Boundaries and Shepherds

From Wikipdia online encyclopedia "A shepherd is a person who tends to, feeds, or guards sheep, especially in flocks. The word may also refer to one who provides religious guidance, as a pastor."
"The purpose of having boundaries is to protect and take care of ourselves."

I found these definition of a shepherds and boundaries to be perfect in fitting into my thoughts this morning which were as follows: Man has been given boundaries in every age of his existence, the boundaries are commonly known as commandments. The word commandment is usually thought of as restrictive and binding, but in fact commandments are simply the boundaries set to the path leasing to joy, happiness, safety and a sense of peace in one's life.

God our Father loves us all and wants ALL of us to return to Him. Yet we just can't go back to Him without increasing in our awareness, spirituality, and strength. If it were possible for each of us to simply get a body and then return to Him without any REAL mortal experiences, why wasn't Lucifer's plan of compulsion adopted, or another plan where we ALL just live long enough to get a body, or even be given bodies in the realm prior to this earth and simply live there? The answer has been given to prophets throughout time to inform the children of God the way to happiness.

Rules and boundaries are usually created for the meaning for protection and safety for those entering any given place. Rules of the road tell us to attempt to be courteous, stop for red lights and stop signs, and be aware of other people around us who are driving, riding a bike, or walking. What would happen if we chose to ignore those boundaries of the road? Well other then the pain and grief from hurting, maiming, and killing other human beings, dogs, or other animals. We would no doubt be hunted down, convicted, and spend a lot of time in prison and/or paying a lot in money and time to attempt to re-pay all the damage we did cause.

This principle is the same on how we should live our life. God GAVE commandments or boundaries already and He updates them today by means of Called and ordained Prophets and teachers as well as through The Holy Ghost which speaks to all those that seek Him. Interestingly enough the same punishments CAN occur if we choose to ignore the God's boundaries set for His children. We will be found out in full, convicted by our own guilty conscious, and possibly even spend a lot of time in prison paying for the wasted Blood of Jesus who freely gave it to give to God's children a chance not to suffer. (For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; ... D&C 19:6-7)

Granted after we pay the debt we own to Him we probably will be saved in a small manner, excluding of course those sons of perdition (D&C 76:31-34 Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power— They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born; For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity; Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come—)

So bottom line here is not to look at commandments as restrictions but to see them as they are: boundaries set by God in order that we might repent, attempt to do better day by day, seek out, find and partake of all the Principles of The Restored Gospel, endure to the end and then (D&C 84:36-39 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.)

The way is prepared so let us all seek and find it. In His name Jesus Christ Amen