Why Does God Give Us Commandments?

(Lesson-match Interactive Activities)

YOUTH CLASSES

TOPIC #1
Exodus 14-17

HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN MY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST EVERY DAY?

(GO HERE) ⇒

TOPIC #2

Exodus 18-20

WHY DOES GOD GIVE US COMMANDMENTS?

(Below) ⇓

PART 1
Why Does God Give Us Commandments?
(Lesson-match Interactive Activities)

LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES 4 in on 1 bundle to save $ or click individual activities below

Reading Exodus 20 might prompt you to THINK ABOUT WHY WE HAVE COMMANDMENTS. Some people see commandments as restrictive or as an attempt to control us. But because we know that God is a loving Father, we can trust that His laws are for our good, even if we don’t always know the reasons for them. He has promised us that we can know His commandments are true when we live them (see John 7:17).

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Because the Father and the Son love us with infinite, perfect love and because They know we cannot see everything They see, They have given us laws that will guide and protect us. There is a strong connection between God’s love and His laws” (“The Love and Laws of God” [Brigham Young University devotional, Sept. 17, 2019], 2, speeches.byu.edu).

Why are you grateful for the commandments?
DOWNLOAD Don’t Bottle-up Your Testimony spin-the-bottle (HERE, shown above)

What would you like members of your class or quorum to understand about why God has given us commandments? You can prepare to teach by reviewing Exodus 20 and President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “Loving Others and Living with Differences” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 25–28).

ColorQuote (above) “But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps.” – Elder David A. Bednar

Lehi Sees a Vision of the Tree of Life | 1 Nephi 8 | Book of Mormon

In the wilderness, Lehi has a vision filled with symbolism that includes the tree of life. In his vision, he struggles for some time in the dark before finally making his way to the tree. He eats or partakes of its fruit and desires his family to do likewise. He sees a rod of iron, a strait and narrow path, and the mists of darkness that enshroud men. Sariah, Nephi, and Sam eat the fruit, but Laman and Lemuel refuse.

PART 2
Why Does God Give Us Commandments?
(Lesson-match Interactive Activities)

LESSON-MATCH ACTIVITIES 4 in on 1 bundle to save $ or click individual activities below

To help class or quorum members review the Ten Commandments, you could ask them to list as many of these commandments as they can from memory. If they need help, they could look in Exodus 20:3–17. WHY DOES GOD GIVE US COMMANDMENTS? To help answer this question, they might discuss a few of the Ten Commandments in small groups. HOW CAN LIVING THESE COMMANDMENTS HELP US FIND HAPPINESS AND DRAW CLOSER TO GOD? The following ideas can help those you teach learn more about why God gives us commandments.

• The scriptures contain answers to the question “Why does God give us commandments?” You could invite class or quorum members to look for answers in one or more of the scriptures found in “Supporting Resources.” Then ask them to share something they found. They could also watch the following videos looking for insights: “Instructions Included,” “Why Does God Give Us Commandments?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• To help class or quorum members understand why God gives us commandments, you might compare having commandments from God to experiences they can relate to. For instance, you could ask them to imagine that they are riding along a mountain road near a steep cliff and there is a fence along the side of the road. Ask them to discuss with another person questions like the following: How are God’s commandments like the fence? How has obeying the commandments blessed us?
  DOWNLOAD Keeping Inside the Fence Post-and-Present Activity (HERE or below)

  What other comparisons can help us understand why God gives us commandments and why we should obey them? For some examples, you could invite them to review one of the messages or videos found in “Supporting Resources.” Ask them to share the comparisons they find and discuss what they learn.

• Your discussion may lead class or quorum members to discuss how we should treat those who do not believe or live some commandments. You might invite them to look for counsel in President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “Loving Others and Living with Differences.” You might ask questions like these: How should we treat those who choose to live differently than we do? How can we see the good in others when they make different choices than we do?

ColorQuote (DOWNLOAD HERE or above) “Obedience opens the door to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. And the spiritual gifts and abilities activated by the power of the Holy Ghost enable us to avoid deception – and to see, to feel, to know, to understand, and to remember things as they really are.” David A. Bednar, Apostle, “Things as They Really Are”

Encourage class or quorum members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. If they would like, they could share their ideas. Invite them to think about how acting on their impressions will strengthen their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

• Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Alma 36:30; Doctrine and Covenants 1:24–28; 82:8–10; 93:20, 28; 130:18–21 (Why God gives us commandments)

• Jeffrey R. Holland, “We Are All Enlisted” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 44–47; see also the video “Stay within the Lines”); Richard G. Scott, “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 40–42; see also the video “A Secure Anchor”); Von G. Keetch, “Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 115–17; see also the video with the same title)