Lesson 55

Exodus 20 (Part 2)

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Take time to ponder the truths you identify. Thinking deeply and praying about what you learn will allow the Holy Ghost to teach you how to become more like Jesus Christ.

Begin your study with prayer.

Think about a time when you may have been tempted to cheat on an exam. Why did you choose to not cheat?

Why is it more important to be honest than to get a good score on a test? Listen as President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency answers this question.

The Most Important Commandment

If someone were to ask you what the most important commandment is, what would you say? Why?

The Savior was asked a similar question during His mortal ministry. Read Matthew 22:36–40, looking for how the Savior responded.

Loving God and Our Neighbor

The Savior summarized all of God’s commandments into two commandments: love God and love thy neighbor. In this context the word neighbor refers to another person, not just someone who lives near us.

Decide whether each of the Ten Commandments listed below allows us to love God, love our neighbor, or both. There is no right or wrong answer.

Survey

1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (Exodus 20:4).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

4. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

5. “Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

6. “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

8. “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16).

   1. Love God

   2. Love thy neighbor

10. “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17).

    1. Love God

    2. Love thy neighbor

Living the Ten Commandments

Take a moment and ponder the following principle: By living the Ten Commandments, we show love for God and our neighbor.

1. How has living one of the Ten Commandments allowed you to show love for God or your neighbor?

Refraining from Murder and Violence

Read Exodus 20:13 and the following paragraphs, looking for what is included in the commandment to not kill.

In Exodus 20:13, the word kill was translated from a Hebrew word that means murder (see footnote a). Murder means to intentionally and illegally end another person’s life. In the latter days, the Lord has expanded our understanding of this commandment by saying, “Thou shalt not … kill, nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6). While latter-day prophets and apostles have not stated that abortion is murder, they have taught that abortion for personal or social convenience fits into the scriptural description of “anything like unto it.” Murder does not include actions required by police or military duty.

Prophets have affirmed that human life is sacred and is to be respected. We should avoid entertainment and media that glorifies or presents murder and other forms of violence as acceptable. Such entertainment and media influence our attitudes and thoughts and offend the Spirit. (See For the Strength of Youth [booklet, 2011], 11–13, 22–23.)

Respecting Human Life

2. Answer the following questions:

• In what ways do media or various kinds of entertainment promote violence or disrespect for human life?

• What can we do to avoid these types of media or entertainment?

Keeping the Law of Chastity

Read Exodus 20:14 and the following paragraphs, looking for how we can keep the law of chastity.

“Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love between husband and wife. God has commanded that sexual intimacy be reserved for marriage” (For the Strength of Youth, 35). Adultery means sexual relations between a married individual and someone other than his or her spouse. Any sexual relations outside marriage between a man and a woman, including homosexual behavior, violate the Lord’s law of chastity. (See True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 30–31.)

Prophets have also taught that, to keep the law of chastity before and during marriage, we are not to share, “view, read, or listen to anything that depicts or describes the human body or sexual conduct in a way that [is intended to] arouse sexual feelings. Pornographic materials are addictive and destructive” (True to the Faith, 32). We must keep our thoughts, desires, words, and actions pure (see True to the Faith, 29).

Being Sexually Pure

Read this counsel about things you can do to remain sexually pure:

“Avoid situations that invite increased temptation, such as late-night or overnight activities away from home or activities where there is a lack of adult supervision. Do not participate in discussions or any media that arouse sexual feelings. Do not participate in any type of pornography. The Spirit can help you know when you are at risk and give you the strength to remove yourself from the situation. Have faith in and be obedient to the righteous counsel of your parents and leaders. …

“If you are tempted to commit any form of sexual transgression, seek help from your parents and bishop. Pray to your Father in Heaven, who will help you resist temptation and overcome inappropriate thoughts and feelings” (For the Strength of Youth, 36–37).

Think about the following questions:

• What safeguards can I follow to help me be sexually pure?

• How can following these safeguards help me prepare to keep my future marriage covenants?

Even though sexual sin is very serious, there is a way to become clean again. Individuals who have committed sexual sin should speak with their bishop or branch president, who can help them through the process of repentance.

Choosing to Be Honest

Read Exodus 20:15–16 and the following paragraphs, looking for some common situations in which people choose to be dishonest.

Stealing means taking something that rightfully belongs to someone else. Stealing includes taking credit for someone else’s ideas or trying to dishonestly represent someone else’s work as your own. Bearing false witness against your neighbor means to give or support an untrue statement about someone else. We have been counseled:

“Be honest with yourself, others, and God at all times. Being honest means choosing not to lie, steal, cheat, or deceive in any way. …

“Dishonesty harms you and harms others as well. If you lie, steal, shoplift, or cheat, you damage your spirit and your relationships with others. Being honest will enhance your future opportunities and your ability to be guided by the Holy Ghost” (For the Strength of Youth, 19).

3. Answer the following questions:

• How is cheating a form of stealing?

• What blessings have you received as a result of choosing to be honest?

Coveting

Read Exodus 20:17 and the following paragraph, looking for what we should do instead of coveting others’ possessions.

Coveting, in this context, means having a selfish desire for something that belongs to another person. Coveting can cause feelings of jealousy, envy, pride, and greed. Coveting can lead us to be ungrateful and never satisfied with what we have. We can admire what others have, and we can seek to improve our lives and circumstances, but we must do so with modest, humble desires and honest, appropriate efforts.

Think about how obeying the commandment to not covet can help us be happy. What can we do to avoid coveting the possessions, circumstances, successes, or fortunes of others?

Living the Commandments

Pause and reflect on how you would answer the following questions:

• How does living the commandments you have studied in these last two lessons help you show love for your neighbors?

• How does living these commandments allow you to show love for God?

Giving Reverence to God

Exodus 20:18–26 records that when the Israelites saw the thunderings and lightnings on Mount Sinai and heard the Lord’s voice declare the Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 4:10–13), they were afraid. Moses told them to “fear not” (verse 20). Moses’s words about “[God’s] fear” being “before [their] faces” were meant to inspire their reverence and awe toward God and to motivate them to resist sin (see verse 20, footnote e). From Moses’s response we learn that reverence for God helps us to resist sin. The Lord then gave instructions on how the Israelites were to worship Him.

What Will You Do?

The following truths were identified in this lesson:

• By living the Ten Commandments, we show love for God and our neighbor.

• Reverence for God helps us to resist sin.

In your study journal or your Notes on LDS.org, write what you will do differently as a result of what you have learned today.