A question of motivation

[_Maxine Waters]

What do you think really motivates people to do the "right" thing?

I got the chance to attend sacrament meeting and listen to some of the talks on gratitude. I could see a feeling of gratitude being a natural response when things are going well. I'm glad the speakers pointed out that we're expected to be grateful when things are not going well. My question is why do you think chapel Mormons force themselves to feel grateful during bad times? Having tried these things I certainly can't say it made me happier in the moment. The only way I've been able to make myself feel happier about anything that's expected of me in Mormonism is to convince myself that I'll be blessed or rewarded for these sacrifices in the next life. Anyone can see we're not rewarded for them now. But I could never say that out loud in real life even if it were true because it can be criticized as being selfish.

My question is what goes through the chapel Mormons mind when they make themselves do unpleasant things like pay tithing, fast, spend most of their nonworking time in some sort of Church service. If they don't do it because they believe they'll be blessed for it, do they do it because they'll feel guilty if they don't? Are they really happier in the moment of making these sacrifices or are they happier because of how their choices will effect them in eternity but can't admit this is why because they'll be viewed as selfish?

[Guest]

Senator Waters

Its all about perspective and motive. Generally when somebody is going through tough times its extremely difficult to be grateful. Trials can make or break a person. Society loves the person who has gone through tough times and comes out a better person.

Believe it or not people get blessings when they live the commandments and have good motives. But there are some warnings for motivations as to why people may try attempt to live different commandments.

6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.

7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.

8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.

9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.


1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

[_Maxine Waters]

Believe it or not people get blessings when they live the commandments and have good motives.

Are blessings in eternity a good motive in your opinion?

[_bomgeography]

Believe it or not people get blessings when they live the commandments and have good motives.

Are blessings in eternity a good motive in your opinion?

It's not the best motive. But it certainly a starting point. The best motive in my understanding is for someone to live the standards out of love for their savior. Their motive not being based on what reward they will receive.
If someone starts off with a lesser motive to live the standards but then leads to better motives (which is probably everyone)There is nothing wrong with that. Dallin h oaks gave a couple talks on this subject. Nobody ever starts off with perfect Christlike intentions. The main goal though is to develop that charity as described by Paul and Moroni or the pure love of Christ.

One of the worst motives and the scriptures bear this out. Is performances based living the standards solely to look good in front of other people. Christ held his harshest criticism for the Pharisees who by outward appearances were holier than though living every outward appearance commandment to the T while plotting the death of Jesus Christ. Christ called them white washed sepulchers. Having unvarnished appearance on the outside and being empty on the inside except for dead men's bones

[_Maxine Waters]

I appreciate you engaging me in this conversation.

The best motive in my understanding is for someone to live the standards out of love for their savior.

Do all people love the Savior so much that they want to make all these sacrifices? For those that do not possess this love, what exactly would change their mind? At what point in being owned and treated as a perpetual debtor or even worse a slave, does this love turn to hate. Martin Luther admitted that he indeed hated this God that he was commanded to worship. If you look at what God required of him vicariously through the current Catholic priesthood authority, it's a little easier to understand why.

[_bomgeography]

I appreciate you engaging me in this conversation.

The best motive in my understanding is for someone to live the standards out of love for their savior.

Do all people love the Savior so much that they want to make all these sacrifices? For those that do not possess this love, what exactly would change their mind? At what point in being owned and treated as a perpetual debtor or even worse a slave, does this love turn to hate. Martin Luther admitted that he indeed hated this God that he was commanded to worship. If you look at what God required of him vicariously through the current Catholic priesthood authority, it's a little easier to understand why.

I don't consider going to church paying tithing or fast offerings a sacrifice. I personally don't struggle in these areas in other areas I do struggles. But there is a definite peace and satisfaction that comes to living/trying to live the commandments. As long as I'm headed in the right direction it does not matter to me what other people think or how many mistakes I make etc. I don't think the lord punishes those who are honestly trying.
At times in the case of luther and apostles and prophets at times they may have hated giving up their entire adult lives to their master Jesus Christ. I can understand that sentiment. I have a hard giving up my time in service but afterwards have always enjoyed the peace and sentiment that comes with it when I do serve. There are quotes from Christ that I think explains the sentiment. Those who give up their will to the lord will find out who they are and what potential is within them. Life goes beyond the grave. Following the commandments for blessings in heaven is fine there is a better motive though.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

[_bomgeography]

I appreciate you engaging me in this conversation.

The best motive in my understanding is for someone to live the standards out of love for their savior.

Do all people love the Savior so much that they want to make all these sacrifices? For those that do not possess this love, what exactly would change their mind? At what point in being owned and treated as a perpetual debtor or even worse a slave, does this love turn to hate. Martin Luther admitted that he indeed hated this God that he was commanded to worship. If you look at what God required of him vicariously through the current Catholic priesthood authority, it's a little easier to understand why.

I don't consider going to church paying tithing or fast offerings a sacrifice. I personally don't struggle in these areas in other areas I do struggle. But there is a definite peace and satisfaction that comes to living/trying to live the commandments. As long as I'm headed in the right direction it does not matter to me what other people think or how many mistakes I make etc. I don't think the lord punishes those who are honestly trying.
At times in the case of luther and apostles and prophets may have hated giving up their entire adult lives to their master Jesus Christ. I can understand that sentiment. I have a hard giving up my time in service but afterwards have always enjoyed the peace and sentiment that comes with it when I do serve. There are quotes from Christ that I think explains the sentiment. Those who give up their will to the lord will find out who they are and what potential is within them. Life goes beyond the grave. Following the commandments for blessings in heaven is fine there is a better motive though.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

this is the second time this has repeated a post can a repeated post be deleted

[_Maxine Waters]

When Jesus spoke of laying up treasure in heaven, what do you think he was referring to?

[_bomgeography]

When Jesus spoke of laying up treasure in heaven, what do you think he was referring to?

Eternal life

[_Maxine Waters]

Eternal life with like minded people

What is required of people to get that?

Elder Uchtdorf seemed to say he viewed our exaltation as a free gift not obtained through works. He asked, "Why do any of these works if they don't change the result?" In responding to his own question he said that we do all these works out of gratitude for Christ's free gift. My question is what if you're not so overcome with gratitude that you want to do these works? Obviously some people are not. Why would they want to train themselves to feel more indebted or grateful?