1 John 2–4; 2 John

Showing Love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

When someone feels loved or loves another person, their actions often change. John taught that our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can motivate us to keep Their commandments. This lesson is intended to help you understand how you can show love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by keeping the commandments.

Inviting students to become more like Jesus Christ. Inviting students to do challenging things can help them grow and become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. When extending invitations, honor agency and show love for students, even if they do not accept the invitations.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how they feel about keeping the commandments. They could also ask people they know what motivates them to keep the commandments.

Possible Learning Activities

God’s loving protections

Show the following video, or divide the account into sections for students to read aloud.

While on a beach in Australia, Elder Von G. Keetch (1960–2018) of the Seventy met some surfers who had traveled there on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. They were complaining about a heavy mesh barrier in the water, keeping them from being able to surf the big waves.

To discover what happened, watch the video “Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God” (5:41) from time code 0:00 to 2:34. This video is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Or read the following account.

As the American surfers became more animated, my attention was drawn to another nearby surfer—an older man and obviously a local. He seemed to be growing impatient as he listened to the ever-increasing complaints about the barrier.

Finally he rose and walked over to the group. Without saying anything, he pulled a pair of binoculars from his backpack and handed them to one of the surfers, pointing out toward the barrier. Each of the surfers looked through the binoculars. When my turn came, with the help of magnification, I could see something that I had not been able to see before: dorsal fins—large sharks feeding near the reef on the other side of the barrier.

The group quickly became subdued. The old surfer retrieved his binoculars and turned to walk away. As he did, he said words I will never forget: “Don’t be too critical of the barrier,” he said. “It’s the only thing that’s keeping you from being devoured.”

As we stood on that beautiful beach, our perspective had suddenly changed. A barrier that had seemed rigid and restrictive—that seemed to curtail the fun and excitement of riding the really big waves—had become something very different. With our new understanding of the danger that lurked just below the surface, the barrier now offered protection, safety, and peace.

(Von G. Keetch, “Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 115–16)

What are some attitudes people might have about keeping God’s commandments?

Consider writing your answers to the following question in your study journal.

How do I feel about God’s commandments? Why do I keep them or not keep them?

Keeping God’s commandments

We all have our own reasons that impact whether we choose to keep God’s commandments. Read the following verses, looking for what the Apostle John taught that can motivate us to keep them. It may be helpful to remember that John wrote his epistles to believers who were being confronted with false teachings.

Consider inviting students to work together to read the passages. Students could each read some of the passages and then share with one another what they learned.

(It may also be useful to read the Savior’s teachings in John 14:15, 23–24.)

What truths did you find?

Students may identify a variety of principles. Consider asking follow-up questions like the following:

How might knowing these truths increase someone’s desire to keep the commandments?

John taught various truths in these verses. One of them you may have identified is that the more we know and love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the more we are willing to keep Their commandments (see 1 John 1:5–7; 2:3–6; 2 John 1:6–9).

Where available, consider using technology to adapt the following activity. For example, students could create a video, a social media post, or a text to share their answers. This can increase student participation and enable students’ messages about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to reach more people.

Alternatively, students could imagine that their Sunday School teacher wants to help members of their class feel motivated to keep the commandments. She asks the students to ponder the following questions and prepare to share their thoughts in class.

As students prepare what they might say, they can also include insights from their student preparation.

Why is keeping the commandments a way to show love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
What do you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that motivates you to keep Their commandments? Why does knowing that motivate you?
What have you learned about Them as you have kept Their commandments?

Invite volunteers to share what they prepared. This could be done as a class or in smaller groups. After students share, consider asking follow-up questions, such as “How might what you shared help someone want to keep the commandments?”

Invite students to consider sharing their thoughts with someone outside of class.

How will you show your love to Heavenly Father?

Look at this picture and think about what you know about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and how They feel about you. You may also want to think about how you feel about Them.

Display the following image.

A man standing and embracing Christ after being healed.

While it may seem difficult to show our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ because They are not physically present with us, we can show our love for Them by keeping Their commandments. Take some time to ponder what you would like to remember or do because of this lesson. The following are some ways you could do this:

Write down one way you would like to come to know and love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ more.
Think about commandments that you are currently keeping and why you are keeping them. Consider whether you are motivated by love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ or whether you could improve in that area.
Identify one or more commandments you could more fully keep to show your love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Make a plan for how you will more fully keep these commandments.

Encourage students to act on the feelings and impressions they have received so they can show their love to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Bear testimony of the principles taught in this lesson.

Commentary and Background Information

How are the commandments an expression of God’s love for us?

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) stated:

God’s commandments are not given to frustrate us or to become obstacles to our happiness. Just the opposite is true. He who created us and who loves us perfectly knows just how we need to live our lives in order to obtain the greatest happiness possible. He has provided us with guidelines which, if we follow them, will see us safely through this often treacherous mortal journey. …

… He understands that when we keep the commandments, our lives will be happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated. Our challenges and problems will be easier to bear, and we will receive His promised blessings.

(Thomas S. Monson, “Keep the Commandments,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 83)

How does keeping the commandments show God my love?

Elder Von G. Keetch (1960–2018) of the Seventy stated:

We show our love for God—and our faith in Him—by doing our very best every day to follow the course that He has laid out for us and by keeping the commandments that He has given to us. We especially manifest that faith and love in situations where we don’t fully understand the reason for God’s commands or the particular path He is telling us to take.

(Von G. Keetch, “Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 116)

How can I increase my love for God?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, explained:

We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s word. His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to walk in righteousness—not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him.

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Love of God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 23)