“The Ten Commandments”

“The Ten Commandments[i]”

cji

10/12/08

Gospel Subjects: Obedience; Commandments; Commanded; Absolute; Temptations; Slothful[ii]; Reason; Common Sense; Man’s Wisdom; Foolishness; Forgiveness; Eternal Life; Being Saved; Atonement;

Prelude: The premise of this essay is that Jesus Christ[iii] is the Savior of the world and indeed the literal Son of Heavenly Father[iv] born in the flesh of a woman[v]. For the Father and the Prophets testified of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ testified of the Father! Further the premise of this essay is that Jesus Christ was resurrected with a body of flesh and bone – he ate, was touched and spoke with his Apostles, the throngs of people in the lands of his birth and here on this the American Continents before ascending once more unto his father[vi]. And lastly with His Father he came to the earth once more to restore His Gospel in its fullness to the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. as he told his Apostles and Disciples he would in the last days. Therefore the Ten Commandments are indeed Commandments – and we need to be found in full compliance with them in our lives – internally and externally.

Discussion: There is no written history based on truth of fact which has ever proven the above premise to be incorrect in any way. Men have written profusely to deny much or all of the above but never in 7,000 years plus of history have they ever disproved part or the entire premise. Men have written numerous creeds to display the wisdom and thinking of those of intelligence to the ideas of Greek Philosophy and to the political ends of their selfish desires. They’ve rewritten or removed complete Prophets from the Old and New Testaments till what we have in 1769 King James Version of the Bible. Since the late 1880’s to the present date men have rewritten – renamed – simplified – changed and altered the Bible to that one could pick up and read over a hundred different versions all claiming that no one has any revelations today and therefore having done so without any authority from the Father or the Son.

In doing much of the above they’ve also changed the Ten Commandments from being Commandments to being a ‘guideline’ or a ‘code’ one should try to live by – meaning that one doesn’t have to keep them in fullness but only as they see them applicable in their lives. In actual fact they’ve changed the Bible (comprising the Old and New Testament) into a handbook and no longer Revelations and Eternal Truths. They’ve in turn denied the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as being untrue and deny any from reading it and also not reading it themselves. Too many have taken either the stand that there is no other reason for the scriptures to give a history (which even then they deny parts of it) or a book of myths and superstitions. Instead we find the Philosophies of Men taught intermixed with some Scripture as the doctrines of men. We find the use of Rhetoric (lies taught as truth) which was bestowed upon the world by the Greeks (who received it from those before them – even back into the days of Cain) and then taught and still is taught in the schools (Universities, Colleges) until it’s the only belief system taught or allowed to be taught in most educational centers of the world.

How does this affect us or our families? When the law of the land requires that we send our children to schools and the world of men requires us to attend these same schools having to pass for our livelihoods – then they’ve taken control of what we and our children must learn to achieve in their sphere’s and not Father’s. The most greatly attacked in these schools are the Ten Commandments. Rhetoric in order to be successful must be believable or to present something which offers immediate satisfaction if accepted. Those seeking an easy way – a comfortable excuse – will readily accept a ‘lie’ clothed as a ‘truth’ for immediate satisfaction. In turn they’ll reject a ‘truth’ and call it a ‘lie’ if it will further their satisfaction. Satisfaction can be found in many ways – most easily called the path of least resistance and peer acceptance. Thus the Ten Commandments and obedience to them are not found as either easy or satisfying.

Most generally the Ten Commandments are violated starting with the First to the Last. People constantly take the name of Lord in vain or swear by His name or that of His Son – one cannot go to a movie or even watch TV without hearing these abuses. Violation of the Sabbath is now routine and justified by the multitude in going to sporting events – causing others to work at Malls or Stores. Honoring one’s parents is almost non-existent in today’s music and other venues. Stealing, Cheating, Coveting and Lying are common themes in novels and so to in many lives. Most only think violation of the commandment not to kill is the one to avoid and the others can all be forgiven after a few strips. Many today do not even know their neighbors and would prefer not to know them. Loving one’s self has taken on a new meaning in the world today – from one of unselfishness to one of total selfishness.

