"How gentle God's commands"

Even though Heavenly Father has given us commandments, he does not force us to keep them. We are allowed to choose...2 Nephi 2:27 " ...men are free...to choose liberty and eternal life...or to choose captivity and death..."

"How gentle his precepts are"

Precept is another word for commandment, or doctrine. The Lord said, "I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts..." Heavenly Father does not expect us to know everything at once.  He knows us and gives us what we need at the time, and as we gain strength and wisdom and understanding, we are given more. "Through thy precepts I get understanding" (Ps. 119:l04)

"Come cast your burdens on the Lord"

When we commit sin, we are weighed down with guilt and feelings of unworthiness and possibly rebellion. Many walk away in "darkness [and] turn their hearts from the Lord (D&C 45:29) "For they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men" Man cannot save us - can't not take away the feelings of guilt, cannot make us whole once again, but Christ can and will. Christ has already paid the ultimate price to do this for us - we must be willing to come to Him and "Cast our Burdens upon Him", he is waiting. "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I the Lord remember them no more. " (D&C 58:42) We show that we are willing to repent when we "repent...confess...and forsake them" (D&C 58:43)

"And trust His constant care"

The Lord never leaves us alone. We may harden our hearts through sin, but He is always there waiting for us to return. He loves us conditionally, he uses long suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, kindness and pure knowledge. His precepts are fair and pure and He will "shew mercy unto them that love me, and keep my commandments" (Ex. 20:6)  Alma experienced the pain of sin, but also the joy of repentance - Alma 36:12-21) He testifies that after his repentance he did "receive..strength again" (Alma 36:23) and the Lord will do the same for us!   We can make a covenant with our Father in Heaven - "I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart" (Ps 119:69) and be blessed with eternal life!

Alice Gifford (c) 2000 - All Rights Reserved

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