The Importance of the Commandments

We Latter-day Saints receive much criticism from various denominations for teaching that our behavior has an impact on our salvation. Is there any scriptural support for the importance of behavior to salvation?

Yes, there is, and we need look no further than the teachings of Jesus Christ Himself to find it in the New Testament. Perhaps our friends of other faiths misunderstand the point of the commandments. A recent attempt by such friends to teach us wayward Mormons the truth was an ad campaign whose sole purpose was to demonstrate the futility of good works. The distilled essence of their message was: “We all sin and fall short—therefore, the commandments must not figure into salvation, but are probably the Lord’s way of setting the bar so high that we give up and rely on grace.” The commandments are not a heavy backpack; they are a jetpack, because “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” (1Ne. 3:7). The purpose of grace is not to sit down and stop trying; it is to enable us to do works we cannot do otherwise.

Peter seems to understand this principle. When the disciples in the boat see Jesus walking on the water, they are afraid, and uncertain that it really is Him. Peter determines a test: “...Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” (Matt. 14:28). When the Lord bids or commands us to do something, He provides the ability, the means to perform the task at the same time. “And he said, Come.” Peter hops out of the boat, and begins to walk on the water also. His faith waivers, and he begins to sink, but his belief that the Lord would prepare a way to accomplish the feat was justified; Jesus grabbed his hand and brought him up again out of the water, and together they walked back to the ship.

Each commandment we receive has a built-in portion of grace that enables us to obey it.

A good Pentecostal friend in Georgia quoted Isaiah to me: “...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...” (64:6). Our attempts to obey frequently come up short (like Peter sinking). If we perform so poorly, why does the Lord give us an avalanche of commandments? Though we cannot prove by our actions that we deserve heaven, we can still prove that we love God by our attempts to do what He asks us to do. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:10-14). Fumble or stumble we may, but as long as we are trying to keep God’s commandments with love for Him, He is pleased. It is a matter of proving our love for God.

Jesus quotes from Isaiah more than any other prophet. “...well did Esais prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 14:7-9). Included on that list of vain teachings is the idea, “take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry,” because God does not care what you do so long as you believe. “...Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:18-20). Jesus is adamant about us striving to produce those “rags.”

Many people teach that all we must to do be saved is confess Christ, and believe. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock...” (Matt. 7:21-24). There is no conversation between the Lord and those being judged about whether they confessed and believed. Jesus does not ask anyone, “Have you been saved?” “Saved” does not happen till Jesus welcomes us through the gate. All promises are contingent on good behavior till then.

As if that were not enough, Matthew gives us an even more vivid view of the final judgment: “When the Son of Man shall come in his glory...before him shall be gathered all nations...Then shall the King say to those on his right hand, Come, ye blessed...inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer, when [did we do this stuff to you]? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” The scripture goes on to exactly reverse the judgment on those who are sent “into everlasting fire:” “...ye gave me no meat...ye gave me no drink...ye took me not in...ye clothed me not...ye visited me not...Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me...these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matt. 25:31-46). Again, there is no discussion about faith, confession, or whether a person has been “saved.” Undoubtedly those things figure into the final judgment, because they are mentioned by Jesus. But what we do, our behavior, is also included. Neither is irrelevant.

“They that are whole need no physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Repentance denotes a turning of hand and foot, as well as heart and mind, from bad to good. Again, this is not a general demanding robotic obedience from mindless drones: “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother” (Mark 3:35). It is about love. We are to try, and when we fail, we are to rely on His forgiveness, repent, and try again. Even if we cannot push the boulder up the hill, or even budge it, the amount of pressure we put against the implacable object is known to God, and He sees our love in our efforts to obey Him.

A military leader made a famous statement about obedience, oft quoted: “...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua’s statement resonates with firm, resolute determination and dedication. It is easy to catch his enthusiasm, and his audience reciprocates: “...therefore will we also serve the Lord; for he is our God.” But Joshua doubts their sincerity: “Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God...If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good...the people said...Nay; but we will serve the Lord. And Joshua said...therefore put away...the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel” (Joshua 24:15-23). In spite of Old Testament style rigor and regimented strictness, even then these things were still a matter of the heart.

Jesus is approached by a lawyer: “...what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”

The first four of the Ten Commandments explain our relationship to God—He is our only God, have no idols, do not take His name in vain, and keep the Sabbath holy. The next six commandments explain our relationship with other mortals—honor parents, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, do not covet. These are outward and behavioral; the lawyer expressed the internal essence of the commandments, and Jesus agreed that he had got it right. The lawyer quibbles, and Jesus gives the parable of the Good Samaritan. “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:25-37).

There are numerous examples of Jesus emphasizing the importance of behavior in the New Testament. Does this mean grace is inadequate, or that we are to earn our salvation? We cannot earn salvation in the strictest sense; we cannot merit anything of ourselves. But because Jesus paid the price for sin, we have the chance to repent and try again, which Jesus demands that everyone do. Our behavior, then, becomes the means by which we show our love for God and our fellow men.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). “And hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3). “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1Cor. 2:9). Both to love God, and know Him, are equated with obedience.