Thus one can see there’s confusion in what one must be about doing and behaving while in the probationary mortal estate. Confusion comes from Satan and his minions[vii]. Order is way of the Father and the Son – we must always be found therefore obedient to the Commandments, Laws, Statutes and Covenants with the Father and the Son. The Scriptures are replete with examples and warnings of those who’re not in complete obedience with all of the Commandments, Laws, Statutes and Covenants made with Heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Possibly this thought might be the best to guide us in understanding and being found obedient in all things as they are bound in knowing and loving the Father and the Son. We’ve been commanded to study all things out – in our heart and the best books – and then to pray in asking Father for the wisdom to KNOW and understand eternal and absolute truths. Faith gives us the fortitude to venture into these areas of seeking eternal and absolute truths – it sustains as we fight the storms of the adversary and untangle the mazes which are presented within this world. Yet faith without works – is dead! The work is to study – learn – pray – discern – and this applies to eternal and absolute truths. There is however an easy litmus test - always ask the questions; “Does it make sense?” “Would a child understand it?” “Is it reteachable and would I want to teach it to others?”

One of the first principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that of Repentance – many ask, “Repentance of what or for what?” So many are found in actions attending events to help others – saying the right things – letting others see them in doing ‘good’ and therefore find no need to repent. Some go to ‘confession’ once a week or less frequently confessing to a man/woman of ‘sins’ which unfortunately they confessed of the week before and will confess to the week following. Others shout how good they are and represent this by their social standing, power or just plain wealth. Few it seems understand the meaning of the act of repentance.

“Bible Dictionary: Repentance: The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined. Without this there can be no progress in the things of the soul’s salvation, for all accountable persons are stained by sin, and must be cleansed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is not optional for salvation; it is a commandment of God (D&C 18: 9-22; D&C 20: 29; D&C 133: 16). The preaching of repentance by John the Baptist formed the preparation for the ministry of our Lord. See Matt. 3: 2; Matt. 4: 17; Mark 1: 4, 15; Mark 2: 17; Luke 3: 3,8; Acts 2: 38; Acts 3: 19; Acts 8: 22; Rom. 13: 11-14; James 5: 1-6; Rev. 2: 5, 16; Rev. 3: 3, 19; cf. Isa. 1: 16-20; Jonah 3: 5-10; Jer. 3 - 5; Jer. 26; Ezek. 18: 19-31; Ezek. 33: 7-20; Hosea 13: 14; Hosea 14; Joel 1: 8; Joel 2; Zeph. 2; Zech. 1; Mal. 1 - 4.”[viii]

Thus a complete change from being carnal nature into one of obedience to the Commandments of God! This requires one to acknowledge their errors of judgment – evil deeds – contention – murmuring – turning oneself into a better person – more Christlike in their actions – deeds and most importantly their thoughts. The way a person thinks determines more who they really are than any overt actions for the world to see. One should deny the use of rhetoric and think and speak only the truth – and if they don’t know or are unsure they should pray and research diligently asking God (as in James 1:5) for guidance and a sure knowledge of what is true.

Repentance is an action word – internal and external for each individual – one cannot be passive in seeking repentance, ever! One needs to ask questions and then seek to find the correct answers. Many fear asking questions – being content in not knowing (thinking then they are unaccountable) what is truth. Or they depend on others with like interests to guide them into feeling good about not being found in obedience to the Commandments. When one pursues real repentance the above is impossible to hold fast in any way – peer pressure – social likability – lusts – private gain and power seeking have no place. Being internal and individual this is a soul searching and cleansing which is required in the Plan of Salvation for all those who’ve come to this earth. There will be no excuses – no pardons – no final absolutions – for what we knowingly do or don’t do in this mortality we will be accountable for eternally.

The exceptions to repentance if there be any (and there are) would be for little children (under the age of 8 years old) – for those mentally incapable of decisions – for those without knowledge to make decisions (those in nations where the teachings of the Savior are forbidden or have never been taught. Additionally those subjected to the power and dominion of others who deny them both rights and freedoms – those in forced conditions other than their own choice – and others who for no fault of their own understand not the teachings of Savior. This does not de-obligate one to being found good to their understanding of good and doing right to their understanding of doing right. And little children are found obedient to the teachings of their parents if these are righteous teachings. (Note: Please understand these are my comments and thoughts only.)

