President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on choosing to receive God's blessings

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (b. November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He has served as second counselor in the First Presidency since 2008.

"Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren't like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.

"His commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help for us to close the umbrella so we can receive the shower of heavenly blessings.

"We need to accept that the commandments of God aren't just a long list of good ideas. They aren't 'life hacks' from an Internet blog or motivational quotes from a Pinterest board. They are divine counsel, based on eternal truths, given to bring 'peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.' (D&C 59:23)

"So we have a choice. On the one hand, there is the opinion of the world with its ever-changing theories and questionable motives. On the other hand, there is God's word to His children—His eternal wisdom, His certain promises, and His loving instructions for returning to His presence in glory, love, and majesty."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Living the Gospel Joyful," Ensign, November 2014, pp. 120-123
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I really love this expression of God's desire to bless us. He is "constantly raining blessings upon us" if we only are wise enough to receive them. We too often block or deflect the blessings by "our fear, doubt, and sin."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said it this way:

 "So it is with the Son of God.... We may turn from him, but he is still there. We may feel that he is hidden from us because of the cloud cover of our concerns, but he is still close to us. We—not he—let something come between us, but no lasting eclipse need ensue. Our provincialism cannot withstand his universalism. Our disregard of him is no match for his love of us."
- Neal A. Maxwell, "All Hell Is Moved," BYU Devotional, Nov 8, 1977

President Uchtdorf teaches that it's the commandments and guidelines of the gospel that provide "loving instructions and the divine help" that remove impediments to receiving all of God's blessings. Each time we obey, we receive greater peace and additional help from a loving Father in Heaven. We need only choose to follow Him!