Sorry, it
probably appears I’m focusing on what appears to be an exception. I believe
that sometimes what appears to be an exception is actually a true principle
that God is revealing to us. I have been thinking about this for many years
because I believe I may have missed the mark before even though my heart was right
before the Lord. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15. Sometimes
there is more than one commandment at play and we need the Holy Ghost. Nephi
said it like this,
23 For we labor diligently to
write, to apersuade our children, and also our
brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that
it is by bgrace that we are saved, after all we can cdo.
24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we akeep the law of Moses, and look forward
with
steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
25 For, for this end was the alaw given; wherefore the law hath become bdead unto us, and we are made alive in
Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
26 And
we atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we
preach of Christ, we bprophesy of Christ, and we write according
to our prophecies, that our cchildren may know to what source they may
look for a dremission of their sins.
27 Wherefore,
we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law;
and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life
which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law
is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when
the law ought to be done away.
As we come unto Christ, it is wonderful how He
continues to tutor us and reveal “commandments not a few” (D&C 59:4), that
open our perspectives and reveal more and more of His laws/principles/ways/thoughts/character/perfections/attributes.
For me, I continue to be humbled by Him and grateful that He keeps giving “line
upon line, precept upon precept” (Doct & Cov 98:12). Isaiah 55:8-9 is so
enlightening. If we really believe His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways, then He can teach us more, only if we're humble enough to receive more. I’ve held onto the tail of the elephant before and still do at times, only
to realize He is trying to show me the tusk so I can have a more complete view
of the elephant (situation) and receive more light and knowledge. (Pres Dieter F Uchtdorf, "What Is Truth," January 2013, https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/print/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng)
I’m in the middle of “A
Whole New Mind.” I believe he is onto a true principle that leads to more light.
The ones w/ a right brain tendency tend to hold onto their strengths and hold
up those truths as a true principle that overshadows the left brain strengths.
Those w/ the left brain tendencies tend to hold onto and hold up their
strengths and principles and put more precedence on those strengths and
perspectives. The perfect blend of the two is probably closer to the mind of
Christ than only a right or left brain perspective. Elder Maxwell once said
that we tend to focus on those things we are good at and compare our strengths
to other’s weaknesses.
