

But why must we experience temptation? A simple answer is this: "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" (2 Nephi 2:16). We, through exercising choice and choosing to act according to God's will, learn obedience. Christ also, through His suffering and temptations, learned obedience. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8).

God's ultimate purpose is for us to be with Him, to have "immortality and eternal life" (Moses 1:39). When we experience temptation we are actually going through a small amount of suffering, choosing to either be enticed by "the natural man [which] is an enemy to God...[or] yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and [put] off the natural man and [become] as a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and [become] as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord sees fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child does submit to his father" (Mosiah 3:19).

Temptation is part of God's plan for us. What a great blessing that we get to practice choosing how to respond and act as Christ would when we experience temptation because His desire for us is "that [we] should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48; Matt. 5:48).

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3)

I love spring! I love the beautiful blossoms and flowers and green that is spreading as far as my eye can see. It is beautiful. All these blossoms remind me of the fruit that will come. It is so yummy and delicious to the taste. I love harvesting the fruits and sharing them with others, whether fresh, or if I am able to preserve it and bottle it. It is such a great blessing to have such incredible fruit.

As I have thought of this fruit, it has led me to think about the fruit on the tree of life, in Lehi's dream. Nephi asks to understand his fathers dream and is shown and taught the symbols of these items in the dream. One of the items is "the tree which is precious above all" (1 Nephi 11:9). Lehi says of the tree and the fruit: "I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit" (1 Nephi 8:10-12). Nephi is taught the symbol of the tree. "Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things" (1 Nephi 11:21-22).

The love of God. I had always thought of it as Jesus Christ, which is true. But also, the love of God, to love God more than anyone or anything, which includes pride, stuff, objects, money, knowledge-anything. President Ezra Taft Benson said: "To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor. It is total commitment of our very being- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually- to a love of the Lord" (The Great Commandment). To love God in this manner is to be obedient, which Christ was perfectly. "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment" (Mark 12:30) John says: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3).

This symbol of the tree of life, to love God and keep His commandments, was very eye opening. To have the love of God and be obedient to His commandments is "most sweet" and shall surely fill our souls with "exceedingly great joy" (1 Nephi 8:11-12). I have see the fruit that comes from obedience. It doesn't mean that life is without trial or heartache. It does mean that the fruit, or obedience is "desirable to make one happy" and will fill our souls with "exceedingly great joy" (1 Nephi 8:10,12). I have experienced this in my own life, and I invite you to come and partake, to be filled with the love of God and joy beyond measure!