FW: D&C

D&C 59:1 The Lord gave a commandment to assemble in Jackson County, Missouri, and He blesses those who have done so with an eye single to His glory. The eye is “a representation of light, knowledge, insight, and revelation; (it) can also represent what we desire or long for.” The eye is the window through which the beholder is to receive knowledge, and to have an eye single means that the person’s desires are focused entirely on one thing. In this verse the blessings are for those whose eyes are single to His glory. Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk where he outlined six reasons of why people serve the Lord—six motivations for why people choose to obey the commandments. The first was out of a hope for an “earthly reward,” to be recognized by the community and to receive compensation. The next was a “personal desire to obtain good companionship;” the desired consequence for doing right is to associate with others who do right. Other reasons for serving the Lord include “fear of punishment,” “sense of duty or loyalty”, and “hope of an eternal reward.” These are all good reasons if they keep a person from sin, but the most essential reason for following the commandments is out of a love for God. It is the desire to submit to God’s command for the humble purpose of fulfilling His will—not for reward, punishment, or other design—but simply because it is right. The Lord had given the saints a commandment to move to Missouri, and those who obeyed this commandment for the right reasons, who went with “an eye single to (His) glory,” are blessed.