Codes and Commandments

In the first of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, Elizabeth Swan is captured and taken aboard the cursed Black Pearl. She invokes the "pirate's code" and declares "parlay" in order to bargain for her life. Afterwards, when things don't go completely as she hoped, she confronts Captain Barbossa and demands he follow the pirate's code. His response to her is, "the code is more of what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules."

As Christians, we live by a much higher code than that of pirates. We call our code of conduct the commandments. While some people like to think of Heavenly Father's commandments as guidelines, He expects us to follow them fully like laws.

The purpose of following the commandments is not to bind us down, nor to take away our freedom. They are actually a protection against behaviors and actions that could be harmful to us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In fact, the Lord promises that we will be blessed in many different ways when we are obedient to His laws.

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never–ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
(Book of Mormon, Mosiah 2:41)

Unfortunately, there are people who like to take shortcuts and obey only partially, or when it is convenient, or treat the commandments like loose guidelines. Imagine what it would be like if everyone followed the traffic laws like guidelines, instead of obeying them completely. It might look something like this Goofy cartoon.

I'm glad that we have the commandments to help keep us safe from the dangers of the world. Many times the danger is not obvious or immediate, but we should place our trust in the Lord that his words will bless us and guide us to eternal life. I pray that you'll exercise faith by learning about God's commandments and follow them to the very best of your abilities. I know that you'll be blessed as you do so.