This FHE lesson on obedience focuses on the Ten Commandments, including what they are and how following them can bring us closer to God.
Scripture
And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
Hymn
How Gentle God’s Commands | Hymn #125
1. How gentle God’s commands!
How kind his precepts are!
Come, cast your burdens on the Lord
2. Beneath his watchful eye,
His Saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard his children well.
3. Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?
Haste to your Heav’nly Father’s throne
And sweet refreshment find.
4. His goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day;
I’ll drop my burden at his feet
And bear a song away.
Lesson
For Children
Begin with the following activity. You’ll need something heavy or something hard to balance on one finger, such as a long stick or rod. Start by telling your children to try and hold up the object with one finger. Then two, three, and so forth. Finally, have them hold the object with both hands and all ten fingers.
Ask: How did you feel trying to hold up this object with just one finger?
Read aloud: This object represents life. Sometimes, life is hard and heavy. It can feel impossible. It can hurt. Because Heavenly Father loves us, he has given us commandments, or rules, to help us be close to him and stay strong. Commandments help hold us up. One of the oldest set of commandments we have is the Ten Commandments.
Ask: What do you know about the Ten Commandments?
Read aloud: The Ten Commandments were given by God to a prophet named Moses. Moses delivered the children of Israel from captivity as slaves in Egypt. While they were being led by God to a new home, called the Promised Land, God talked with Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments.
We are going to learn what each of the Ten Commandments are.
Go over the Ten Commandments, taking time with each one to ask if there are any questions about they mean. Share examples or stories for any of the commandments you feel impressed to stress to your family.
1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (Exodus 20:4).
3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7).
4. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).
5. “Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12).
6. “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).
7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).
8. “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15).
9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16).
10. “Thou shalt not covet”
Finish the lesson by bearing your testimony of how keeping the Ten Commandments has brought you closer to God and helped you be strong when life is hard.
For Teens & Adults
Begin by watching the following video:
Read aloud: In this video, Elder Perry tell us the Ten Commandments are like a road map leading us back to our Heavenly Father.
Ask: How have these ten commandments guided you in your life? Any personal experiences to share?
Read aloud: It isn’t always easy to follow God. From the very moment God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, mankind has struggled. In many ways, the Ten Commandments touch on some of our core temptations and trials as imperfect beings seeking perfection. As Elder Perry describes, we live in a world that continues to devalue the commandments of God.
Ask: How can we remain diligent in keeping these commandments in a wicked world?
Finish the lesson by sharing any personal experiences you’ve had with the Ten Commandments blessing your life.
For Single Study
Read the talk “Obedience to the Law is Liberty” by Elder L. Tom Perry.
Ponder on experiences you’ve had when obedience to the Ten Commandments has blessed your life. Set one goal for the upcoming week on how to live one of the Ten Commandments more fully.
Featured Products
Treat
Treat
Pistachio Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 3.4oz boxes of instant pistachio pudding (just the dry mix)
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- 2 cups flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- dash of salt
Frosting: - 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup soft butter
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp almond extract
- dash of salt
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios for garnish (optional)
Directions:
- For bars: Cream butter, dry pudding mix, and sugar in a large mixing bowl till creamy. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Press dough into the bottom of a greased 9×13″ pan. Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes, or till lightly browned on the edges. Cool completely, then frost. Garnish with chopped pistachios.
- For frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter in a small mixing bowl till smooth. Add remaining ingredients and beat till smooth and creamy.
- Spread over cooled bars and sprinkle chopped pistachios on top.
(Courtesy of lilluna.com)
Activity
ActivityThe Snorting Game
Have everyone sit in a circle. The goal is to pass the snort along without laughing! Have one person start by snorting at either of the people next to them. The person they snorted to can then pass it to either of the people next to them. If anyone laughs, they are out.
