“Obtaining Blessings,” Friend, Oct. 1989, inside front cover
Obtaining Blessings
(Adapted from an April 1988 general conference address. See Ensign, May 1988, pages 24–26.)
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated (D&C 130:21).
The story is told of a traveler who asked a farmer, “How’s the cotton crop going to be this year?”
The farmer replied, “There won’t be any. I didn’t bother to plant it, because I was afraid of the boll weevil.”
Upon hearing this, the traveler asked further, “Well, are you going to harvest a big corn crop?”
“It’s the same,” came the response. “I was afraid that we wouldn’t get enough rain for the kernels to mature.”
The traveler pursued, “At least you will have a good potato harvest.”
“Nope. I didn’t dare plant any, because I was afraid of insects.”
Somewhat frustrated, the traveler then asked, “Well, what is it that you have planted?”
“Nothing, my good man,” came the answer. “I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Today there are many people who are just like that farmer. They hear the gospel but are afraid to find out if it is really true by planting it in their hearts and applying it to their lives.
We can pass through this mortal existence listening and following the words of the prophets and the scriptures, or we can be spectators afraid to apply these principles in our daily living.
A knowledge that the gospel is true comes from being “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22); it is the result of striving to “live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:44). There is no way that any of God’s children can be assured of blessings from the Most High without worthy actions in their lives. The Lord’s blessings are the fruits of obedience to the laws on which they are predicated.
Illustrated by Richard Hull