Is It Enough...

To just be a good person? It seems to me that is what society focuses on. When I was a young child and would jump into the middle of a movie and start watching my first question would be, "who are the good guys and the bad guys?" Just from that I would pick sides of what I wanted to happen in the movie. We always root for the people that we think are good. There is a belief going around that all we have to do in order to be saved is be a good person. It makes sense right? Christ was a very good person, actually it isn't really possible to find someone who is a better person. So if we are good people, then it would make sense that we would be saved. Personally, I have met great people who I want to be ok, but does it take more than just being good?

Christ's Atonement frees us from sin if we repent. So it is actually sin that would keep us from returning to our Heavenly Father. Sin is transgression of divine law. Some sin harms others, and that is what most people condemn. What we don't think about is the sin that harms us or offends God. Many take the stance that they don't need to go to church, view only appropriate material, or stay away from their addictions. These are all examples of things that don't directly hurt others all the time, but they do hurt themselves. There are many different examples of being a good person but not keeping all of God's commandments. 

Obedience is a law that God has always set forth. He gives us commandments and asks us to keep them. If we are obedient we are blessed and eventually we can be cleansed from sin and return to live with Heavenly Father. If we are not obedient, no matter how "good" we are, we are unclean and cannot return to our Heavenly Father. Obedience does make us into good people, and being a good person is important, but never forget to follow all the commandments that the Lord has given us. I know obedience is the only way to find "happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come" (The Living Christ).