Blessings

I like word definitions.

"The verb bless comes from Old English blēdsian/blētsian, 'to bless, wish happiness, consecrate.'"

My favorite part of that is "to wish happiness." It makes blessings sound so simple and loving.

They are.

We have a loving Father in heaven. What He wants to do more than anything is bless us. 
The apostle Jeffrey R. Holland said this in April 2013:
"Surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it."

I love the image that gives me of God--not wrathful, angry, or scary. He just wants to bless His children. However, there are rules set in place before this world was created that limit what He can do:

D&C 130:20-21:
"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated — And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

In order to be blessed, we have to be obedient. King Benjamin puts it so eloquently in Mosiah 2:

"He doth require that ye should do as He hath commanded you; for which if ye do, He doth immediately bless you; and therefore He hath paid you."

All we need to do is obey His commandments and then we get "paid" with blessings. Seems like everyone would want to be totally obedient, right? Because heaven's gifts are the best kind?

Unfortunately, this is not the case.


"O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!"

Something that breaks my heart more than anything else is seeing someone (especially people who I love) go against all the things they've been taught. I know it's not easy or fun or cool to keep good standards. It's hard. I always try to keep the commandments and sometimes it's unexciting, lonely, and just plain boring. I keep doing it, because I know I should, but sometimes I feel like there's no point. However, I know people, people I care very strongly about, who've done that--given up on some of the rules. The aftermath is torturous. It may not come quickly. It may take a month, a year, or a decade, but when the consequence hits, it's a million times worse than the feeling of "just plain boring."

Here's a list of a few of the blessings I've received because of obedience:

1. I get to go to the temple and perform work for those who can't do it themselves
2. The company of the Holy Ghost
3. Having enough money for my needs as a student
4. Confidence in important decisions I made with the help of the Spirit
5. Good health
6. Ability to perform in school, even when it was really hard
7. Emotional fortitude 
8. Tender mercies
9. Cool opportunities
10. Joy

To those of you who are choosing the right, keep on truckin'. Sometimes that's all you can do.

 "Lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."

To people who may be struggling with rules, family, school, work, money, life in general--and I think we all are, in some degree--remember that God loves you. It sounds cliche, but it's still dang true! Help will come if you ask. It may not be in the way you expect or even notice, but don't let that feed your doubt. Do your best and try to keep the faith. 

Mistakes--we've all made them--can be removed fully and completely through repentance. Don't think you're not worthy to pray or ask for help because we all fall short. Remember, God loves to bless those who feel they don't deserve it, and honestly, none of us do but we are all fortunate to have a merciful Savior. I know He lives and will forgive and heal anyone who asks.