LDSChurchNews.com: Obedience motivated by a love for God

Can you imagine a more profound and potentially transforming event than receiving a personal invitation from Jesus Christ to follow him? One of the Savior's earliest calls during his mortal ministry was the call of obedience and discipleship to Peter and Andrew when he beckoned, \"Come follow me.\" These two valiant souls \"straightway left their nets, and followed him\" (Matthew 4:19; see also Mark 1:17). The call to follow Christ is an invitation to emulate his example and to become like him. This call has been extended to all mankind (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:59 and 38:22).

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, explained: \"To follow Christ is to become more like him. It is to learn from his character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn his gospel by living his teachings. To follow him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow. This process is very complex and very simple at the same time. Ancient and modern prophets described it with three words: 'Keep the commandments' — nothing more, nothing less\" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, \"Developing Christlike Attributes,\" Ensign, October 2008, 4–9).

Jesus' mortal life exemplified submission and obedience to his Father. All that he did and all that he suffered was to please Heavenly Father: \"I do always those things that please him\" (John 8:29); \"I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father\" (John 5:30).

Jesus Christ wants our love for him and Heavenly Father to motivate our obedience to the commandments. The Lord exhorted, \"If ye love me, keep my commandments\" (John 14:15). Keeping the commandments helps us grow spiritually, but divine perfection cannot be compelled. Following and emulating Christ means obeying willingly because we love Him. \"Man's love of God is measured in terms of obedience and service\" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd Ed., 540).

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This story is provided by the LDS Church News, an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is produced weekly by the Deseret News.