Many who preach the idea of salvation independent of action cite Paul: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). But is Paul saying works are irrelevant? In the very next verse: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Are we “saved?” The place we look is to our works—those who are created anew by Christ will reflect that new creation in their works. Jesus tells Nicodemus that those who do truth make public that their good deeds required God’s assistance, “that they are wrought in God” (John 3:21). Paul is echoing the idea in Ephesians. Are we “born again?” “If ye know that [the Son] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him” (1 John 2:29).

Indeed, few writers in the scriptures are more fervent about the importance of behavior than Paul. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:16-18). Perhaps the pendulum of works vs. grace had swung too far in the direction of salvation by works among his audience, and he wrote about grace to remind us that we really are helpless after all we can do. But he does not dismiss the need for good works. Grace and works are both important in his writing. The works just show Whom we love. This is not sentimental love; it is critical. Whom do we worship? When our hearts are examined, who or what is enthroned there? Jesus is the one who saves us, who pulls us up out of the pit we have fallen in. But we must exert some kind of effort to hold onto Him; that effort is our attempt to obey “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Faith in Christ is necessary, but repentance, baptism in water, and then by fire and by the Holy Ghost, are all plainly taught in the scriptures.

Teaching us about salvation by grace does not obviate or negate the numerous commandments to change and improve our behavior. Any system of faith that cannot reconcile the two, when they are both part of Jesus’ teachings, is false. If works are unimportant, then huge swaths of scripture, of Jesus’ own words, are also unimportant. This is not what the restored gospel teaches. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe the Bible to be the word of God, and restoration scriptures, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price, all support a combination of grace, faith, and works, just like the New Testament.

Marriage and Resurrection

I recently learned that D&C 132 was the last revelation Joseph Smith received—about eleven months before he was killed—that was included in the Doctrine and Covenants.

“Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection” (D&C 132:19) is a promise received by sealed spouses, and fulfilled for married couples when they are exalted. Along with immortality, sacrifice and death are also mentioned in section 132. Why the intersection of marriage with sacrifice and death? What is the connection between marriage and resurrection?

Speaking of those who are exalted, D&C 76:59 says, “...all things are theirs, whether life or death...” D&C 88 indicates that those who fulfill the measure of their creation will receive exaltation and celestial glory: “For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body. They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened” (vs. 27-29). I take “natural body” here to mean that those who are exalted will retain the mortal power to beget life. Exaltation, and the reception of power over life and death, only comes to those who are married, sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise in this life and the next. Resurrection and marriage are related because both are associated power to create life. One begets new life; the other makes it renewed.

Creating worlds and filling them with animal life (Gen. 1-2), begetting children (Rom. 8:16), resurrecting the dead (John 11:25), bringing spiritual rebirth (D&C 76:24, Moses 1:39), are powers of resurrected beings. Jesus fittingly calls Himself  The Life of the World. We can receive versions of some of these abilities in this life, but only a fullness of them in the next as married couples.

“Then shall they be gods, because they have no end,” “...a fulness and continuation of the seeds forever and ever...” D&C 132 also mentions sacrifice and death in relation to resurrection and eternal life. Abraham offered Isaac, and was blessed; David killed Uriah, and was damned. Marriages are performed at altars, the traditional place of sacrifice, a crux of life and death in the scriptures. The the House of Israel are symbolically bought through an atoning sacrifice of a lamb at the Old Temple. This helped the people look forward to Jesus Christ, who actually atoned for all sin. The Temple, then, is the crossroads of marriage and sacrifice, too.

Jesus descended into death, and was resurrected to perfection. We can inherit that same blessing, for He beckons, “come, follow me.” Little children who die are guaranteed exaltation in the celestial kingdom. He also taught, "...it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 348). I assume there are many things we experience throughout the trajectory of mortal life, from birth to marriage to old age, that prepare us for that long learning experience. Joseph Smith said, “I do not like to see a little child pass away, for it has not filled the measure of its creation and gained the victory over death” (Early History of Provo, 1849–1872; Utah Stake Bishop Meetings, July 17, 1868). In other words, the child is going to be exalted, but there will be added homework to do in order to compensate, to catch up to those who died in their old age. So there are advantages to staying behind in this mortal quagmire, if we prove faithful. "In retrospect, we will even see that our most trying years here [in mortality] will often have been our best years, producing large tree rings on our soul, Gethsemanes of growth!" (Taking up the Cross, Neal A. Maxwell, given at Brigham Young University on 4 January 1976).

I have wondered at the curious phrase, "gained the victory over death." I knew well a woman who was widowed, and lived alone. She missed her husband terribly, and was very eager to be done with life. Unlike most people, who are willing to do anything to stay alive, this woman actually wanted to be taken home to heaven. (She mentioned she was eager to chasten her husband for leaving her alone for all those years.) She eventually got her wish, and passed away after being alone for several years first. It seems to me that she had gained the victory over death—she felt no apprehension. Like the bold child at the pool brave enough to ascend the high dive for the first time while her friends halt and quiver at the bottom. While most of us fret and wring our hands in trepidation, paying doctors and absorbing vitamins and pills, she was unafraid to die, to plunge into eternity. Love and fear are incompatible; this woman loved her husband, and wanted to be wherever he went. Death involves total commitment because we cannot rescind it.