Finding True Happiness Through Obedience to God’s Laws: A Journey Across Time

Discover how obedience to God’s laws—from Adam to the Restoration—brings true happiness. Explore biblical teachings and modern revelation at Map to Happiness.

Michael B. Nhem, Founder of MapToHappiness.Com

At Map to Happiness, we explore the principles that lead to true joy. One timeless source of happiness is obedience to God’s laws and commandments—a principle that has guided humanity from the beginning of time to today. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on online discussions where some favor focusing solely on Christ’s two great commandments—to love God and love our neighbor—while disregarding earlier laws, especially from the Old Testament. This prompted me to study the progression of God’s laws across history, from the earliest commandments to the Restoration of the gospel. Through this journey, I’ve found that obedience to God’s laws, rooted in love, brings the happiness we seek. Let’s explore this progression together, drawing from scripture and the words of modern prophets, to see how honoring God’s commandments leads us to joy.

The Foundation: Pre-Mosaic Commandments

God’s laws began with the earliest patriarchs, establishing obedience as a principle of happiness. In Genesis 2:16-17, God commanded Adam, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” This first command taught Adam that obedience leads to life, while disobedience brings consequences—a lesson that set the stage for humanity’s relationship with God.

Early worship practices also emerged. In Genesis 4:3-4, Cain and Abel offered sacrifices, showing an understanding of giving back to God. Later, Noah obeyed God’s command to build an ark (Genesis 6:13-14, 22), and God blessed him and his sons to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 9:1). Abraham followed God’s covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17:10-12) and, as noted in Genesis 26:5, “obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

Tithing appeared as a voluntary act of gratitude. In Genesis 14:20, Abraham gave “tithes of all” to Melchizedek after a victory, and in Genesis 28:22, Jacob vowed, “of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee,” if God blessed him. These early laws taught obedience and worship, preparing humanity for greater commandments and showing that aligning with God’s will brings joy and protection.

The Codification: Mosaic Law and the Ten Commandments

As Israel grew, God formalized His laws through Moses, providing a structured covenant to guide His people. In Exodus 20:3-17, we receive the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me… Thou shalt not kill… Honour thy father and thy mother.” These commandments became the moral foundation for Israel, teaching love for God and neighbor. The Book of Mormon reaffirms their relevance in Mosiah 13:15-24, where Abinadi teaches the Nephites to keep these laws.

The broader Mosaic Law detailed how to live these principles. Leviticus 19:2-4 commands, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy… keep my sabbaths,” emphasizing holiness and worship. Deuteronomy 6:4-5, known as the Shema, declares, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” a command echoed in Leviticus 19:18: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Obedience brought blessings, as Deuteronomy 28:1-2 promises, “if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God… the Lord thy God will set thee on high.”

Tithing became a structured duty under the Mosaic Law. Leviticus 27:30-32 states, “all the tithe of the land… is the Lord’s,” supporting the Levites (Numbers 18:21) and the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29), with tithes totaling 20-30% annually. This law taught Israel to trust God, ensuring their needs were met while fostering happiness through communal care.

The Prophetic Call: Post-Mosaic Period (After Moses to Malachi)

After Moses, from around 1406 BCE to 430 BCE, Israel lived under the Mosaic Law, but often strayed, leading to the rise of prophets who called them back to obedience. In Joshua 1:7-8, Joshua was commanded to “observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee… meditate therein day and night,” showing the law’s enduring importance. The prophet Samuel taught King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, “to obey is better than sacrifice,” emphasizing that heartfelt obedience brings greater joy than mere ritual.

Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah urged righteousness. Isaiah 1:16-17 calls Israel to “cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed,” aligning obedience with justice and compassion—keys to happiness. Jeremiah 7:22-23 reminds us, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people,” promising a covenant relationship through obedience.

Malachi, the last Old Testament prophet, addressed tithing directly in Malachi 3:8-10: “Will a man rob God?… Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse… and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven.” He also urged, “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant” (Malachi 4:4). These prophetic calls show that obedience to God’s laws, even in challenging times, leads to divine blessings and joy.

The Fulfillment: New Testament Law of Grace and of Faith

Jesus Christ brought a new era, fulfilling the Mosaic Law while introducing the law of grace and faith. In Matthew 5:17-18, He declared, “I am not come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am come to fulfil.” He distilled the law into two commandments in Matthew 22:37-40: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… and thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” As John 1:17 states, “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,” offering salvation through His Atonement.

The New Testament emphasizes faith and grace over legalism. Romans 3:28 teaches, “a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” and Galatians 2:21 affirms, “if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Ephesians 2:8-9 adds, “For by grace are ye saved through faith… it is the gift of God: Not of works.” Yet, Christ’s law of love fulfills the moral core of the Old Testament, as the Book of Mormon confirms in 3 Nephi 15:9: “I am the law, and the light: look unto me, and endure to the end.”

Tithing evolved under grace. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus noted, “Ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted… judgment, mercy, and faith,” affirming tithing but prioritizing love. Post-resurrection, 2 Corinthians 9:7 encourages, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give,” and Acts 4:32-35 shows early Christians sharing all things, reflecting the joy of selfless giving.

President Russell M. Nelson, in his talk “The Love and Laws of God” (BYU Devotional, September 17, 2019), reminds us, “The Lord’s laws are not restrictions but pathways to joy.” Obeying Christ’s law of love brings the happiness of eternal connection with God.

The Restoration: Modern Laws and Commandments

Through the Restoration, God renewed His laws for our day via the Prophet Joseph Smith. Doctrine and Covenants 59:5-6 echoes Christ’s command, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The Ten Commandments remain relevant, as reaffirmed in Mosiah 13:15-24 and D&C 59.

