Topic: Keep the Commandments

Exodus 20:1-17 > Ephesians 3:14-15 > Doctrine and Covenants 18:23-24 > John 13:34-35 > John 14:15-31 > Exodus 20:6 > John 15:14, 17 > Doctrine and Covenants 84:77 > Matthew 5:44-48 > Matthew 5:19-20 > Matthew 15:1-9 > Genesis 6:22 > 1 Nephi 2:10 > 1 Nephi 3:6-8 > 1 Nephi 22:31 > Jacob 2:10 > Ephesians 6:1-4 > Doctrine and Covenants 1:24, 32 > Leviticus 26:3-46 > 1 John 2:3-6 > 1 John 3:2-3, 22-24 > Revelation 22:14 > Doctrine and Covenants 58:30-33 > Doctrine and Covenants 29:35 > Doctrine and Covenants 93:20

In the previous Scripture Train, we learned that keeping the commandments of God is among the good works that is required of us for our salvation. What, then, is a commandment? For what purpose and intent did God give us commandments? What does God expect us to do with these commandments that He has given us? What benefit are the commandments to us?

A commandment is an order, a directive, a mandate from God to us, His children. God is the supreme creator and Father of us all. As such, He has authority over all His creations, which includes, of course, you and me. As our Creator, He has every right to issue commandments to us. Probably the most famous or well-known commandments are the 10 Commandments that He issued to the children of Israel through His prophet Moses. These are found in Exodus chapter 20 verses 1 through 17, let’s examine these commandments.

The first four commandments found in verses 3 through 7 dictate the foundation of our relationship with God. First, we are to put no other god’s before Him. After all, He is our creator, our Father and our God. He expects us to put Him first in our lives. Second, we are not to make and worship any graven image or any likeness of anything found in heaven or in earth. Third, we are not to take the name of the Lord, our God, in vain. In the scriptures, particularly in Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 and 15, we learn that they entire family of God is called by the name of Christ; and in Doctrine and Covenants section 18 verses 23 and 24, we learn that we must take upon ourselves the name of Christ and be called in His name. Therefore, someone who takes upon Himself the name of Christ, but does not put Him first in his or her life, or who gives not the proper value to this action, or sees no worth in it and does not keep His commandments, has taken the name of God in vain. The fourth commandment, the commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy, was given to us by God to be a day of rest from our daily labors or in other words, to bless us. To the extent that we keep this day holy is a direct indication of our relationship with God. Do we think enough of Him to set aside our own will and give Him special remembrance and to worship Him on this special day?

The first four commandments define our relationship with God; the remainder define our relationships with each other. We are commanded to honor our Father and our Mother; we are not to kill; we are not to commit adultery, or steal, or bear false witness or covet. As you can plainly tell, these commandments fit in nicely with our Savior’s commandment to love one another as found in John chapter 13 verses 34 and 35. The commandment to love is taught repeatedly throughout the scriptures. Certainly, if we love each other as we should, then we would never kill, we would never be unfaithful spouse. We would not steal from our neighbor, nor bear false witness against them or covet their possessions.

If we show each other that we love each other as we keep these commandments, then how do we show God and His Son, Jesus Christ, that we love them? Of course, Christ gave the answer! In John chapter 14 verses 13 through 31, Jesus teaches us how to show Him that we love Him; it is very clear. If we love Him, then we will keep His commandments. Jesus, always showing a perfect example, tells us in the final verse, verse 31, that He keeps the commandments of the Father, because He loves Him. As we come to understand these truths, we learn that one the God’s great intents in giving us commandments is that keeping them is a sign of our love for Him and a sign that we love our fellowmen.

Looking back in the book of Exodus chapter 20 verse 6 for a moment, we see another blessing that comes to those who keep the commandments! We learn that the mercy of God will be upon those that love Him and keep His commandments. It is obvious that God wants to show us mercy, but the only way He can is if we do our part in demonstrating our love for Him.

In John chapter 15 verse 14, Christ teaches us that He considers those who keep His commandments His friends! We see this demonstrated in the Doctrine and Covenants. After many years of faithful service, Joseph Smith and many of his associates received the great honor of being called the friends of God. In Doctrine and Covenants section 84 verse 77 the Lord says, “From henceforth I shall call you friends”. He also states in this verse that His Disciples of old were also called His friends. What a wonderful blessing and relationship! Returning to John chapter 15, we now examine verse 17. Once again He commands us to love each other. It is only through love that we, too, can someday be called His friends. At this point, allow me to recall to your mind another of God’s great commandments; another that deals specifically with love. Let’s turn to Matthew chapter 5 verses 44 through 48. Do we remember God’s commandment to love our enemies?  Does He really expect us to do so? Can we really call down blessings from Heaven upon those who curse us or do good to them who hate us or pray for them who use and persecute us? Did not Jesus set the example before us? He did and He expects us to do so too! As we do so, we learn that there is no better way to show someone that we love them than to pray for them and to do good things for them. Certainly, when we show our enemies that we love them, we also show God that we love Him, for even our enemies are God’s children and He loves them too! Jesus ends this chapter by commanding us to be perfect; can we learn to love everyone? Yes, we can! We must come to learn that God will not give us a commandment without opening the way for us to keep it! We learned this in the last Scripture Train; we learned that through His grace we are given the strength to do all that He asks of us.