Repentance and Obedience are one and the same in knowing and following all of the commandments, statutes and laws of God. You cannot do one without doing both. Every day we should seek to repent for any and all wrongs, bad decisions, possible offenses to others – for we are mortal and subject to the things of the flesh. We do this correcting wrongs – asking forgiveness of those we might’ve offended – and to forgive those who might’ve been harsh against us. Then in obedience to the will of the Father we should be showing forth love and respect – meaning we should be actively engaged in doing what He would want us to do – being unselfish in all things. In James 1:27 we read, “Pure areligion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To bvisit the cfatherless and dwidows in their eaffliction, and to keep himself funspotted from gthe hworld.” Can we be found living so in our lives? If not then how can we repent and thus be found?

At the core then of the Plan of Salvation are the Ten Commandments – clear – concise – simple – understandable – and all encompassing. To obey them in all ways – leads to happiness and Eternal Life! Do not mistake Eternal Life with being Saved – for all men/women are saved who’ve a physical body in mortality through the Atonement of the Savior – but being saved is only the first step towards Eternal Life. To disobey even one of the Ten Commandments is to invite the opposite or a world on unhappiness and without hope of Eternal Life! Also when one chooses one not to obey how much easier is it then to pick another and then another?

Conclusion: Father has given us the opportunity to choose for ourselves to do or be good or evil. Had Satan had his way none would’ve had this choice and all would’ve been saved and the honor would’ve been his. We choose to be able to choose for ourselves and rejected Satan’s plan. Now in our mortality in order to choose to return to Father we find we must choose to be obedient to the Ten Commandments and to Father! He’s given us a way to accomplish this and that’s through repentance and service. Satan of course plays on this obedience – saying you can also choose to do a little wrong and then go back and repent – nothing will be lost! But this is not true – much will be lost – especially if one is found liking the evil (for all wrong is evil) and delaying one’s repentance. Satan encourages mass meetings of his minions to call one just to say, “I believe” or something similar – or for giving so much money all is well. Satan teaches any church will get you home – which he knows is a lie – but never-the-less it’s believable and those in these churches are good people and they do teach some of the truth mixed with men’s philosophies – so how can these be ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’. Any road will work – and yet how can this be true? Father’s house is a house of order – not one of confusion or contention – yet many choose to believe this is not the case. However, if one finds themselves in true obedience to the Ten Commandments – calling upon the Father in the Savior’s name – seeking repentance – they’ll soon learn many truths – great truths which can lead them to Eternal Life. They’ll freely partake of all of the revealed Scriptures now upon this Earth and not restrict themselves to just a few and then only parts of the few.

There’s a Scripture which reminds me on a daily basis of the importance of being on the road to Zion and not even looking towards Babylon;

“D&C 121: 39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the anature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little bauthority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise cunrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many are called, but afew are chosen.

41 No apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the bpriesthood, only by cpersuasion, by dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By akindness, and pure bknowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the csoul without dhypocrisy, and without eguile—

43 aReproving betimes with bsharpness, when cmoved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of dlove toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of adeath.

45 Let thy abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy cconfidence wax strong in the dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the edews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant acompanion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of brighteousness and truth; and thy cdominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”[ix]

How oft I reflect on how easy it might be to not be found obedient in today’s world – yet ever stronger I turn to the Ten Commandments – seeking earnestly to be found willingly compliant to the Father’s will and not mine. I leave these thoughts with you in the name of Jesus Christ – amen c/ork

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[i]The Lord reveals the Ten Commandments—Israel is to bear witness that the Lord has spoken from heaven—They are forbidden to make gods of silver and gold—They are to make altars of unhewn stones, and to sacrifice to the Lord thereon.

1 And God aspake all these bwords, saying,

2 aI am the bLord thy cGod, which have brought thee out of the land of dEgypt, out of the house of ebondage.

