Which Commandments are Optional to attain Eternal Life?

[_DarkHelmet]

According to the authorities on LDS doctrine (the apologists) not all the so called "commandments" are official doctrine. So you can ignore those. The problem is knowing which ones are and aren't official doctrinal commandments. you can't ask your bishop because he is just a lowly bishop, and he might be one of those rogue bishops. same with the SP. You could try asking the GAs, but they recently sent out a letter telling people to stop bothering them. So your best bet is to check with the apologists before obeying any commandment.

[_Darth J]

Sometimes there are those who argue about words. They might say the prophet gave us counsel but that we are not obliged to follow it unless he says it is a commandment. But the Lord says of the Prophet, “Thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you.” (D&C 21:4.).

Rulon G. Craven of the Seventy, http://LDS.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideN ... 82620aRCRD

I have to wonder about these sorts of comments from 70s. Are they sucking up to the president in hopes of being promoted to the board of directors?

That quote is from Ezra Taft Benson's "Fourteen Fundamentals" talk. I have the source above the quote in this list; the one by Rulon G. Craven is the next one down.

[_Brackite]

Since we are actually not expected to be perfect, nor are we expected to keep all the commandments, I would like to know which of the LDS commandments are optional.

Which things can be ignored and STILL obtain the highest degree of glory in the CK?

TIA

Once you've been married in the temple you can disobey all the commandments with the exception of spilling innocent blood and still get into the CK. This is stated explicitly in D&C:132

Temple Marriage Saves!!!


Here is what the late 13th President of the LDS Church, Ezra Taft Benson Stated:

Understand that temple marriage is essential to your salvation and exaltation.

(HyperLink:)



Temple Marriage Saves!!!

[_ajax18]

I know puerile and naïve of me, but I've wondered the same question most of my life. It amazes me how much disagreement there is over this even within the most orthodox of circles.

[_SteelHead]

Non-optional list (by some of the above definitions). Saw this over on the nom board:

1. Pay a full tithing
2. Do your home teaching or visiting teaching
3. Go to church every Sunday
4. Fulfill your callings
5. Read the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon
6. Pray morning, noon, and night; personal and family
7a. Boys, serve a mission
7b. Girls, only date and marry returned missionaries
8. No dating until 16 years old
9. Do baptisms for the dead
10. Get your own testimony
11. Share the gospel with everyone
12. No sex before marriage
13. Get married in the temple
14. Sustain the leaders
15. Aaronic priesthood for the young men
16. Repent for anything you have done wrong
17. Take the sacrament each week
18. Leave your little factory alone
19. Be an example
20. Do geneology and family history
21. Do temple work for your dead relatives
22. Keep a journal
23. Have as many kids as you possibly can
24. No smoking
25. No drinking alcohol
26. No swearing
27. No hot drinks (with the exception of hot chocolate)
28. No tea (even if it isn't hot)
29. No caffeine (even though it isn't in the WoW)
30. Obey the laws of the land
31. Follow the prophet
32. Watch 10 hours of General Conference twice a year
33. Always be worthy so the spirit will guide you
34. Follow the spirit
35. Never turn down a calling
36. Melchizedek priesthood for men
37. Keep your thoughts clean
38. Dress modestly
39. Get your own endowments
40. Wear garments day and night
41a. Girls, no double earrings
41b. Boys, no earrings at all
42. No tattoos
43. Go to BYU
44. Don't ask a general authority if he has seen god
45. Don't question anything
46. Unconditional obedience
47. No loud laughter
48. No evil speaking of the lords annointed (even if they deserve it)
49. Never reveal your "new name"
50. Attend all your meetings
51. Have family home evening (FHE)
52. Read only church approved material
53. Don't watch "R" rated movies
54. Porn in any form is not allowed
55. Don't associate with people who are against the church
56. Don't steal
57. Don't kill (unless commanded otherwise by god)
58. Have the missionaries over for dinner
59. Go to early morning seminary
60. If you're a college student, attend institute
61. Covenant to give everything to the church, if they ask
62. Clean your local ward meeting house
63. Mark your scriptures
64. Never leave your garments on the floor
65. "Know" it's true; believing isn't good enough
66. Be perfect
67. No necking/petting with your boyfriend/girlfriend
68. Your body is a temple; treat it as such
69. Have a current temple recommend
70. Interviews with the bishop
71. Interviews with the stake president
72. PPIs (personal priesthood interviews)
73. Be honest
74. Women are to be stay-at-home mothers
75. Give/receive blessings
76. No oral sex, even with your spouse
77. Don't be gay
78. Share your testimony on fast sunday
79. Fast on fast sunday
80. Donate to several church funds
81. Volunteer at D.I. or the bishop's store house
82. Put names on the "prayer list" in the temple
83. Wear your CTR ring
84. Memorize the 13 Articles of Faith
85. Boys, become an Eagle Scout
86. Endure to the end
87. Get baptized when you're 8 years old
88. Receive the holy ghost
89. Get your patriarchal blessing
90. Only listen to uplifting music
91. Join your ward choir
92. Subscribe to the Ensign and other church magazines
93. Buy and read books written by Apostles
94. Seek for personal inspiration
95. Be humble
96. No talking about what happens in the temple
97. Write to a missionary
98. Give talks in sacrament meeting
99. Youth, attend YM and YW activities
100. Attend ward parties
101. Do all of the above with a pure heart and real intent

[_DarkHelmet]

Non-optional list (by some of the above definitions). Saw this over on the nom board:

1. Pay a full tithing
2. Do your home teaching or visiting teaching
3. Go to church every Sunday
4. Fulfill your callings
5. Read the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon
6. Pray morning, noon, and night; personal and family
7a. Boys, serve a mission
7b. Girls, only date and marry returned missionaries
8. No dating until 16 years old
9. Do baptisms for the dead
10. Get your own testimony
11. Share the gospel with everyone
12. No sex before marriage
13. Get married in the temple
14. Sustain the leaders
15. Aaronic priesthood for the young men
16. Repent for anything you have done wrong
17. Take the sacrament each week
18. Leave your little factory alone
19. Be an example
20. Do geneology and family history
21. Do temple work for your dead relatives
22. Keep a journal
23. Have as many kids as you possibly can
24. No smoking
25. No drinking alcohol
26. No swearing
27. No hot drinks (with the exception of hot chocolate)
28. No tea (even if it isn't hot)
29. No caffeine (even though it isn't in the WoW)
30. Obey the laws of the land
31. Follow the prophet
32. Watch 10 hours of General Conference twice a year
33. Always be worthy so the spirit will guide you
34. Follow the spirit
35. Never turn down a calling
36. Melchizedek priesthood for men
37. Keep your thoughts clean
38. Dress modestly
39. Get your own endowments
40. Wear garments day and night
41a. Girls, no double earrings
41b. Boys, no earrings at all
42. No tattoos
43. Go to BYU
44. Don't ask a general authority if he has seen god
45. Don't question anything
46. Unconditional obedience
47. No loud laughter
48. No evil speaking of the lords annointed (even if they deserve it)
49. Never reveal your "new name"
50. Attend all your meetings
51. Have family home evening (FHE)
52. Read only church approved material
53. Don't watch "R" rated movies
54. Porn in any form is not allowed
55. Don't associate with people who are against the church
56. Don't steal
57. Don't kill (unless commanded otherwise by god)
58. Have the missionaries over for dinner
59. Go to early morning seminary
60. If you're a college student, attend institute
61. Covenant to give everything to the church, if they ask
62. Clean your local ward meeting house
63. Mark your scriptures
64. Never leave your garments on the floor
65. "Know" it's true; believing isn't good enough
66. Be perfect
67. No necking/petting with your boyfriend/girlfriend
68. Your body is a temple; treat it as such
69. Have a current temple recommend
70. Interviews with the bishop
71. Interviews with the stake president
72. PPIs (personal priesthood interviews)
73. Be honest
74. Women are to be stay-at-home mothers
75. Give/receive blessings
76. No oral sex, even with your spouse
77. Don't be gay
78. Share your testimony on fast sunday
79. Fast on fast sunday
80. Donate to several church funds
81. Volunteer at D.I. or the bishop's store house
82. Put names on the "prayer list" in the temple
83. Wear your CTR ring
84. Memorize the 13 Articles of Faith
85. Boys, become an Eagle Scout
86. Endure to the end
87. Get baptized when you're 8 years old
88. Receive the holy ghost
89. Get your patriarchal blessing
90. Only listen to uplifting music
91. Join your ward choir
92. Subscribe to the Ensign and other church magazines
93. Buy and read books written by Apostles
94. Seek for personal inspiration
95. Be humble
96. No talking about what happens in the temple
97. Write to a missionary
98. Give talks in sacrament meeting
99. Youth, attend YM and YW activities
100. Attend ward parties
101. Do all of the above with a pure heart and real intent

LOL. This reminds me of an old SP who gave a talk about how everyone needed to find something that they were struggling with and work to fix it. Even if it is something minor like forgetting to do your morning scripture study. Until then, I didn't know that doing morning scripture study was a commandment.

[_Buffalo]

I always have to laugh when members tut tut at those legalistic pharisees we talk about in Sunday school.

[_zeezrom]

Okay, regarding that long list of stuff to do/don't.

I don't think I worried about long lists like that. I never wanted to think about who would make it to the CK. I felt it wasn't my place to worry. I wondered about myself but I didn't know exactly what items would get me there and what items wouldn't.

As I grew older, the idea of CK became less and less defined in my mind. I thought about it less and less. Looking back, I realize now that the whole idea must have bothered me.

To date, Heavenly Father has spent a ton of resources building the CK. You think the downtown City Creek mall is expensive? Hah. You ain't seen nothing yet, dear friends. The very unfortunate thing is, the souls in Spirit Prison are beginning to flock to a different heaven made by a different God. Heavenly Father is losing support, poor guy. If His numbers don't increase soon, He will go bankrupt. Luckily, He is still on the tax exempt status.

[_zeezrom]

Regarding the 10 commandments:

1. You can have other Gods before HF. Namely, you could look mostly to The God Jesus and essentially ignore HF. If you believe Jesus gave the commandments, you could put HF before Jesus. Either way, I think we can agree that you can dismiss #1 and still make it.

2. Graven images of Jesus are fine. Graven images of HF? Not as fine but allowed. Graven image of HM? Oh my!

3. Saying OMG won't kill your prospects

4. Not going to church? I don't think you would make it to HF's kingdom. Sorry.

5. Honor father and mother? No biggie on this one.

6. Murder? Nope

7. Adultery? Maybe

8. Stealing? Yeah, after repenting

9. False witness? What side are you on?

10. Covet? Yeah, after repenting


Modern commandments:

Tithing? Well, how do you repent of not paying tithing before retirement if you can't afford to pay during retirement. This could be problematic.

Coffee? Only if you can prove you can stop for a year.

Tea? Don't ask don't tell.

Garments? Gotta wear the Gs

[_bcspace]

Which Commandments are Optional to attain Eternal Life?

None are optional. And yes, with the aid the Atonement, it is possible to keep them all perfectly because what's in your heart and what you willing do because you know to do it will enable Christ's sacrifice to work for you. It will not of course work for the cynical or pharisaical because their hearts are not right.