COMMANDMENTS (Teachings of Joseph Smith) 

Those Who Keep the Commandments Are Privileged to Receiving All Things — Willard Richards (Between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)

If a man love me he will keep my words. & my father will love him. & we both me & my father will take our abode with him. There are certain characters that walked with God. saw him, conversed about heaven &c But the comforter that I will send. (not the other Comforter) shall teach you all things.— Who?— He that loveth me &c— This shall bring all things to remembrance whatsoever things I have said unto you. he shall teach you until ye come to me & my father. God is not a respecter of persons. we all  have the Same privilige. Come to God weary him until he blesses you &c— we are entitled to the Same blessings. Jesus, Revelations, Just men, &c— Angels &c. &c. not Laying again the doctrine of Christ go on to perfection. Obtain that holy Spirit of promise— Then you can be sealed to Eternal Life.—

Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–C, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 78-79, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Other Comforter Obtained by Keeping the Commandments — Willard Richards (Between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)

There is one Comforter & another Comforter to abide with you forever, reach to things within the vail. know that you are Sealed. If you get it, it will stand by you forever. How is it to be obtained? Keep my commandme[n]ts & I will pray &c.— It is a privilege to view the son of man himself, he dwelleth with you & Shall be in you. his Spirit shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you, abide with you forevever, Seal you up to Eternal life. yet a little while & ye shall see me no more, but ye see me.— He that hath my commandments & keepeth them. he it is that loveth me &c— I will manifest myself to him. If he does not he has not told the truth. I will put promises in your heart. that will not leave you but that will not Seal you up.

Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–C, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 76-77, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Following and Learning From God Leads to Bearing Fruit — Wilford Woodruff (December 19, 1841)

Joseph the Seer arose & read a chapter in the New Testiment containing the parable of the vine & its branches & explained it much to our edification & said “if we kept the commandments of God we should bring forth fruit & be the friends of God & know what our Lord did, “Some say Joseph is a fallen Prophet because he does not bring forth more of the word of the Lord” “Why does he not do it” are we able to receive it No (says he) not one in this room, … On Revelation He said “A man would command his son to dig potatoes, saddle his horse but before he had done either tell him to do somthing els, this is all consider right “But as soon as the Lord gives a commandment & revokes that decree & commands somthing els then the prophet is considerd fallen &c” Because we will not receive chastizment at the hand of the Prophet & Apostles the Lord chastizeth us with sickness & death “Let not any man publish his own righteousness for others can do that for him.” sooner let him confess his sins & then he will be forgiven & he will bring forth more fruit when A man is chastized he gets angry & will not endure it. . . .

He spoke of love what greater love hath any man than that he lay down his life for his friend then why not fight for our friend untill we die

Discourse, 19 December 1841, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, pp. 115-116, The Joseph Smith Papers; brackets and underline in original.