Do Or Do Not

Star Wars..... I LOVE it!!!  In Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back the Rebel Alliance's base on the wintery ice planet of Hoth is being attacked by the evil Galactic Empire and is eventually overthrown by Darth Vader and the Imperial Forces.  Luke Skywalker manages to escape imprisionment and is told in a vision from his former mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to seek out Master Jedi Yoda on the swampy planet of Dagobah.  When Luke's X-Wing crash lands in the middle of a swamp, a funny looking short green creature with pointy ears comes and finds this young aspiring Jedi

It turns out that this funny looking creature is the great Yoda himself!  While going through some vigorous trainings, Luke's X-Wing sinks into the swamp.  While Luke fears that he's not strong enough to use to force to get it out, Yoda gives this timeless counsel to his new apprentice.

"Do or do not.  There is no try."  How does that apply to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Christ taught us in Matthew 7:21 that:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

The Apostle John taught us that "...this is love, that we walk after his commandments (2 John 1:6)."  Christ pleaded with us that "If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15)."  We show our love to Christ by acting upon that which he has taught us.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of action, not trying to act. 

So what commandments must we keep and do in order to follow Christ?  We need to read the scriptures, keep the sabbath day holy, love our neighbors, pay our tithing, keep the law of chastity, pray often, and many other things which Christ and His prophets have taught us both anciently and modernly.  When we are baptized, one of the promises we make to God is to "keep [Christ's] commandments which he hath given [us]... (Moroni 4:3)".

I'm grateful for God's promises to us as we do the things which he has commanded us.  I know that keeping the commandments works, and that they are given to us for our benefit.  So.....

Just do it!