Letter 4 30 2017

Caleb and Jacob:

I love you both so much. I've been listening to short five minute
thoughts on various subjects from Prager University. the last one was
on the opening statement of the Ten Commandments and the thoughts
contained therein are very good.

Exodus 20:2 reads -
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

From this statement we learn two things:
1) God is giving the commandments, not Moses or another human,
2) It was God that delivered the Children of Israel out of slavery,
again, not Moses or someone or something else,

Since it is God who is the giver, we now get the "therefore"...

Intellectuals call this the beginning of "Ethical Monotheism", which means that
1) God is the source of ethics and morality which means that these
transcend human opinion, and
2) what God most wants from us is that we respect and worship him and
that we treat others morally.

We also learn the importance that God places on freedom. God could've
said that he created the world but instead, he focused on the facts
that he had given them their freedom. Furthermore, the way to remain
free is to live the commandments.... or to exercise moral
self-control.

From an intellectual standpoint, it's pretty profound stuff.

Finally, the Lord revealed the following to Joseph Smith in D&C 58:27-33 -

Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do
many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much
righteousness;

For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And
inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a
commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the
same is damned.

Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless
that obeys not my commandments?

Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?

I command and men obey not; I revoke and they receive not the blessing.

Then they say in their hearts: This is not the work of the Lord, for
his promises are not fulfilled. But wo unto such, for their reward
lurketh beneath, and not from above.

You lives are ahead of you. Learn, think, and then act and you will
have a wonderful go of it.

I wish you a great week. I love you,

Dad