3 Thou shalt have ano other bgods before me.

4 Thou shalt anot make unto thee any bgraven cimage, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not abow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a bjealous God, cvisiting the diniquity of the efathers upon the fchildren unto the third and fourth generation of them that ghate me;

6 And shewing amercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my bcommandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the aname of the Lord thy God in bvain; for the Lord will not hold him cguiltless that dtaketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the asabbath day, to keep it bholy.

9 aSix days shalt thou blabour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy astranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in asix days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord bblessed the sabbath day, and challowed it.

12 ¶ aHonour thy bfather and thy cmother: that thy ddays may be elong upon the fland which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not akill.

14 Thou shalt not commit aadultery.

15 Thou shalt not asteal.

16 Thou shalt not bear afalse witness against thy bneighbour.

17 Thou shalt not acovet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s bwife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s

1 Thou shalt not raise a afalse report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

2 ¶ aThou shalt not bfollow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest cjudgment:

3 ¶ Neither shalt thou acountenance a bpoor man in his cause.

4 ¶ If thou meet thine aenemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bbring it back to him again.

5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely ahelp with him.

6 Thou shalt not awrest the bjudgment of thy poor in his ccause.

7 Keep thee far from a false amatter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not bjustify the wicked.

8 ¶ And thou shalt take no agift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

9 ¶ Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:

11 But the aseventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the bpoor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the aseventh day thou shalt brest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

13 And in all things that I have said unto you abe circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other bgods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

(Ex. 34: 28; Deut. 10: 4). The Hebrew name for these is the “Ten Words,” hence the name Decalogue. They are also called the Covenant (Deut. 9: 9) or the Testimony (Ex. 25: 21). The giving of the Ten Commandments by God to Moses, and through him to Israel, is described in Ex. 19: 16 - 20: 21; Ex. 32: 15-19; Ex. 34: 1. They were engraved on two tables of stone, which were placed in the Ark; hence they were called the Ark of the Covenant (Num. 10: 33). There had been a difference of opinion as to the way in which the commandments were divided into ten. The Roman Church, following the example of St. Augustine, unites what we know as the first and second, and divides the last into two. Our Lord, quoting from Deut. 6: 4-5 and Lev. 19: 18, has summarized the Ten Commandments in “two great commandments” (Matt. 22: 37-39). To get their full significance we must read them in the light of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount (see also Mark 2: 27 and Matt. 15: 4-6 for interpretation of 4th and 5th), where it is shown that they are intended to control our thoughts and desires as well as our acts.

ii D&C 42:1

1 Hearken, O ye elders of my achurch, who have assembled yourselves together in my name, even Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world; inasmuch as ye believe on my name and keep my commandments.

D&C 43: 34
34 Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the aSavior of the world. bTreasure these things up in your hearts, and let the csolemnities of deternity erest upon your fminds.

[iv] Matt. 6: 1, 9, 14, 26, 32
1 aTake heed that ye do not your balms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

9 aAfter this manner therefore bpray ye: Our cFather which art in heaven, dHallowed be thy ename.

14 For if ye aforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

[v] [v] Alma 19: 13
13 For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have aseen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be bborn of a cwoman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now, when he had said these words, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the Spirit.



[vi] 55 But he, being full of the aHoly Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the bglory of cGod, and dJesus estanding on the fright hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I asee the heavens bopened, and the cSon of man standing on the right dhand of eGod.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their aclothes at a byoung man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they astoned bStephen, ccalling upon dGod, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my espirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and acried with a loud voice, bLord, lay not this sin to their ccharge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son, John 5: 22, 27. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with power, Acts 10: 38. Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. 1: 20 (Ether 3: 14). Christ has the keys of hell and of death, Rev. 1: 18. All men become subject unto Christ, 2 Ne. 9: 5. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning, Hel. 14: 12. Christ came by the will of the Father to do his will, D&C 19: 24. Jesus received a fulness of the glory of the Father, and he received all power, D&C 93: 3-4, 16-17 (John 3: 35-36).

[vii] James 3: 16
16 For where aenvying and bstrife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

D&C 132: 8
8 Behold, mine house is a house of aorder, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.

[viii] The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

[ix] http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/121/40#40