--- title: Careful vs Casual Obedience date: 2025-11-10T09:28:00-07:00 author: Matt Bloomfield canonical_url: "https://www.mlj.one/church/talks/careful-vs-casual-obedience" section: Blog --- [ ← Church Talks ](https://www.mlj.one/church/talks) Talk November 10, 2025 # Careful vs Casual Obedience I gave this talk on August 25th, 2024 in the Snowflake 1st Ward Sacrament Meeting at the historic Main Street Chapel in Snowflake, Arizona, per an assignment from President Todd Burk. --- When we think about the beginning of the Book of Mormon and the family relationships happening, we often think about Nephi and Sam as the good guys and Laman and Lemuel as the bad guys. While this simplistic approach to their character does prove true in the end, a careful study tells us that it wasn’t that cut and dry at the beginning of the story. In fact, as I pondered this, [I asked ChatGPT to compile a list of examples](https://chatgpt.com/share/a0cce227-0e1b-4f7e-9ff5-3f8b9abf1184) from the Book of Mormon showing how they murmured or were disobedient. It ended the compilation with the following observation, which I agree with: “These examples suggest that Laman and Lemuel were not inherently bad but were often overcome by fear, doubt, laziness, or frustration, leading them to make poor decisions. Their actions reflect human weakness rather than deep-seated wickedness.” — In the book, “How Will You Measure Your Life,” by Clayton Christensen, [he shares this story and interpretation](https://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life) which I will repeat here: I played on the Oxford University varsity basketball team. We worked our tails off and finished the season undefeated. The guys on the team were the best friends I’ve ever had in my life. We got to the British equivalent of the NCAA tournament—and made it to the final four. It turned out the championship game was scheduled to be played on a Sunday. I had made a personal commitment to God at age 16 that I would never play ball on Sunday. So I went to the coach and explained my problem. He was incredulous. My teammates were, too, because I was the starting center. Every one of the guys on the team came to me and said, “You’ve got to play. Can’t you break the rule just this one time?” I’m a deeply religious man, so I went away and prayed about what I should do. I got a very clear feeling that I shouldn’t break my commitment—so I didn’t play in the championship game. In many ways that was a small decision—involving one of several thousand Sundays in my life. In theory, surely I could have crossed over the line just that one time and then not done it again. But looking back on it, resisting the temptation whose logic was “In this extenuating circumstance, just this once, it’s OK” has proven to be one of the most important decisions of my life. Why? My life has been one unending stream of extenuating circumstances. Had I crossed the line that one time, I would have done it over and over in the years that followed. The lesson I learned from this is that it’s easier to hold to your principles 100% of the time than it is to hold to them 98% of the time. If you give in to “just this once,” based on a marginal cost analysis, as some of my former classmates have done, you’ll regret where you end up. You’ve got to define for yourself what you stand for and draw the line in a safe place. — When I was a missionary I had the opportunity to chauffeur Elder Gerald Caussé, then serving as a counselor in the European Area Presidency, around our mission. I knew he lived in Germany due to his calling, and it struck me that moving from France to Germany was quite different than moving from Arizona to Utah. I asked him if it was a hard decision to uproot his family and move to a foreign country to serve in the church. Without taking a moment to think he said, “Elder Bloomfield, I made that decision when I was 19 years old as I covenanted with the Lord to give all my time, money, and talents to the building up of the kingdom of the Lord.” — ### Careful vs Casual Brothers and Sisters, most of us have had the privilege and opportunity to make sacred and personal covenants with the Lord. Are we staying true to those covenants we have made? Are we holding up our end of the bargain? Are we casual with our obedience to the promises we made? Or are we careful in our approach to covenant relations with our God? When we talk about Joseph Smith’s role as the prophet of the restoration, we should remember what it is he gave his life to restore: like every prophet before him, he was restoring a covenant; the new and everlasting covenant. It was that important enough to give his life for. It was so important that Heavenly Father, knowing the saints would soon be forced out of Kirtland, still asked them to build a temple to there be endowed with power for their journey. In the temple, we learn about the divine and saving role of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the redeeming role he plays in our lives. We