Tithing was restored as a covenant in Doctrine and Covenants 119:4: “those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever.” This builds on Abraham’s example, the Mosaic mandate, Malachi’s call, and Christ’s teachings in 3 Nephi 24:8-10. Tithing funds temples and welfare, fulfilling Moses 7:18’s vision of Zion, where “there was no poor among them,” bringing communal happiness.

Modern commandments like the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89:18-20) promise health and strength, while Doctrine and Covenants 88:13 teaches that God’s law governs all things. Doctrine and Covenants 29:34-35 adds, “all things unto me are spiritual… I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself,” showing that God’s laws promote agency and joy. Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27 urges us to “be anxiously engaged in a good cause,” and D&C 82:10 promises, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in “Obedience Is the Lifeblood of Faith” (General Conference, October 2016), compares obedience to a kite tethered to rise higher, teaching that God’s laws give us freedom and happiness through faith.

Which Laws Do We Honor Today?

Some online discussions suggest disregarding Old Testament laws, focusing only on Christ’s two commandments of love. While love fulfills the law (Matthew 22:40), scripture shows a progression. Ceremonial laws, like sacrifices, are fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 10:1), and we no longer follow them. Moral laws, like the Ten Commandments, endure, expressed through love (Romans 13:8-10). Tithing, once mandatory, became voluntary under grace for many, but for Latter-day Saints, D&C 119:4 restores it as a covenant.

We honor the Ten Commandments, tithing, and modern revelations, reflecting our covenant where God is bound by our obedience (D&C 82:10). Elder N. Eldon Tanner’s article “The Laws of God” (Ensign, November 1975) beautifully resolves the tension between agency and obedience, concluding with the promise in D&C 59:1-5: “Blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land… Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.”

Finding Happiness Through Obedience

Studying God’s laws has strengthened my testimony. Tithing has blessed my family, supporting temples where I’ve felt God’s presence and found deep happiness. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in “The Great Plan of Happiness” (General Conference, October 1993), teaches that commandments are part of God’s plan to lead us to joy. I invite you to ponder how obedience to God’s laws can bring happiness into your life, letting love guide your actions, as promised in D&C 59:1-5.

At Map to Happiness, we believe true joy comes from aligning with divine principles. How have God’s commandments brought happiness to your life? Share your thoughts with us as we continue this journey together.

Quick Reference: God’s Laws Across Time

For those who prefer a quick overview, here are the key periods of God’s laws, with summaries and scripture references.

Pre-Mosaic Commandments

Summary: Before the Mosaic Law, God gave commandments to early patriarchs like Adam, Noah, and Abraham, focusing on obedience, worship, and moral conduct to establish His covenant. These laws set the stage for humanity’s relationship with God.

Genesis 2:16-17: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Genesis 4:3-4: “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.”
Genesis 6:13-14, 22: “And God said unto Noah… Make thee an ark of gopher wood… Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
Genesis 9:1: “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”
Genesis 17:10-12: “This is my covenant… Every man child among you shall be circumcised… He that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you.”
Genesis 14:20: “And he gave him tithes of all.”
Genesis 26:5: “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
Genesis 28:22: “And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”

Mosaic Law and the Ten Commandments

Summary: Given to Moses around 1446 BCE, the Mosaic Law includes the Ten Commandments and detailed laws in the Torah (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). These governed Israel’s moral, ceremonial, and civil life, setting them apart as God’s people, with the Ten Commandments as the core moral foundation.

Exodus 20:3-17 (The Ten Commandments): “Thou shalt have no other gods before me… Thou shalt not kill… Honour thy father and thy mother…”
Leviticus 19:2-4: “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy… Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
Leviticus 19:18: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-2: “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God… that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.”
Leviticus 27:30-32: “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord…”
Numbers 18:21: “And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.”
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: “At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year… And the Levite… and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow… shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied…”

Post-Mosaic Period (After Moses to Malachi)

Summary: From around 1406 BCE to 430 BCE, Israel lived under the Mosaic Law, but often strayed, leading to the rise of prophets who called them back to obedience. Prophets like Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi urged the people to honor God’s laws, keep the Sabbath, offer tithes, and live righteously, promising blessings for obedience.

Joshua 1:7-8: “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left… This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night.”
1 Samuel 15:22: “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
Isaiah 1:16-17: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
Jeremiah 7:22-23: “For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people.”
Malachi 3:8-10: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me… in tithes and offerings… Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven.”
Malachi 4:4: “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.”

New Testament Law of Grace and of Faith

Summary: Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law, introducing the higher law of grace and faith. He emphasized love, forgiveness, and inward righteousness, building on the moral principles of the Old Testament while offering salvation through His Atonement and faith in Him.

Matthew 5:17-18: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind… Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
John 1:17: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Romans 3:28: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Galatians 2:21: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Matthew 23:23: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
2 Corinthians 9:7: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Acts 4:32-35: “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul… and they had all things common…”
3 Nephi 15:9: “Behold, I am the law, and the light: look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.”

The Restoration (Latter-day Saint Perspective)

Summary: Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, God reestablished His laws and commandments in the latter days, emphasizing obedience as a sign of love for God. Modern commandments like tithing, the Word of Wisdom, and temple worship guide us toward eternal life while reinforcing the law of grace through Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants 29:34-35: “Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal… Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself.”
Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27: “For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things… Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”
Doctrine and Covenants 82:10: “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”
Doctrine and Covenants 89:18-20 (Word of Wisdom): “And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings… shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones… and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.”
Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21: “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”
Doctrine and Covenants 59:5-6: “Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…”
Doctrine and Covenants 119:4: “And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.”
3 Nephi 24:8-10: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me… in tithes and offerings… Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…”
Moses 7:18: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.”
Doctrine and Covenants 88:13: “The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne…”