How to know if the doctrine is really from God

We have some unique doctrines that we teach in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  How can you know if what we teach is really from God?  Simple!  Follow the advice from Jesus as found in today's scripture mastery: John 7:17:

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Is it really that simple to know?  Yes, it really is that simple!  When we live the commandments, we gain the spiritual blessings associated with those commandments.  We also have the Holy Ghost testifying to us that the commandment is indeed from God.

I think that this scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21 explains this concept very well:

 20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

 21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

 So. . .Do you want to know if the law of tithing is really from God?  And should you obey it?  Try it for a while, and see if you are blessed so much that you don't have room to receive the blessings (That promise is found in Malachi 3:10)

What about the "law of health," which we call the Word of Wisdom?  (That strange commandment that we have in our church to abstain from tea, coffee, alcohol, and illegal drugs).  If we keep that commandment (found in Doctrine and Covenants 89), we are promised this:

 18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

 19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

 20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

 21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

What about the commandments that most Christians know about?  How about the 10 commandments given to Moses for example?  The same test works for those commandments as well.  Live the commandments.  For every one you keep, you will know if it came from God, or if it was given by someone else.

Every commandment of God has blessings associated with them.  If we obey them, we will be blessed.  God always keeps his promises.  (Plus we will know for ourselves that the commandment that we have been testing out is really a commandment from God!)

Here is another promise found in the scriptures about keeping the commandments (Doctrine and Covenants 93:28):

28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

For those of you who think that religion and science don't mix--put the scientific method to the test on this concept.  Pick a commandment, and really live it for a while.  You will come to know that that commandment does come from God.

I know that this is a true concept.  I have received many blessings from God when I obey the commandments.  I have had the Holy Ghost witness to me that these commandments (and many others that I haven't mentioned here) are really from God.