Lesson 148

Commandments (Part 4)

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remove all distractions, and focus on studying and learning. Doing these things shows your willingness to be taught by the Spirit.

Begin your study with prayer.

Imagine you will soon be participating in a sports competition. What are some things you think you should do to prepare for the competition?

As you watch these young athletes prepare for their game days, think about what it takes to prepare to receive answers to gospel-related questions.

A Scenario

In today’s lesson, you will practice applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the doctrine you learned from the “Commandments” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. You will also have opportunities to practice applying the doctrinal mastery scripture passages Isaiah 58:13–14 and Malachi 3:8–10.

Consider the following scenario:

You and your friend Jennifer are discussing your weekend plans. Jennifer says to you, “The way we’re supposed to spend Sunday seems like a waste of time. I could do so much more on the weekends if I didn’t have to worry about keeping the Sabbath day holy.”

Your Response

Review paragraphs 5–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.

1. Complete two of the following activities:

• Write a one-sentence response to Jennifer that can help her act in faith.

• Using a gospel truth or principle, write a statement that can help Jennifer view her concern about keeping the Sabbath day holy from an eternal perspective.

• Review Isaiah 58:13–14, and briefly explain how this doctrinal mastery passage might help Jennifer want to keep the Sabbath day holy.

• Choose a paragraph from a general conference talk on LDS.org, from For the Strength of Youth, or from True to the Faith that might help Jennifer have a more positive attitude regarding the Sabbath day. Record a sentence or two from this paragraph that you think might help Jennifer, and explain how this information could help her.

Another Scenario

As you read the following scenario, look for how two young men work together to resolve a concern about tithing.

Marlo and Paul are young men who live in the same ward. Paul’s family is struggling financially, and Paul helps support them with the money he makes from his part-time job. After church one day, Marlo notices that Paul seems unhappy.

“What’s the matter?” Marlo asks.

Paul replies, “The talk in sacrament meeting about tithing troubled me. How can I afford to pay tithing when my family can barely pay for our daily living expenses?”

Marlo responds, “I can imagine that your situation must be really tough. It isn’t always easy to make ends meet. Can I think about your question for a little while and get back to you?”

“Sure,” Paul says.

Why do you think Marlo asked for a little time before answering Paul?

Doctrinal Mastery Passage: Malachi 3:8–10

Marlo remembers learning about Malachi 3:8–10 in seminary. He thinks this will be a good passage to share with Paul.

Read Malachi 3:8–10. Why do you think Marlo decided to share this passage with Paul?

The Blessings of Tithing

Marlo also decides to study some talks about tithing from general conference. He finds the talk “Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings,” given by Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the October 2002 general conference.

In this talk, Elder Hales shared an account about the importance of teaching the law of tithing. You can read the text of this video here: “Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, 29.

In this talk, Elder Hales shared an account about the importance of teaching the law of tithing.

“I know of two missionaries who visited a very poor family. The family’s home was made of pressboard and sticks, with a dirt floor and no electricity or beds. Each evening the father, a farm laborer, spent his entire day’s wages on groceries for dinner. Departing from their humble home, the senior companion thought to himself, ‘The law of tithing will surely be a stumbling block to this family. Perhaps we shouldn’t bring it up for a while.’ A few moments later, the junior companion, who had grown up in similar circumstances in his own country, voiced his own thoughts aloud: ‘I know the principle of tithing isn’t taught for four more discussions, but can we please teach it the next time we visit? They need to know about tithing now because they need the help and the blessing of the Lord so much’” (Robert D. Hales, “Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, 29).

Why do you think Marlo decided to share this account with Paul?

Additional Help

The next day, Marlo decides to share with Paul some of the things he has found and has been thinking about. Marlo also bears his testimony about the importance of paying tithing and about the blessings he has received as he has paid a full tithe.

After Marlo shares Malachi 3:8–10 and the excerpt from Elder Hales’s talk, Paul feels better about his concern and thanks Marlo for discussing the blessings of paying tithing with him.

2. Consider the following questions, and answer two of them:

• How could Malachi 3:8–10 help Paul act in faith and view his question about paying tithing with an eternal perspective?

• How do you think the account Elder Hales shared could inspire Paul to act in faith?

• How did Marlo use divinely appointed sources to help Paul?

Application

Take a minute to reflect on the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Do you currently have a concern, question, or struggle that you would like the Lord’s help with?

What can you apply from the principles you just reviewed that would enable you to invite the Lord’s help with your concern?