Not only are we to keep the commandments of God, but in Matthew chapter 5 verses 19 and 20, we are taught to teach others to do the same. The Lord continues by teaching us that unless our righteousness, which comes by willingly keeping His commandments, shall exceed that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, we shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. What does this mean? The Scribes were sometimes known as lawyers and they were charged with developing the law and applying it to the circumstances of their day, but because they did not do well in keeping these laws that they developed, they were referred to as hypocrites by the Savior. The Pharisees were a religious party among the Jews and were known for their strict observance of the law. However, despite their strictness, their observance failed to prepare them for the coming of the Savior for it was more for show than for the desire of righteousness; thus the Savior referred to them as hypocrites also. A good reference for this is Matthew chapter 15 verses 1 through 9.

Among the Lord’s commandments is His commandment to teach these things to our children. There are many parents among us who refuse to indoctrinate their children with the teachings of God; rather they would be inclined to say, “Let them make their own choice”. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children! The Book of Mormon prophet, Lehi, taught his children to keep the commandments as recorded in 1 Nephi chapter 2 verse 10, 1 Nephi chapter 3 verses 6 through 8, and 1 Nephi chapter 22 verse 31. Paul, teaching the people of Ephesus, taught parents to teach their children and children to obey their parents. See Ephesians chapter 6 verses 1 through 4.

Of what benefit are the commandments to us? Yes, keeping them shows God and our fellow men that we love them, but what do they do for us? In the Doctrine and Covenants section 1 verses 24 and 32, we learn a two very important principles. First, commandments come from God and if we keep them, we will come to understand why we have them. Second, keeping the commandments is part of the repentance process. If we truly desire to repent and be forgiven, then we must keep the commandments. In order to know why we have commandments that wisdom can be gained only by keeping them. Yes, I can teach the principles the commandments are based on and I can expound my understanding that I have gained through my own experience, but until an individual actually keeps them, he won’t fully comprehend and understand. For example, I can testify that keeping the Law of Chastity will keep you safe from sexually transmitted diseases and you may gain an intellectual understanding, but until you keep the law you will not feel that peace of mind. Another example is found in Leviticus chapter 26 verses 3 through 46. The Lord is very firm when it comes to the need to keep His commandments. He lays out the blessings that will be ours when we keep them and the curses that will come if we don’t. Our duty is to put the Lord to the test and learn for ourselves and gain understanding.

Faithfully keeping the commandments will prepare us for salvation. In 1 John chapter 2 verses 3 through 6, we learn a very hard lesson! We cannot say we know God if we do not keep His commandments. We cannot say we are in Christ if we do not walk His walk. In 1 John chapter 3 verses 2 through 3, and 22 through 24, we learn that as we keep His commandments, we become like Him, we will purify ourselves of sin, we will receive an answer to our prayers and He will dwell in us and we in Him. Finally in Revelation 22:14 we learn that he who keeps the commandments will have a right to the tree of life, in other words, Eternal Life. So what do we learn here? 1. When we keep the commandments, we come to know God, a requirement for salvation, 2. The love of God is perfected in those who keep His commandments, 3. Those who keep the commandments of God will abide in Him forever, 4. Those who keep the commandments will become like the Savior, 5. To those who have this hope, becoming like the Savior, he will purify himself, even as Jesus is pure, 6. The children of God are made known; they are they who keep the commandments and will not continue in sin, 7. We show our love by the things that we do, 8. Those who keep the commandments will have confidence toward God, 9. If I keep the commandments then God will dwell in me and I in Him, 10. Those who keep the commandments will have eternal life!

In the Doctrine and Covenants section 58 verses 30 through 33, we are given a word of warning. God gives commandments to us, if we do not keep them, then we will not receive the blessings attached to those commandments. He warns us not to complain when we are not blessed and say that this is not the work of the Lord for His promises are not fulfilled. We only receive the blessings when the commandments are kept. In Doctrine and Covenants section 29 verse 35, we learn that there are no temporal commandments; all commandments are designed to protect us spiritually.

Finally, in Doctrine and Covenants section 93 verse 20, we learn that if we keep the commandments we will receive of the fullness of the Father and be glorified in Him even as Jesus is glorified in the Father. Beautiful, wonderful blessings are available to those who keep the commandments.