I stared at the pair of dark argyle socks being held up at the pulpit. The speaker had just displayed the socks as an example of obedience. A missionary recently turned the offenders into him at the MTC as proof that he was now going to be obedient and only wear plain grey, brown, or black socks. Another example of obedience followed. “One missionary walked right over to the garbage bin and threw his gum in. Following that, another young man reached into his pocket and pulled out his pack of gum and marched right over to the garbage and said he was going to be obedient too and not chew gum anymore. The spirituality of those two missionaries went from here to here,” the speaker exclaimed marking a low level with one hand and a high level with another. Russell Nelson was quoted, “Obedience brings success, exact obedience brings miracles.” While I believe the speaker had good intentions behind his remarks, in my opinion, his object lesson completely missed the mark.

What is exact obedience? What does God mean when we are asked to obey? For missionaries, is it staying away from argyles and gum? clinging to white shirts and hymns? For lay members, is it accepting every calling extended or only taking the sacrament with the right hand? It’s my belief we have to move from outward signs of obedience to inward obedience or we become like the Pharisees.

The apostle John said: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in HIm.” (1 John 2:3-6)

Which begs the question, what is “His word?” I used to think it was only the ten commandments. Then I thought, in addition, it was the scriptures. Then I thought it included words in the church magazines. One day I had something happen that changed my paradigm. Twenty years ago, the Spirit gave me a direct prompting and I didn’t follow it. It was very specific. I’d left my baby home with my husband so I could go to the gym and was told to go home that instant and check on my son. I actually said out loud to God, “Can you tell my husband to go and check on him instead? He’s there and I’m already almost to the gym.” (That is excruciating to write, but any alone time was bascially non-existant then and at that moment I was in full-fledged selfish mode). When I got home, my husband told me the story of how he felt to go and check on my sleeping son who was actually choking on a strap. I fell to my knees in repentance and made a vow that I would obey every prompting given to me by the Lord, no matter what. If I have not been perfect at keeping that vow for twenty years, it’s from lack of hearing correctly and not from trying. “His word” to me now includes personal revelation. It’s been a couple of decades of fine tuning and I am sure I have more to learn, but when I receive revelation, I act on it – no matter how strange it is.

I think of the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. She was considered unclean and could not attend the temple or be around people. She was isolated but happened to hear about the traveling healer that would come through her town. Perhaps she prayed more fervently than ever and asked God if she could be healed by Jesus. She knew the rules – no mingling with people, especially the Pharisees. The Pharisees wore elaborate tassels on the corners of their tallits so people knew who they were and how they closely identified with God. It’s also so people would not make them unclean by touching them. Jesus also would have had tassels on his tallit, although His would have been simple. This woman received personal revelation to find Christ and touch his garment. This was against every rule, but she had been taught about the one in Malachi that brought “healing in his wings.” She left her home, mingled in the crowd, and then touched the tallit of a holy man – all forbidden. But these courageous acts healed her. The woman’s story is a lesson in faith, but it also a lesson in following the word that God gives you directly. She defied every convention and followed her heart.

Last December I had just finished giving a sharing time lesson in Primary. I loved the kids and coming up with interesting lessons and activities for my calling. A Bishopric counselor was standing at the door and I heard the Spirit say, “Asked to be released right now.” I argued. “What? Right now?” I checked in a couple of times just to make sure that I heard correctly. In the meantime, he had left. I was conflicted. I didn’t want to be released, but I made my long-ago vow to be obedient to His word, so I walked down to his office and told him that I needed to be released. “Why?” he asked incredulously. “I just saw you do an amazing sharing time. I don’t think you should be released. Go and pray about it this week.” I did and was told by the Spirit that my stewardship in Primary was over. I went back the next week and told him I needed to be released and the reason. Months later I had not been released yet. One day, I was working in my office when I heard the words, “Call *** right now and asked to be released. It is time.” I did and within three weeks I was finally released. That week the Spirit said of the same man, “ **** is thinking of making you Baptism Coordinator. Tell him not to extend that calling to you.” Within an hour of that revelation, ***** was knocking on my door. I opened the door and told him the message the Spirit had given me. “Who told you I was going to ask you to do that calling?” he asked. “God.” was the simple reply. When we follow His word, He will give us more. I miss Primary every week, but I know there must have been a good reason to be released that only God knows. There are many stories that have happened to me in which I felt prompted to do unusual things, but every single time it works out for good – even if they are unconventional. Miracles do come from exact obedience – following the personal revelation that you receive, even if it conflicts with the status quo. What stories do you have about following God’s word for you?

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P.S. and just for fun…here is some of the words of Jesus Christ that are in addition to the Ten Commandments.

When you start praying, forgive. (Mark 11:25-26)

You must be born again (John 3:7)

Remain in me and I will remain in you. (John 15:4)

Let your light so shine before men. (Matt 5:14,16)

Settle matters quickly with your advisory (Matthew 5:25)

Get rid of whatever causes you to sin.” (Matthew 5:29-30)

Do not swear at all. (Matthew 5:34-37)

Do not resist an evil person. (Matthew 5:38-39)

Give more than is demanded. (Matthew 5:40-42)

Love your enemies. (Matthew 5: 43-45)

Give to please God, not to be seen (Matthew 6:1)

Pray privately, not to be seen by men. (Matthew 6:5-7)

Fast without fanfare. (Matthew 6:16)

Do not store up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19-21)

Do not worry about your needs. (Matthew 6:25-26)

Do not worry about tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34)

Place God first. (Matthew 6:33)

Do not judge. (Matthew 7:1-2)

Guard what is sacred. (Matthew 7:6)

Ask, Seek, and Knock. (Matthew 7:7)

Care for those in Distress (Matthew 25:34-36)

Enter through the Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13-14)

Exercise spiritual power (Matthew 10:1, 8)

Watch out for False Prophets (Matthew 7:15)

Do not exalt yourself (Matthew 23:8-12)

Have complete faith in God (Mark 11:22-24)

Love one another (John 15:12)

Sacrament – do this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22: 19-20)

Love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:36-40)