tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551466722529127235.post5366326265074148779..comments2023-05-19T01:13:38.607-08:00Comments on Mindful Serenity: Agency and Obedience: internal and external controlJennihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01279308378287322473noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551466722529127235.post-74875594735192519882013-04-17T12:45:12.773-08:002013-04-17T12:45:12.773-08:00You did catch that it wasn't words from our le...You did catch that it wasn't words from our leaders though, right? It was words our leaders quoted from someone else... Which doesn't make them bad... Swedenborg is probably a lovely fellow (admittedly I have not studied him at any length), so I'm not saying the words are not inspired, but I AM saying they're not scripture. <br /><br />I also thought it was very enlightening though to look at it through the interpretation that the originator of the quote used--which was obedience as a building block. That seems to me to jive better with the scripture verses. Obedience isn't bad, but ultimately you DO have to be independent, able to do things without direction/rules. If you always merely follow rules, you're not living up to your potential. <br /><br />I wasn't trying to say obedience is bad. I was trying to say that having too many rules is inferior (for our development) when compared to learning to choose for ourselves. and I think the scriptures support that. Jennihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01279308378287322473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551466722529127235.post-12358224746672553242013-04-17T05:12:03.372-08:002013-04-17T05:12:03.372-08:00I understand what you're saying here and I agr...I understand what you're saying here and I agree that we shouldn't be commanded in all things. But when I hear the phrase, "Obedience is the first law of heaven," it resonates within me. Not because I want to be told everything to do, but because I know from experience that when we obey the commandments--the 10 basic rules for living a peaceful life--we are blessed. That, I believe, is what that phrase is saying. And though this phrase is not found in the scriptures, the inspired words of our leaders are scripture, and if tried, will prove their truth.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678111707440064190noreply@blogger.com