Commandments Not A Few

In one of the earliest revelations given in Zion, the Lord gave this promise to His Saints who were to build up that land, “Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its strength.  And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me” (D&C 59:3-4).  The blessings the faithful were to receive included the good things of the earth, revelations, and “commandments not a few”.  That last phrase is certainly an intriguing one; we are prone to think of commandments as burdens instead of blessings, as requirements that bind us down instead of setting us free, but here the Lord clearly implied that it would be a desirable thing to receive more commandments from Him.  Perhaps it marks an important moment in our spiritual progression when we seek to receive instructions and commandments from the Lord because of our desire to be obedient to Him and to gain more light and knowledge.  Elder Staheli in general conference said it this way (apparently quoting President Benson, though there is no source for the original quote): “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”  

               Abraham was a great example of one who sought commandments from the Lord, and his reasoning for doing so teaches us why one would want commandments from God.  He said, “Finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers” (Abraham 1:2).  He sought to be a greater follower of righteousness and to receive instructions, for he knew that in so doing he would receive knowledge and happiness and peace. The Book of Abraham certainly shows some of those great blessings that he obtained for his willingness to receive instructions and follow the Lord’s commandments.  He was saved by the angel of the Lord from those who wanted to sacrifice him, guided into Canaan by the Lord, and given marvelous revelations.  He was given the Urim and Thummim and through that learned incredible truths about the stars, the creation, the premortal world, and the foreordination of the Redeemer. Because of his willingness to receive commandments and be guided by the Lord, he received “revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (D&C 42:61).  Of course, his willingness to seek after “commandments not a few” did bring its own share of hardship as the Lord required difficult things of him—such as being willing to sacrifice his own son—but ultimately because “Abraham received all things… by revelation and commandment,” he “hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne” (D&C 132:29).