each need him daily as we strive to be like him and repent of our sins. And when we leave the temple, endowed with this new understanding of the world and new power from our Father in Heaven, what token does He give us to remember the experience? The garment of the holy priesthood. ### Not just a brain on legs I recently read an excellent book with an unwieldy title, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World,” which is written by a 7th Day Adventist preacher. In a section where he speaks of the abandonment of the spiritual practice of fasting, he makes this insightful comment, “We can’t fathom a practice that comes at life-change through our stomachs. We’re so used to books, and podcasts, and university lectures, and teachings at church that we often forget we’re not just brains on legs; we’re whole people. Wholistic, integrated, complex, and full of a dizzying amount of energy. So our apprenticeships to Jesus have to be whole-person endeavors: mind & body. In our most recent general conference, President Dallin H Oaks [said the following](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/47oaks?lang=eng) about garments: Persons who have been endowed in a temple are responsible to wear a temple garment, an article of clothing not visible because it is worn beneath outer clothing. **It reminds endowed members of the sacred covenants they have made and the blessings they have been promised in the holy temple.** To achieve those holy purposes, we are instructed to wear temple garments continuously, with the only exceptions being those obviously necessary. Because covenants do not “take a day off,” to remove one’s garments can be understood as a disclaimer of the covenant responsibilities and blessings to which they relate. In contrast, persons who wear their garments faithfully and keep their temple covenants continually affirm their role as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. We’re not just a brain on legs. We’re whole people, and it takes our whole body to follow Christ. I don’t know all the reasons that we’ve been asked to step it up in our game when it comes to wearing garments, but I know the church has made it abundantly clear that we need to. I also know that wearing the garment can help us shift priorities in our lives and can become a daily ritual and reminder of our commitment to following Christ. As Alma says in chapter 36:6-7, “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.” It’s my belief that the leaders of our church stand as watchmen on the tower, alerting us of oncoming danger and that even though we cannot see or sense these issues, they can. ### Blessings In the General Handbook, section 38.5, there are four principles that can be summarized as the following: 1. It is intended that garments be available and affordable for all endowed members. Garments come in different styles, sizes, and fabrics, including special-order garments for members with disabilities or special circumstances. Bishops can use fast-offering funds to help members purchase garments. 2. Wearing the garment is personal and sacred. It is worn beneath outer clothing and either under or over undergarments. 3. "The Lord recognizes the heart and a willing mind. Flexibility may be needed for members in the military and members with medical conditions or medical devices. 4. We do not modify or adapt the garment. The statement on the garment of the priesthood embodies doctrine, symbolism, and principles intended to bless us every day…. As we faithfully wear the garment day and night, we have greater access to the Savior’s mercy, protection, strength, and power. In my own life, I can say that I’ve experienced that protection. But, much like Moses’ staff was not a magical object he came across that allowed him to do amazing things, our garments only bless our lives inasmuch as we change our mindset about them and faithfully wear them. On my mission, I remember waking up on Christmas Eve, the day of celebration in Sweden. We hadn’t decorated our apartment, so it looked and felt just like any other day. We walked through town to the train station - no one was out - it was just like any other morning. I started to contemplate what Christmas even was. Up until that point it was the most special day of the year, so full of intrinsic magic and splendor. But that is only true if you believe it and therefore put the work in to make it so. It’s a sacred holiday and becomes a reminder of Christ as we treat it as such. So it is with our garments. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to make covenants with the Lord. I am grateful for the reminders of covenants that I have been given. I know that it is through our Savior Jesus Christ that we are made whole. I love each one of you and I know that as you put forth greater faith through careful obedience it will be rewarded with miracles in your lives. It is after the trial of our faith that the blessings come. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.